Originally Posted by
Winfried
Regardless of the technical considerations (eg. folding), the product has to be physically different enough that consumers can tell them apart.
EU Courts ruled that the Brompton bicycle is a functional design, not sculpture or artwork. There is no '3D Copyright' for functional designs. One gets a patent (the intellectual property protection that applies to functional designs) for this.
Brompton's patents have expired.
Customers can tell the products apart by the copyrighted/trademarked name (decals & labels), the font & the logos, all of which should tie the product to the company's reputation and product support.