The caramel slice copyright clash: where inspiration ‘stirs’ into copying.

When 2 well-known Australian recipe creators argue over who owns the rights to a caramel slice recipe, it’s not just about who can bake it better – it turns into a legal dispute about copyright in the food industry.

The caramel slice dispute

Nagi Maehashi, the founder of RecipeTin Eats, accused bakery owner and social media personality Brooke Bellamy of copying recipes in her cookbook ‘Bake with Brooki’. The controversy focused on 2 recipes – caramel slice and baklava – which Maehashi claims were copied word-for-word from her own published works.

Bellamy firmly rejected the accusations, saying she had been using her caramel slice recipe for years – long before Maehashi released hers. To prevent further conflict, she even offered to take the contested recipes out of future editions of her cookbook.

Can a recipe be copyrighted?

This case raises interesting issues about copyright in the food industry. In Australia, copyright protects how a recipe is written, but not the idea of the recipe itself, meaning that no one can own the idea of a caramel slice – but they can own the unique wording and structure of a recipe.

However, proving copyright infringement is tricky. To win in court, Maehashi would need to show that Bellamy copied the exact wording of her recipes in a way that can’t be explained by coincidence or common baking methods.

Plagiarism vs copyright

Plagiarism and copyright infringement are not the same thing. Plagiarism is an ethical issue – it is about failing to credit someone else’s work. Copyright infringement is a legal issue – it’s about copying a protected work in a way that infringes the law.

Maehashi’s main concern seems to be a lack of credit rather than a strong copyright claim. If she took the case to court, it would be difficult to prove copyright infringement unless there was an almost identical copy of her wording.

What can recipe creators do?

For food bloggers, cookbook writers and bakers, this dispute is a reminder to:

1. Protect how you present your recipes, but not the idea or basic ingredients – adding personal stories, images and unique descriptions helps distinguish your recipe making it stand out legally.
2. Credit your inspirations – if you adapt someone else’s recipe, mention them. Giving credit can prevent disputes.
3. Be careful with public accusations – making claims of plagiarism online can backfire if they are not fully backed by evidence. Defamation laws in Australia are strict, and false accusations can have legal consequences.

This caramel slice clash is a perfect example of how the food world is more than just cooking – it is about ideas, creativity, and sometimes, a tablespoon of legal drama.

The Bespoke team has extensive expertise in intellectual property. Reach out if you need assistance.