Yuga Labs settles lawsuit against artists accused of copying its NFTs
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Yuga Labs, creator of Bored Ape Yacht Club, has settled its lawsuit against artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen, who were accused of profiting from lookalike NFTs. The settlement bans Ripps and Cahen from using Yuga Labs' imagery and trademarks and requires them to transfer control of their RR/BAYC smart contracts, domains, and remaining NFTs to Yuga Labs within ten days. The court also prohibited the pair from transferring or disposing of relevant assets to avoid compliance.
Why it matters
The settlement ends a nearly four-year legal battle related to NFT copyright infringement and trademark use, underscoring ongoing industry disputes about intellectual property rights in NFTs. The source does not explicitly state further market or policy implications.
Key context
Yuga Labs filed the initial lawsuit in June 2022, alleging Ripps and Cahen copied its Bored Ape Yacht Club images and sold similar NFTs under the RR/BAYC project, causing user confusion. Ripps and Cahen defended their work as satire protected by free speech. The court ruled in favor of Yuga Labs in 2023, imposing multi-million dollar penalties, but an appeals court later ordered a jury trial in 2025 to address trademark infringement claims.
Key numbers and entities
Yuga Labs, Ryder Ripps, Jeremy Cahen, Bored Ape Yacht Club, RR/BAYC project, District Court for the Central District of California, OKX Wallet. Initial damages awarded were $1.37 million plus $200,000, later increased to $9 million before being overturned pending a jury trial.
What remains unclear
The exact terms and financial details of the settlement were not disclosed. It is unknown how the settlement affects the ongoing user access to the RR/BAYC NFTs still live on OKX Wallet or any potential future litigation.