AUTHENTIC DESIGN ALLIANCE®

HELP STOP DESIGN THEFT!

ABOUT

Authentic Design Alliance® is a social enterprise leading the fight against furniture design theft in Australia. 

Advocating for improved intellectual property (IP) protection for designers and furnishing brands, we help drive policy amendments in Australian law via ongoing consultation with Government agencies.

As an education platform, we create awareness about the damage caused by the fast furniture industry. Communicating the importance of investing in the brands and individuals that create, make, sell and promote authentic design.

DESIGN THEFT 

Design theft is when someone profits by making copies of original furniture, lighting, and architectural products – a problem encouraged by people buying, selling and specifying replicas and knock-offs. 

Short-lifespan furnishings end up in landfills at such an alarming rate that it is now a critical environmental issue.

VISION+MISSION

Our vision is that design is valued. For customers to consider what they buy and for original products hold a meaning that transcends a purchase price.

Our mission is to see the replica furniture sector criminalized as it has been in Europe and the UK. 

Australian law also allows a designer’s name to sell fakes if used with the word ‘replica’. Using the designer or product name to sell knock-offs misleads customers into thinking products are connected to the original brand. They’re not.

“A successful product employs a network.

 A successful collection creates a sub-economy.”

WHAT WE DO

As an independent for-purpose association, we drive awareness about the cultural, societal, and environmental damage caused by what we call ‘disposable decorating.’

We strive to shift the dial towards consumers valuing authentic products and long-term purchases over cheap short-lifespan copies to support a stronger future for our industry.

JOIN THE ADA

ADA® members directly enable our ongoing work with Government agencies for IP reform; and help fund our national education program. 

Discover more about ADA® membership here (or here if on mobile / device)

Lets get real.

6 Facts About Design Theft.

1.

THE WORD ‘REPLICA’ MISLEADS CONSUMERS

Replicas are stolen designs not connected to the designer or brand authorised to make or sell the genuine product. These cheap copies are short-lifespan, manufactured and sold without permission from the creator.
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‘Replica’ is not a trend like ‘vintage’ or ‘industrial’ - replica is fake!
2.

DESIGNERS EARN THEIR INCOME FROM SALES ROYALTIES

Industrial and furniture designers work in small studios or as designer-makers. Design theft robs them of a rightful income from royalties - a small percentage of net sales.
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Design brands can’t afford expensive legal battles; our industry is plagued by ‘David vs Goliath’ attempts to recoup rightful income.
3.

DESIGN THEFT DAMAGES THE ENTIRE DESIGN ECONOMY

Buying knock-offs hurts more than the designer. The entire design economy is affected – fake designer furnishings also hurt retailers, manufacturers and importers, that make and sell authentic design.
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The counterfeit design industry threatens the future growth of Australia’s furnishing sector.
4.

MOST CONSUMERS DON’T KNOW WHAT’S REAL (OR FAKE)

Compared to Europe, Australia lacks an embedded design culture. Education is critical to understand the value and history of how original designs are created and made.
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If we eat organic and know our food sources, similarly, we must care about how we furnish our spaces.
5.

‘DISPOSABLE DECORATING’ FEEDS LANDFILL; IT’S UNSUSTAINABLE!

Two million Sydney households discard an estimated 50,000 tonnes of furniture on pavements every year
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That’s around 800,000 three-seater sofas, 1.7 million dining tables, 3.5 million coffee tables or 7 million chairs! Like ‘fast fashion,’ ‘fast furniture’ is also killing the planet.
6.

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ARE A HUGE PART OF THE PROBLEM

Many interior design and building professionals don’t know or (worse) don’t care about authentic products!
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Australian businesses profit by knocking-off furnishings. Design theft by industry professionals devalues their projects. And shows total disregard for the people who invest, live in or use the spaces they build.
JOIN THE ADA®

BECOME A MEMBER

ADA Members enable our program

As a member-funded association, we are supported by designers, makers, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers of authentic products.

We’re also supported by interior designers, architects, interior stylists, photographers, digital influencers, building industry brands, and landscape design professionals.

6 REASONS TO JOIN THE ADA®

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