A rapper named 2Milly is claiming the video game Fortnite is copying his signature dance move and selling it, and he is suing the game’s developer Epic Games. In the lawsuit, 2Milly claims Epic Games is using his “Milly Rock” dance move and profiting from it by turning it into an in-game Emote called “Swipe It”. Emotes are dances that players can use in the game to express themselves.
Actress Amber Brenner has filed a federal lawsuit and cited Oprah’s OWN network, along with screenwriters and producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, as the defendants.
Singer Nicki Minaj is being sued for copyright infringement by Tracy Chapman over a song with a rather apt title: “Sorry”. Tracy Chapman, a singer-songwriter who is famous for her ‘80s hits Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You, said Minaj sampled her song Baby Can I Hold You without permission.
Kanye West, a rapper and businessman seems to have lifted someone’s design, even if it was just a flash of an idea in a passing remark to President Donald Trump. He showed the president, a picture on his phone of what he called the iPlane 1, a hydrogen-powered plane that should replace Air Force One.
The Malaysian branch of major international advertising agency TBWA has found itself infused in hot water over claims a slogan for a bubble tea franchise was copied from a local motorcycling lifestyle brand.
The slogan "Never fear the strong. Especially strong tea" was recently adopted by Tealife in a major rebranding exercise (forced upon owner Loob Holdings by a dispute dubbed the "bubble tea
Even politics is not immune to idea theft. While political parties generally try to attract voters by being different from other parties, sometimes adopting the policies of others and calling them your own is a better strategy.
Good ideas can make or break a TV show - especially in reality TV. So it's no wonder writers are tempted to copy ideas from already successful shows. But does that make it right?
Rock band U2 is being sued by guitarist Paul Rose for ripping off his sound for their hit track The Fly.
Advertising agencies have long asked prospective clients to pay pitch fees, to compensate them for the time and effort that goes into creating pitches - even if they end up unsuccessful. Singapore's Central Provident Fund is now offering such fees. In general, we don't advocate pitch fees because it could reduce your claim to compensation if you lose a pitch, but your ideas are used anyway.
T-shirt designs to support native Americans in the Dakota Access Pipeline dispute are themselves subject of dispute, with lots of rip offs jumping onto the bandwagon.
There are lessons for anyone with an idea in Google's suit against Uber over self-driving technology.
The fashion industry is particularly rife with idea theft. Better PitchMark your designs before you pitch them to a fashion design house.
PitchMark deters idea theft and provides you with options if it happens.
PitchMark protects the expression of your original concepts, designs, proposals, business plans, creative pitches, music - in short, any idea that you conceived and published, and claim as your own. It gives you peace-of-mind by signalling to whoever you share it with that you are its creator, and that you wish to be respected as such.
If you receive or evaluate ideas or pitches, join PitchMark as a sign of your commitment to respect the Intellectual Property rights of their creators. Attract more in-depth pitches from a wider range of sources. Highlight your PitchMark membership in your Sustainability or CSR Report.
