Textile design works, subject to their originality, are protected by the Laws of 11 March 1957 and 3 July 1985 on literary and artistic property, redrafted in the Law of 1 July 1992. Under this legislation, the author holds the owns the moral, reproduction and representation rights over his work.

Work produced under an order in accordance with a given theme and/or set of client specifications is and remains under the full artistic ownership of the author.

The designer transfers the reproduction and representation rights according to the planned use of the work for a delimited purpose: duration, application/exploitation, support, distribution within a given territory.

The transfer of exploitation, and more specifically, reproduction and representation, rights is remunerated in proportion to operating revenues. This remuneration is based on the sales volume generated by the editors from the transferred rights or, short of this, on a fixed remuneration.

All agreements must be recorded in writing and signed by the two contracting parties.

All orders give rise to a contract (order form) under the terms of the signed agreement. The quote is confirmed by a down payment of 50% on the total amount of the estimate.

Receipt of the aforesaid down payment triggers the start of the work by the author.

All adaptations or changes in the use and/or exploitation of the work are subject to the prior written agreement of the author and must give rise to payment of the related royalties.

The agent, studio or any intermediary between the author and editor bears the same legal and moral liability as the distributor.

A contractual letter of authority granted by the author to the agent governs the terms of transactions between the author, agent and distributor *.

The preparation and production of a commissioned work is remunerated in the form of fees which are clearly distinguished from the remuneration of royalties (transfer of exploitation rights).

According to current legislation, fees and the amount of exploitation rights must be paid in cash on receipt of the related invoice. The designer is not subject to commercial law in this regard.

*Author: designer, creator, garment-maker.
Agent: Intermediary authorised by the designer, business agent, design bureau, creation studio.
Distributor: industrial firm, editor, printer, manufacturer, communication agency.