Artists face $9m penalty in Yuga Labs, Bored Ape copyright lawsuit
Artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen faced a setback in their legal battle against Yuga Labs, the creators of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). A recent court filing dismissed their counterclaims in the ongoing copyright lawsuit . A Feb. 2 decision mandates Ripps and Cahen pay nearly $9 million in damages, including legal and expert witness fees, alongside disgorgement. The controversy began in May 2022 when Ripps and Cahen launched an unauthorized collection dubbed Ryder Ripps BAYC (RR/BAYC), clearly playing on the notoriety of the original BAYC non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The move sparked a legal battle with Yuga Labs, which accused the pair of copyright infringement. A judge’s ruling last April favored Yuga Labs, awarding the company $1.57 million in damages from Ripps and Cahen for their infringement activities. The judgment was thought to have concluded the legal dispute. Yet, the latest court order not only dismisses the duo’s counterclaims but also significantly in...