We’ve all seen it happen. A song goes viral on TikTok, a new trend blows up, and suddenly everyone is doing it. But somewhere in the chaos of reposts and remakes, the original creator gets buried. No credit, no earnings, nothing. That’s where Gen Z has really stepped up, calling out unfairness, raising awareness, and defending artists’ rights like never before. Social media is no longer just about memes or curated aesthetics. It has evolved into a powerful platform for speaking out and has become nothing short of a digital space for raising voices and holding others accountable.
In today’s internet-driven world, intellectual property rights are no longer just lawyer talk. They’re indirectly a part of everyday online conversations. From callouts to cancellation, creators and fans are navigating this messy space where ownership, credit, and originality matter more than ever.
The Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo Drama
This one had the entire internet talking. When Olivia Rodrigo dropped Deja Vu, fans were quick to notice how much it resembled Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer. While the two songs aren’t very similar in their entirety, a specific section of Deja Vu bears a striking resemblance to a part of Swift’s hit song. This similarity sparked the controversy, with users circulating side-by-side audio comparisons online. The clips went viral, leading many to accuse the rising artist of copying. The debate quickly evolved into a broader discussion about where to draw the line between artistic inspiration and outright imitation. It wasn’t a full-blown lawsuit, but it got serious enough for Olivia to credit Taylor, Jack Antonoff, and St Vincent as co-writers in her song, and hand over a chunk of the royalties too.
This sparked major debates across platforms. People weren’t just stanning their favorite artist. They were deep-diving into songwriting credits, analyzing production styles, and while most people engaging in these conversations aren’t experts in copyright law, they understand one simple truth. Taking someone else’s creative work without credit is wrong. Even without proper knowledge of IP, many know that if you’re benefiting from another artist’s work, directly or indirectly, credit is essential. Not everyone has done a crash course in intellectual property, but sometimes just knowing the basics, what’s fair and what’s not, is enough to speak up and make a difference.
Spotify and the Fight for Fair Pay
We all know that Spotify is the go-to music app. It is the biggest song streaming platform worldwide. But not many users know just how little artists actually make from streams. It’s easy to forget that behind every viral song is someone who poured hours into writing, recording, and producing it.
Taylor Swift once pulled her entire catalog from Spotify, claiming that music shouldn’t be free and calling out the platform for underpaying artists. This resonated deeply with fans and especially with younger indie musicians trying to break through. Many people started posting about how broken the streaming economy is, pushing listeners to buy music directly or support artists on platforms like Bandcamp.
Social media users quickly turned this into a broader conversation about creative labour and value. They started exposing royalty breakdowns, comparing platform payouts, and making infographics that went viral. It wasn’t just about listening to music, it was about making sure the people behind the music weren’t being exploited.
AI Art and the Ghibli-Inspired Controversy
AI art is the newest battleground for conversations about creative ownership. Not long ago, our feeds were filled with images in the unmistakable style of Studio Ghibli. People were generating these visuals using AI tools that had been trained to imitate actual Ghibli art. While the results looked cool, many on the internet were not having it.
Artists and fans alike pointed out how problematic it is to mimic a distinctive art style without permission. Many argued that this isn’t just about style, it’s about years of skill and passion being reduced to algorithmic output. The conversation quickly moved beyond aesthetics and into ethics. Is it okay to train AI on copyrighted work without credit or compensation? Should artists have a say in whether their work becomes part of machine learning datasets?
Though social media was divided, with half partaking in this act of creating AI images of themselves reimagined, the other half made it clear: art is not just data. People began pushing for stronger legal protections, more transparency in AI training, and most importantly, respect for the artists behind the visuals.
More Moments When the Internet Took a Stand
There have been several viral instances where digital communities stood up for creators, spotlighting IP violations that might’ve otherwise gone unnoticed.
The Renegade Dance Story
2020 was a huge year for TikTok. With everyone stuck at home and plenty of free time, people started picking up new hobbies, and TikTok became the go-to app for it all. One of the biggest trends that took off was choreographing dances to songs, which not only gave users a fun way to stay entertained but also helped a lot of those songs blow up in the process.
Remember the Renegade dance? For the longest time, it was everywhere on TikTok, with influencers like Charli D’Amelio getting millions of views doing it. But it was actually created by Jalaiah Harmon, a 14-year-old dancer from Atlanta. When people found out, there was outrage. The issue wasn’t just about dance. It was about visibility, recognition, and racial bias in digital culture.
Thanks to massive online support, Jalaiah finally got her moment. She performed at the NBA All-Star Game and started receiving the credit she deserved. This was a big win for the original creator, and it only happened because people paid attention and spoke up.
Fashion Brands Copying Independent Designers
It’s not uncommon to see fast fashion brands lifting designs straight from small illustrators on Instagram. Over the past few years, accounts like @diet_prada have been documenting these copycat scandals and helping indie artists fight back. Followers flood comment sections, tag brands, and even pressure companies into taking down stolen designs or offering compensation.
What’s amazing is how quickly these digital watchdogs mobilize. A post goes up, and within hours, thousands are demanding accountability. It’s not always about legal action, sometimes the court of public opinion is louder and faster.
The Lana Del Rey and Radiohead Case
Lana Del Rey’s Get Free was accused of sounding too similar to Creep by Radiohead. Rumors swirled about lawsuits, and while the facts were a bit murky, fans and music lovers jumped in with side-by-side comparisons, debates about originality, and even explanations of music theory. It became another example of how young fans aren’t just consuming content. They’re dissecting it with critical eyes.
Why Legal Protection Still Matters
While online outrage and awareness go a long way, they aren’t a replacement for legal protection. Intellectual property laws exist for a reason, to safeguard originality, reward effort, and ensure creators have control over their work. But laws move slowly. Social media moves fast. And in that space between legislation and virality, people step in. More importantly, many creators, especially indie and small artist that promote their content online, social media outrage really helps them protect their rights when fans support them and call out infringers.
Creators today don’t just want clout. They want ownership. They want to be paid fairly. They want their contributions respected. And this digital-first generation has the tools and platforms to make that happen. Whether it’s exposing shady AI tools, boycotting exploitative platforms, or demanding proper credits, these online movements are pushing the needle in the right direction.
Conclusion
We’re in a moment where creative work spreads faster than ever. One second, someone’s quietly making art in their bedroom, and the next, their work is global. That’s exciting, but also pretty risky. The lines between inspiration and theft get blurry. Algorithms can mimic. Platforms can exploit. But people can resist.
And that’s what makes this generation powerful. They don’t just consume culture. They defend it. They ask questions. They organize. They care. Whether it’s a dance, a design, or a digital painting, creators have found a new line of defense in the hands of people who refuse to let talent go unrecognized.
Authored By Ms. Shaileja Narain – Blogger, The IP Press
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