When the photocopier runs out of ink

When the photocopier runs out of ink: A phrase used to describe a situation where an imitation or copy is revealed to be unoriginal or counterfeit in nature. This phrase can also be shortened to "The photocopier ran out of ink" and still convey the same meaning. The phrase carries an element of intentional absurdity, as photocopiers do not actually use ink (they use toner). The etymology of this phrase traces back to March 2025 when the cover art for a rapper's album was mocked online after being exposed as strikingly similar to the cover art of another rapper's album— with only one noticeable difference. The cover art for rapper Doeshii's album depicted her holding an alligator while sitting in a single-seater sofa, against a faded monochromatic backdrop. The online mockery began when the image was compared to the cover art for a song by the rapper Shah, which featured him holding his pet alligator, sitting in a single-seater sofa, against a faded monochromatic backdrop. The only notable difference was that Doeshii's image featured an albino alligator, leading to the meme captioned "When the photocopier runs out of ink," in reference to the lack of pigment in her cover art's alligator.