Is the Ord outdoor modular inspired by the Living Divani extrasoft? Absolutely. Do they somehow have a copyright on any kind of fully sprung modular for the rest of time? Of course not and it seems to futile to suggest that they do. We agree that the replicas selling themselves as cheaper (more inferior) versions of classics are trading off the brand equity of historical design. The bigger issue there is that a designed piece becomes an icon because of the quality craftsmanship and ironically the consumer of a replica gets none of that craftsmanship when they purchase a knock off.

But to suggest that any new furniture coming onto the market which presents quality craftsmanship and has reinterpreted previous design falls into the same category is a little narrow. After all, if we were to follow your argument through to its logical conclusion, it would suggest that no one can ever do a fully sprung modular except Piero Lissoni.

As all design goes on, someone will combine things in an interesting way and someone will say: looks like its based a Saarinen, a Castle, a Krenof, or van der Rohe. And they will be mostly right. But something will be fresh and new. A new profile, a shape, an interesting fabric, a new purpose. The materials, function and form will be combined to form something new.