Bloomberg Law

Recipe Wars Down Under

May 17, 2025
Terence Ross, an intellectual property litigator at Katten Muchin Rosenman, dives into the intriguing copyright controversies surrounding Australian influencer Brooke Bellamy's cookbook. He discusses the claims of recipe copying that have ignited a firestorm in the baking community. The conversation explores the complex legal landscape of recipe rights, highlighting the challenges of copyright protection and the blurred lines between inspiration and plagiarism. Ross also sheds light on the financial ramifications of public disputes for influencers and their brands.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Limits on Recipe Copyright

  • Copyright protection for recipes is very limited and often considered "thin protection."
  • Recipes as ideas and scientific principles aren't copyrightable, only the unique expression can be protected.
ANECDOTE

Brooke Bellamy Recipe Controversy

  • Brooke Bellamy, an Australian influencer, faced accusations of copying recipes in her bestseller book.
  • The controversy led to intense media scrutiny and her shutting down social media accounts.
INSIGHT

Historical Recipe Plagiarism

  • Recipe copyright infringement cases are difficult and rare due to weak legal protection.
  • Plagiarism in cookbooks has a long history, often involving copying without legal consequences.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app