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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Culture & Society

Can Galita Ari sue Roro? Specialists weigh in on TikTok plagiarism dispute

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Ecuadorian influencer Galita Ari accused Spanish TikToker Roro of plagiarizing her unique content style, including her voice, editing, and narrative approach.
  • The dispute highlights the complexities of intellectual property rights in the digital age, particularly concerning creative styles and online personas.
  • Legal experts suggest that copyright law may not protect styles or ideas, making a lawsuit difficult, while Roro denies the accusations, claiming inspiration from another creator.

A dispute over alleged plagiarism has erupted between Ecuadorian content creator Galita Ari and Spanish TikToker Roro, impacting both figures' reputations on the platform. Ari accused Roro of copying her distinctive style, which includes a slow-paced voice, use of glasses, editing techniques, and a narrative of cooking for her brother – elements Ari claims to have been using since 2018. Ari asserts that this style is integral to her personality, not just a character.

I want to emphasize that it was very difficult for me to make this video, it was not to my liking to have to touch on this topic and there are still things that generate uncertainty and suspicion for me, after so much waiting, let it be recorded if the video is removed or my accounts go through something irregular.

— Galita AriAri posted this statement on TikTok, expressing her reluctance to address the issue but her need to document her side of the story.

The controversy reportedly began after Ari contacted Roro's partner through a dating app before they were a couple. Subsequently, Ari claims she received offensive and discriminatory messages from accounts linked to the Spanish influencer. This personal history adds a layer of complexity to the intellectual property debate, which is central to the case and its implications for digital media.

Legally, the situation is nuanced. Ecuadorian lawyer Vanessa Almeida explained that copyright law protects original works, not abstract styles, ideas, or formats. For a copyright infringement claim to succeed, proof of copying specific protected elements like scripts or creative sequences would be necessary. Almeida noted that while Ari could potentially sue from Ecuador, international jurisdiction presents a significant hurdle, as Roro resides in Spain. Meanwhile, Roro, through journalist Javi Hoyos, has denied the accusations, stating she did not know Ari and drew inspiration from a different creator, Lara Smith.

Copyright does not protect styles, ideas, or formats in themselves, but original works expressed in a specific way.

— Vanessa AlmeidaThe Ecuadorian lawyer explained the limitations of copyright law regarding creative expression to EL COMERCIO.

Adding to the turmoil, Galita Ari's main TikTok account was permanently suspended in mid-June 2024 due to administrative reports of identity impersonation. Ari associates this suspension with a barrage of reports, further complicating her online presence and her ability to address the plagiarism claims directly on the platform.

I did not know the Ecuadorian creator and my inspiration came from Lara Smith.

— RoroThe Spanish TikToker denied knowing Galita Ari and attributed her inspiration to another creator, as reported by El Universal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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