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Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules NFT Eligible for Trademark Protection, Yuga Labs Case Remanded for Review
Summary: According to TheBlock, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a mixed ruling in the long-standing case between Bored Ape founder Yuga Labs and artist Ryder Ripps, who previously intentionally sold copies of NFTs as expressive appropriation art. The court determined that NFTs are eligible for trademark protection and rejected many of Ripps' legal ...
According to TheBlock, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a mixed ruling in the long-standing case between Bored Ape founder Yuga Labs and artist Ryder Ripps, who previously intentionally sold copies of NFTs as expressive appropriation art. The court determined that NFTs are eligible for trademark protection and rejected many of Ripps' legal arguments, but overturned the previous $8 million judgment against Ripps and remanded the case to a lower court for review, requiring the lower court to reconsider whether RR/BAYC causes consumer confusion. The case, which began in June 2022, saw Yuga Labs accusing Ripps of devaluing its brand by issuing RR/BAYC series NFTs. The court rejected Ripps' defenses regarding expressive art and First Amendment protection, but believed further evidence is needed to prove the potential for consumer confusion.
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Link: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules NFT Eligible for Trademark Protection, Yuga Labs Case Remanded for Review [Copy]
