Our top 10 stories of 2021

From pop culture IP news to outrage over recipe plagiarism, these were the stories our readers loved this year.  

1. Creator of Netflix sensation Squid Game accused of plagiarism

Shortly after Squid Game became a global streaming blockbuster, the show's creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk was accused of plagiarising As The Gods Will, a 2014 Japanese movie.

2. By creating her own IP, model-turned-memoirist Emily Ratajkowski is taking control

Over the years, Emily Ratajkowski tried several times to gain control over images of herself, which were being sold for profit by others. These experiences ultimately led to the launch of her first non-fungible token (NFT). 

3. Food writers appalled by chef Elizabeth Haigh’s alleged plagiarism in her debut cookbook

Cookbook authors, a food blogger and a spice company from Southeast Asia called out London-based chef Elizabeth Haigh for copying their recipes without permission in her cookbook Makan. 

4. Rip-off or not: A tale of two blue dresses

African fashion designer Bayanda Khathini pointed to a blue dress fashion label Scalo designed for former Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green, saying that it was a copy of his design. 

5. Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell's evolving strategies for her IP

Candace Bushnell created the book this valuable TV franchise is based on. And she has mixed feelings about how her IP has taken a life of its own, and not always with a proportionate financial payout for her. 

6. “Cheat codes” for creativity: Designer Virgil Abloh leaves behind a provocative legacy

The late Virgil Abloh was the groundbreaking artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection, who also raised eyebrows for his controversial take on appropriation and originality. 

7. The damage that fake goods can do to brands is very real

Andrew Bradshaw, the President of the Asian Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, shares his insights on fighting counterfeit products in a conversation streamed for the 2021 World Congress of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). PitchMark was the Platinum Sponsor for this event.

8. Gucci protects its IP fiercely, but plays a different game for the IP of others

This Italian luxury label has sued other fashion brands for appropriating design motifs that are often associated with Gucci. But it seems to have few qualms about copying those with less power and visibility. 

9. Tarantino’s controversial Pulp Fiction NFTs offer a glimpse of entertainment’s future

Writer-director Quentin Tarantino wants to auction off non-fungible tokens (NFTs) associated with his movie Pulp Fiction. This has sparked a debate about who gets to profit from this new technology, and what it means for the future of the entertainment industry.

10. How important is it to own your IP? Taylor Swift knows all too well

The pop star believes that IP ownership and the financial value that this unlocks is the key to sustaining a career in music.

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