Plagiarism in the creative industry: When “inspiration” crosses the line into theft

DDM News

In recent weeks, Nigeria’s creative industry has been rocked by incidents exposing a troubling pattern: the fine line between inspiration and outright theft is being dangerously ignored.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) has closely tracked these developments, raising urgent questions about intellectual property rights and respect for originality in our artistic communities.

The controversy began when renowned actress Bimbo Ademoye publicly confronted a TV station for repeatedly airing her films without permission or credit.

Instead of rallying behind her call for rightful acknowledgment, many dismissed her concerns with remarks like, “Shouldn’t you be happy they’re promoting you?”

Barely weeks later, fashion designer Veekee James found herself in a similar battle. A fellow designer not only drew inspiration but copied her viral dress design in every detail.

Thread for thread, colour for colour, model for model, even the styling and presentation were duplicated without alteration, and then celebrated in a full documentary.

What outraged many even more than the blatant copying were the defensive comments flooding social media.

Responses like “Fashion is just recycled ideas,” or “The copy is better than the original,” reveal a dangerous mindset that excuses plagiarism.

There is a crucial difference between drawing inspiration and wholesale replication. Inspiration transforms an idea through personal creativity.

What happened here was not transformation; it was reproduction without credit, intellectual theft disguised as homage.

Worryingly, this trend of excusing plagiarism is becoming normalized. Many defend it as acceptable if the original creator isn’t famous or if the thief claims “inspiration.”

This flawed logic mirrors wider societal problems, where cheating, fraud, and corruption are excused if the perpetrator can “get away with it.”

Some even question, “Who did Veekee James copy from?” ignoring the evidence carefully laid out by those defending her originality.

If true accusations exist, they should be presented with proof, not smothered under baseless assumptions and victim-blaming.

Not all creatives steal. Many pour endless hours into crafting original ideas, sacrificing sleep and comfort to build something new.

Copying kills growth, dulls originality, and trains the mind to mimic rather than innovate. It silences the unique voice every artist needs to thrive.

Claiming “inspiration” after being exposed is not homage; it’s an attempt at damage control lacking respect for genuine creativity.

True artistry means pushing boundaries, creating distinct works, and earning respect for your unique vision.

Creative theft is no compliment, it’s a burden that diminishes the effort and passion of the original creator.

Imagine laboring for weeks on a design, only to see someone replicate it pixel-for-pixel and receive applause.

Would you cheer if someone did that to your work? Honest reflection reveals the damage such theft causes.

This culture of copying and excuse-making threatens to suffocate Nigeria’s creative industry, breeding mediocrity and dishonesty.

It starts small but grows into broader societal decay, undermining values that nurture innovation and progress.

We must do better by teaching young creatives that inspiration is a spark, not a license to steal.

We must stop romanticizing plagiarism and start protecting authenticity and hard work at every level.

Some of us grind quietly, forging our own paths, creating with integrity, those are the true pioneers worthy of praise.

To those who steal rather than create: you’re not inspired or hungry, you’re simply lazy, and it shows.

The time to reclaim originality and demand respect for intellectual property is now.

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