My Favourite Things: Rachael Taylor and the M&S case has moved to new levels.

For those of you who aren't aware, a month ago on June 9th Rachael Taylor was congratulated by a colleague, on her launching her new fashion line at Marks and Spencer. At the time, Rachael was confused? as she had no knowledge of this, it turns out Marks and Spencer had used without her permission, one of Rachael design and produced a number of women's T-shirts in different colour ways. The designer immediately contacted ACID and paid for legal advice, then contacted Marks and Spencer's. It took over two weeks to remove the tops in question with the Rachael's design on them, and the tops had been selling and making profit in between this period.

Rachael Taylor is an established designer, and creates designs for many products such as wallpaper, lampshades, cushions, laptop and ipod skins, kitchen accessories in the uk and internationally. Rachael has her own popular label 'RachaelTaylorDesigns' and sells her products online and in stores across the UK. She also has also secured number of successful licensed product ranges sold worldwide. Rachael is currently working on her own label but also has a variety of clients in the UK, Europe & the USA from design studios & high street stores to private buyers. Rachael has designed for the art, ceramics, interior, fashion, textiles, greetings, stationery & marketing industries. You can find her work published on greeting cards right through to interior acessories, packaging, ceramics & kidswear. Clientel examples include: Paperchase (UK) Graham & Brown (UK) WH Smith (UK) Tailormade (UK) Concept (UK) Creative Converting (USA) Target (USA) UK Greetings, American Greetings, Tigerprint (for Marks & Spencer UK) Hanes (USA) Verbaudet (Europe) Redwood (UK) Oneida (USA) Paper Magic (USA) Design Design (USA) Trend Bible (UK) Seascape Lamps (USA) Mudpie (UK) teNeues (USA & UK) Oxfam (UK) Design Initiative (UK) Landor (USA) AM Univeral (USA) Creative Tops (UK) IMG Wallcoverings (Australia) Kelly Rae Roberts (USA) Iconemesis (UK) Deny Designs (USA) Wallpapered (UK) SolidLine (USA). A fashion line was not on her list nor was she commissioned by M&S or another company to create a design. Rachael was completely unaware until June 9th when her colleague sent her a picture.

The Copied design was created for a tea towel not a fashion collection.

Rachael said herself, 'if she was creating a fashion line she would have used a more appropriate design'. Rachael's legal team is now in discussions with Marks and Spencer, and we hope that there will be a positive outcome for the designer.

Rachael has recently launched a groundbreaking new e-course called 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' where the successful designer teaches and shares her expertise and knowledge in surface pattern; from sketch through to product combined with business tips along the way. The course is a collaboration between Rachael & award winning entrepreneur Beth Nicholls of 'Do What You Love'. It has attracted a global audience and has received fantastic support from industry leaders including ACID, who have been a great support throughout Rachael's career.

How many times do situations like this arise and how as a designer can you protect yourself?, especially against High Street Store? This is an important point, raised by CEO of ACID, Dids Macdonald. ACID have created the campaign:

COMMISSION IT, DON’T COPY IT!” CAMPAIGN!

Dids says,

"On behalf of the design community I would also very much like to see a situation where major retail can recognise the design talent of the UK’s formidable design army out there, and collaborate to use this resource positively rather than what would appear to be negatively, IP is a positive force in this country and one of the few growth sectors.

In 2010, £33 billion was spent by UK businesses on design and it is the UK’s excellent and innovative design originality which continues to give retail its competitive edge. That needs to be acknowledged!"

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