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| Copyright Clash: Love’s Ambition Faces Backlash From Artists |
Chinese TV drama Love’s Ambition is currently in the spotlight — and not for its plot twists or stellar cast, but over serious allegations from creators claiming their work was used without consent.
The claims surfaced on 3 October when illustrator Shupu Kun took to social media to say that several of her illustrations appeared onscreen as props in some episodes.
She revealed that she only became aware of this after fans alerted her to it.
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Shortly afterwards, Bein., a fashion design mentor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, made similar claims.
According to him, the production team used his commercial clothing design drafts wholesale—without any changes, and more disturbingly, without ever approaching him for permission.
The accusations didn’t stop there.
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Photographer TStone joined in, alleging that one of his ethnic-themed photo works was used as a “reference image” in scenes where the female lead’s team is shown building a business proposal.
He criticised the production for undermining creators’ rights and highlighted how vital it is to protect original work in the entertainment industry.
All three creators say they’ve tried to resolve things privately with the production team.
But so far, the drama’s producers have stayed silent — issuing no public response.
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That silence has sparked a wave of discussion online. Many netizens believe the show should issue a public apology to preserve its credibility.
The case has reignited a broader industry debate over copyright and intellectual property protections in Chinese entertainment.
Observers point out that incidents like this aren’t rare—they reflect a deeper issue: weak awareness and enforcement of creators’ rights.
Whether Love’s Ambition will respond remains to be seen.