Council buys copyright in street signs
The IPKat was intrigued to read in Design Week that Westminster has bought the copyright in the Westminster street signs designed in the 1960s by Sir Misha Black, from his estate. The article claims that the signs will now ‘be protected against counterfeiters and copyright cheats for the first time in their 40-year history’
According to Councillor Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for transport and economic development, the Council
‘bought the copyright as we felt we needed to retain an element of control over the signs to maintain Westminster’s image as a world class tourist information.’
According to Councillor Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for transport and economic development, the Council
‘bought the copyright as we felt we needed to retain an element of control over the signs to maintain Westminster’s image as a world class tourist information.’
Humphrey (right) the official Westminster spokescat was unavailable for comment
The IPKat isn’t sure about this one. Surely much of the value comes from the names themselves (which won’t be protected), rather than the format in which they’re presented. Moreover, the Kat can’t really see how it’s helpful to the tourist industry to crack down on souvenir sellers, which presumably is the eventual aim. The Kat guesses that the Council thinks it’s on to a nice little earner of ‘official’ Westminster merchandise.
The IPKat isn’t sure about this one. Surely much of the value comes from the names themselves (which won’t be protected), rather than the format in which they’re presented. Moreover, the Kat can’t really see how it’s helpful to the tourist industry to crack down on souvenir sellers, which presumably is the eventual aim. The Kat guesses that the Council thinks it’s on to a nice little earner of ‘official’ Westminster merchandise.