Soptra Fabrics Corp. v. Stafford Knitting Mills, Inc.

This textile design copyright case presents, in addition to a question of validity which goes right to the heart of design copyright in the fabric field, the issue whether the accused design was merely “inspired” — to use appellee Stafford’s design studio salesman’s word —by, or was flatly pirated from, appellant Soptra’s attractive, geometric design for use in dresses. District Judge Duffy, relying primarily upon a comparison of black and white photographic reproductions of the designs, found no infringement and did not reach the question of validity. We disagree, find infringement as a…