A few months ago, we discovered that a stone bench displayed at Marina Baotić in Donji Seget is a complete reproduction of a bench originally designed and created by the Jakšić Gallery workshop. The piece was designed by Dina Jakšić Pavašović and, since its first production in 2014, has been presented at numerous exhibitions, trade fairs and professional events, while also being continuously featured on our website, publications and social media channels. Over the years, this stone bench has become one of the most recognisable products of our workshop, combining functionality, contemporary design and traditional stone craftsmanship.
The originality of the design lies in its unique proportions, volumes and carefully developed details. This bench did not emerge by chance, nor is it the result of a technical adaptation of an existing model. It is an original creative work developed through years of education, professional experience, research and artistic exploration. Its value derives not only from the material and workmanship, but above all from the idea and creative process behind it.
To our great surprise, we learned that Marina Baotić has never been our client, nor have we ever had any form of collaboration with them regarding this project. Nevertheless, a bench representing a complete copy of our original design has been placed in front of their gallery. After sending a formal legal notice through our attorney, requesting an explanation regarding the origin of the work and the removal of the unauthorised copy, we received no response whatsoever. Even more surprisingly, the bench remained on display, while a new stone side element was subsequently added to it. This addition was clearly not part of the original design, and we can only assume that it was intended as an attempt to distinguish the copy from the original after we had raised the issue.
This situation once again highlights the issue of copyright protection in the fields of design, applied arts and functional objects. Although copyright law recognises and protects original creative works, reality often demonstrates how vulnerable authors remain when faced with unauthorised copying of their creations. Unlike the theft of a physical object, the appropriation of someone else’s idea, form or design concept is frequently overlooked, despite the fact that it represents the misuse of years of knowledge, effort and creative investment.
Particularly concerning is the continuing lack of understanding that design itself is intellectual work. Every original product is the result of years of learning, skill development, material research, investment in tools and equipment, and countless hours of creative thinking. When such a work is reproduced without permission, what is being taken is not merely its appearance, but the value and originality built by its creator over many years.
As a family workshop dedicated to art, design and stonemasonry for decades, we believe that respect for intellectual property is a fundamental principle of every professional and responsible society. Originality, creativity and authorship should be recognised and respected, not ignored or exploited. For this reason, we feel it is important to speak publicly about this case—not only to protect our own work, but also to draw attention to the challenges faced by many authors whose intellectual property remains far less protected than it should be.