logo

COMMONS MAGAZINE

Nothing Says Native American Better Than White Girls in Headdresses

December 2, 2012
A young Santee Sioux woman looks at how Native identity is reflected in pop culture

Will a Noose of Property Rights Strangle Creativity in Fashion?

March 14, 2006
Can a clothes design be copyrighted? And what does that mean for creativity in the fashion field?

Can "Bohemian Chic" Be Owned?

October 7, 2005
Welcome to the Boho commons: Wal-Mart and a chic chain wrangle over peasant skirts.

Is the Fashion Commons at Risk?

August 19, 2005
No one owns the idea for the little black dress or pinstriped suit. Fashion is a commons. But high-end designers now want to claim copyright on their clothes.

Museums as Crypto-Marketers

May 11, 2005
We're sadly accustomed to advertising and naming rights saturating pro sports. Museums appear to be next.