I didn't watch much of the Academy Awards last night. I find that the highlights on the morning news give me a good enough snapshot of the event so that I can make small talk later. But the Oscars are on my mind because of how the entertainment industry influences lifestyle trends.

There seems to be a whole industry built up around the Academy Awards and other shows like it. There are the shows before the shows, fashion reports forecasting what may or may not be on the red carpet and then there's the whole segment about the food and decorations at the famous parties that take place after the event.

Obviously, the public is eager for a birds eye view into the lives of entertainers. We want to go into their homes, eat the food they eat, wear similar clothes, style our hair the same way. Oh, and we want to do it on 10 cents on a dollar.

That is where the knock off artists come in. Now in sewing, craft and home decor it is very common for designers to be inspired by something on a movie set or a dress on the runway. Dressmakers have been replicating gowns seen in couture shows and movies ever since newspapers have been printed.

Here's what gets my goat. We glorify the ready-to-wear designers who sit in front of the television set, sketch a dress line for line, race to the studio to source fabric then drape it to manufacture an excellent copy for sale within 48 hours.

I could wax eloquent about intellectual property and how the designer's original idea will make millions of dollars for someone else.  But the issue is that for the most part, consumers think it's perfectly fine to mass manufacture a product that is someone else's original idea.

In an age where intellectual property litigation is on the rise, consumers (for the most part) don't get what the beef is. That's why in our vigilance to combat copyright infringement, there needs to be an educational element. 

That's also why manufacturers tell me that rather than dwell on someone copying their successful products, they make sure they are one step ahead. Invest in a fight over copyrights or invest in R&D for the future? Savvy craft product manufacturers have learned from high profile designers... compete with creativity and leadership.--Beth