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ARTICLE · 28 SEPTEMBER 2022

TikTok: Time To Think About Copyright

Gowling WLG
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Shortly after the release of the record-breaking Netflix show "Bridgerton," Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took to TikTok to post songs they had written inspired by the television show.

CanadaIntellectual Property
Susan Abramovitch
Susan Abramovitch
Madison MacColl
Madison MacColl
Esther Kim
Esther Kim
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Shortly after the release of the record-breaking Netflix show "Bridgerton," Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took to TikTok to post songs they had written inspired by the television show. The posts were eventually incorporated into a full album called the "Unofficial Bridgerton Musical." The album was wildly successful and earned Barlow and Bear a Grammy in 2022 for best musical album. On July 26th, the duo performed the album in front of a sold-out crowd at the Kennedy Centre in New York City. This performance apparently prompted Netflix finally to take legal action: it filed a lawsuit against the two TikTokers for copyright infringement.

According to the complaint, "Barlow & Bear's conduct began on social media, but stretches "fan fiction" well past its breaking point. It is blatant infringement of intellectual property rights. The copyright and trademark laws do not allow Barlow & Bear to appropriate others' creative work and goodwill to benefit

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