"Illegal" Company Business

NY

I got hired a few months ago as graphic designer by a somewhat young (in years) apparel company not knowing majority of the business is knocking-off t-shirt graphic designs directly from shirts on websites. Absolute graphic design knock-offs. I have several times to some degree and incidents expressed my disapproval on this which is why they kept me on doing only original designs, but I have a few times knocked-off shirts successfully for them. Last year when business was slow for a couple of months and relied solely on knocking-off, they cut my hours significantly (2 days) and the other artist who have been knocking-off for a couple of years for them got the complete 40. It's slow now again, and I am absolutely going out of my wits staring at my computer each day doing almost nothing, while the other artist gets all the work and I am afraid they might do the same thing they did to me last year. During these times, it really pains me like an insult for I have been in the apparel business for 10+ doing original designs and now I look like an idiot doing nothing just because they know that although a few times they've asked me to knock-off shirts to which I obliged, I am in total disagreement. It's illegal!!! Or is it??? There is complete favoritism which I know is not illegal but it just really pisses me off that I get less work and that I might get my hours cut again. What can I do? I don't wanna get sued for participating in the illegal act of knocking off tshirt designs (but i need a job!!!), or is it really even illegal? The law i think is not quite clear and hasn't extended to clothing??? If I quit, will I get unemployment on the basis of non-adherence to an illegally practicing business? Thanks for your answers!!!

We cannot promise you that if you quit your job, UI will agree with your assessment of your employer's work or find it to be just cause to quit. We don't know exactly what is being "knocked off" or the extent to which you're copying original elements as opposed to ideas.

If you don't like your job or want a job with more hours, I expect you're already applying for other jobs - if not, this is a good time to start.

Thanks for replying.

Item being knocked off is the graphic art of shirt, centimeter by centimeter. Must produce exact same art, but the size of the whole art may differ. Wanna know as well if I will be liable if a complaint arises.

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Thanks for replying.

Item being knocked off is the graphic art of shirt, centimeter by centimeter. Must produce exact same art, but the size of the whole art may differ. Wanna know as well if I will be liable if a complaint arises.