Yuga Labs: Court Sanction Sought Against Ryder Ripps — A Controversial Wrangle Over Intellectual Property
Yuga Labs, the powerhouse behind the renowned Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), is escalating matters with artist Ryder Ripps in an intellectual property rights dispute. The blockchain-based company has demanded that a judge sanction Ripps, deepening the furor over copyright issues within the Web3 community.
Last month, Ripps was sued by Yuga Labs. Citing blatant copyright infringement, the suit was triggered by Ripps’ work—crypto-tokens known as the ‘Real Bored Ape’ series, which evidently featured images that resemble BAYC’s characters.
“Ripps may believe that his infringement is a form of transformative use or fair use, but he is mistaken on the law,” says Yuga Labs, standing firm in their stance.
According to the complaint filed by Yuga Labs, Ripps’ Real Bored Apes were seen as “derivative” and “infringing” works. The company believes that the artist’s creation is not a source of creative expression but rather a rip-off of their original artwork. They assert that such infringements threaten the “aura of uniqueness” maintained by their NFT community, negatively affecting the value and reputation of their intellectual property.
Ripps retaliated with a countersuit, alleging that Yuga Labs’ representative had misrepresented the case’s facts and presented misleading evidence. Ripps states, “Yuga’s ensuing action has implications beyond this court case. It sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the open web and decentralization.”
In its recent move, Yuga Labs is requesting the court penalize Ripps for filing a frivolous countersuit to defray its legal costs. The litigation continues, highlighting the challenges Web3 faces with copyright and intellectual property issues amidst its booming popularity.
To stay up-to-date with Web3 news, follow our coverage on the evolving world of blockchain, NFTs, and decentralization.
