The Copyright Conundrum in the Bouncy Castle Industry
In recent years, the issue of copyright infringement has become increasingly prevalent in the bouncy castle industry. With the rise of digital technology and design apps, it has become easier for manufacturers and hirers to produce and display inflatables with copyrighted artwork. However, this has led to a number of legal issues and negative press for the industry as a whole.
The Industry's Evolution
In the early days of the bouncy castle industry, the world was too big and the issues were too small for anyone to care about. Many companies operated with generic, multicolored or simple themed inflatables and made a significant amount of money without infringing on anyone's intellectual property. However, as the digital world grew and print technology and design apps became more readily available, it became an industry norm to use copyrighted artwork on inflatables. This has now spiraled out of control.
Drawing Attention to the Industry
In 2014, there were several high-profile cases of copyright infringement involving popular children's brands such as Entertainment One and Nickelodeon. This brought attention to the mascot and cake industry, which soon spread to the inflatable and soft play industry. In 2016, the tragic death of seven-year-old Summer Grant at a fair featuring various rides and inflatables with copyrighted artwork further highlighted the issue and drew attention to the industry. This led to many high-profile brands and legal firms taking an interest in the industry and the problem has only continued to grow.
The Blame Game
It is easy to blame manufacturers for the issue, but the reality is that licensing companies approached the industry with proposals. Many manufacturers and hirers, like us at Better Bounce, do not have the resources to comply with the complex compliance protocols, intellectual property laws and capacity to undertake meticulous quality control procedures to defend themselves from legal action.
The Way Forward
It is important to note that owning insurance that covers copyright infringement is highly recommended by most local authority events, even though it is not a legal requirement. It is also important to use reputable suppliers of insurance, such as FML Insurance or Bill Imber Insurance, rather than cheap Chinese insurance. The industry must take responsibility for its actions and move towards using fully licensed products to avoid legal issues and negative press.
Summary
At Better Bounce, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality, fully licensed inflatables. We understand the importance of adhering to copyright laws and have taken the necessary steps to ensure that all of our products are in compliance. If you're looking for a reliable and trustworthy provider of inflatables, visit our website at www.better-bounce.co.uk or give us a call on 07393 693413.
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