I think making your tech company staff make furniture is about as sensible as if the people who make furniture were also building their own software. But as to

I think making your tech company staff make furniture is about as sensible as if the people who make furniture were also building their own software. But as to open source furniture design ... I thought furniture was basically in the same position as fashion, where you can protect trademarks etc and particular patentable innovations, but that designs in general are not protected.