California IDEX Practice Exam

If another designer's work looks essentially the same as a unique design created by an interior designer, what legal recourse might the original designer have?

1. Request a design modification

2. File a lawsuit for defamation

3. Bring suit for copyright infringement

4. Seek mediation

The correct answer is: Bring suit for copyright infringement

The original designer may pursue a lawsuit for copyright infringement because copyright law protects original works of authorship, including unique designs. When another designer replicates this work without permission, it infringes on the original designer's exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute their design. This legal action serves to uphold the integrity of creative works and provide recourse for the original creator to seek damages or prevent further unauthorized use. The other options do not directly address the legal protections available for unique artistic creations: - Requesting a design modification does not have the same legal grounding and might not provide adequate remedy for copyright infringement. - Filing a lawsuit for defamation concerns false statements that harm a person's reputation, which is unrelated to design replication. - Seeking mediation may help resolve a dispute but does not provide the same enforceable legal protections that a lawsuit for copyright infringement would.