Who copied Who

I was about to write a quickie on intellectual rights in fashion and then I came across this by the Fashion Architect. Above, my new bikini, a gift. (I dare you say what the print reminds you of:P) So here are some facts instead:

fact - the fashion industry is amongst the very few where copyright law is a vague/inexistent territory, unlike art and music.

fact - all that could have been invented in fashion (shapes, styles, etc.) was invented by late '60s. Everything from then on is a mix or twist of those trends. So does every designer who makes mini skirts have to pay licencing to Mary Quant or Andre Courreges who are believed to have invented it?

fact - in order to make a collection, all fashion students have to study past and current designers for inspiration. That inspiration is sometimes obvious, but as long as there are 7 points of difference, (i.e. lenght, buttons, etc.) they are not considered to be knock offs.

fact - Fast fashion giant Forever 21 has had at least twenty lawsuits alleging Intellectual Property rights as of January 2006. (...) Lawsuits have included conflicts with Diane von Furstenberg, Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers line, Anna Sui, Bebe and Anthropologie. (...) Forever 21 does not employ its own fabric design team, instead the company purchases textiles from the designs of outside manufacturers. Consequently, the majority of the lawsuits files involve copyright infringement of fabric prints. (source: wiki)

fact - most (if not all) of the affordable clothing we buy from highstreet stores are OBVIOUS knock-offs of expensive designerwear. Due to fashion changing fast (lawsuits may take years) and being so hard to prove the copyright of a design, designers started their own affordable lines (diffusion) and collaborations (see H&M) in order to remain popular with the vast public.

fact - many big guns of fashion copy past designers or vintage clothing. None boycotts them and as long as they pay for advertising the fashion scene will praise them and promote them.

Bottomline: Is there a point in trying to spot who copied who in the end?