Yuga Labs, behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, one of the crypto world’s well-known NFT projects, reached an agreement with artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen, ending a two-year copyright dispute. This process started after the two artists debated whether the collection they created using Bored Ape images bordered on parody or constituted a trademark violation.
Two-year legal process ends
The new document, filed in federal court in California with the announcement of the settlement, permanently bans Ripps and Cahen from using Yuga Labs’ images and trademarks in the future. However, the material details of the compromise and the conditions under which it was reached between the parties were not shared with the public.
In the lawsuit filed in 2022, Yuga Labs claimed that Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen reused Bored Ape Yacht Club images without permission in the NFT collection they introduced under the name “RR/BAYC” and misled buyers with this project. According to the company, this collection brought in millions of dollars in revenue and confused consumers.
The defense side argued that the work they prepared was intended as a parody as a kind of opposition to Bored Ape Yacht Club, and that there was no commercial intent. The dispute between the parties sparked a broad debate in the NFT community about the “right to parody” and how flexible the limits of trademark protection are.
Court decisions and legal consequences
The district court that first heard the case accepted Yuga Labs’ claims and awarded compensation of approximately 9 million dollars. At this point, the court concluded that Yuga Labs’ intellectual rights were violated. However, during the subsequent appeal process, the first decision was overturned as the case was transferred to the appeal court.
During the appeal phase, the court ruled that the question of whether the collection buyers were actually deceived should be considered by a jury. Therefore, rehearing the case in front of a jury was on the agenda. However, with the agreement of the parties, this possibility was eliminated and the case ended without being concluded.
Yuga Labs is a technology company headquartered in the USA and known especially for its Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection. The company made a big impact in the world of digital art and collections with the rise of the collection at the beginning of 2021. Bored Ape Yacht Club has quickly become one of the most well-known and high-value projects in the NFT market.
Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen stand out as names that have undertaken different projects in the field of digital art. Both artists are interested in NFT and blockchain-based content creation. The RR/BAYC collection they released caused controversy in the NFT world and was brought to the public agenda with this case.
As a result, with the agreement, the two-year legal process officially ended. Ripps and Cahen will no longer be able to use Yuga Labs’ brands and images. Other details of the settlement remain confidential.
