Gifted, Not Owned: Rethinking Creativity
- Raymond Melendez
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
In a week marked by high-stakes legal battles—from virtual worlds like Roblox to unexpected corners like dog toilets and AI—the question of who truly owns ideas takes center stage. Yet amid the noise of intellectual property claims and innovation, Jeremiah 17 offers a quiet, countercultural truth: all things, even our brightest creations, are ultimately gifts from God. In a culture obsessed with ownership and originality, this prophetic reminder reframes our achievements not as possessions to defend, but as gifts to steward.
Creativity, Copyright, and the Call to Trust God
As TikTok star Kelley Heyer sues Roblox for allegedly profiting from her copyrighted dance without permission, the world watches another battle over who owns creativity in the digital age. But Jeremiah 17 offers a deeper perspective: while human ingenuity is valuable, it’s not ultimate. Scripture warns against trusting in human strength alone, reminding us that all creativity is a gift from God—not a possession to be idolized, but a reflection of God's generosity. In a culture fighting to claim and control innovation, the prophet calls us to humility, trust, and the recognition of the true Source behind every inspired work (Lessig 29).
When the Heart Forgets
As a legal battle unfolds between former Dragons’ Den Rebecca Sloan and rival Laurencia Walker-Fooks over competing dog toilet brands, the lines between inspiration and imitation are being contested. But beneath the surface of trademark law lies a deeper spiritual truth: we forget what we do not love. In John 4, Jesus reminds us that true worship flows not from the mind alone, but from a passionate heart. When we lose sight of the Giver, we risk misusing the gifts—creativity, intellect, innovation—that were never ours to begin with. Whether in business or in faith, remembering this begins with love.
AI, Journalism, and the Gift of Prophecy
As The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft over the alleged misuse of its journalism to train AI models, the case raises urgent questions about information, authorship, and rightful ownership in a digital age. But the Holy Scriptures offer a deeper lens: in 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that true prophecy—news spoken with understanding and purpose—flows not from intellect or power, but from love. Just as AI models seek to inform, prophecy exists to edify and uplift. Without love, even the most powerful media corporation or journalist becomes hollow. In a world grappling with who controls information, Paul calls us back to the Source from which all information, and all gifts, must flow (Vaidhyanathan 112).
The Battle for Ownership
From TikTok dances and eco-friendly dog patches to Pulitzer-worthy journalism, creators are drawing sharper lines around what belongs to them. As innovation accelerates, so too does litigation, signaling a shift in how society views ownership in the digital economy. These legal battles reflect more than just profit margins—they reveal a growing urgency to define authorship, attribution, and value in a world where content spreads faster than consent.
But as the legal system wrestles with modern questions, one truth remains unchanged: everything we create is born from something deeper, something given.
The Greater Gift: Remembering the Giver
2 Nephi 2:14 and Luke 11:13 remind us that God is not just the Creator of the heavens and earth but the Giver of every good gift—intellectual, material, and spiritual. In our pursuit of rights, recognition, and reward, it’s easy to forget that every ability to think, build, or inspire is not our own doing, but a gift from God.
Jeremiah 17 calls us to reject pride in our strength and instead become vessels of love, humility, and truth. When we love deeply, we remember deeply—and in that remembrance, we receive the greatest gift of all: the presence of God’s Holy Spirit influencing not just what we make, but who we become. Let us, therefore, trust in the Giver, love deeply, and seek the greater gift—a gift that keeps on giving.
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