February 9, 2023
By Sharan Kaur Phillora
Yuga Labs, the creator of the notable Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, reached a settlement with Thomas Lehman, a developer who created websites and smart contracts for a lookalike NFT collection.
Here’s what we know:
The project, RR/BAYC, was created by Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen, with whom the company is embroiled in a separate lawsuit that Ripps has described as a “righteous fight against Yuga Labs.”
RR/BAYC uses the same initials and images used in the original Bored Ape collection, although Ripps claimed in an October anti-SLAPP motion that the suit against him should be dismissed on the grounds that the project is protected as a form of satire and free speech. The motion was denied by a judge and later appealed by Ripps.
Ripps and Cahen’s attorney Alfred David Steiner of Meister & Steiner PLLC, declined to comment.
Yuga filed the lawsuit against Lehman, the developer, on Jan. 20, and as part of the settlement, Lehman admitted infringement of the company’s intellectual property and denounced the disparaging statements made about Yuga and its founders. Lehman is listed in the smart contract for the lookalike NFT collection as the recipient of 15% of the project’s profits, according to a spokesperson for Yuga Labs.
The company also filed a proposed permanent injunction with Lehman’s consent that would prevent him from using the BAYC name or anything similar on any website, social media account, or goods or services.
Although Lehman has settled the lawsuit with Yuga, the company still has a suit out against RR/BAYC creators Ripps and Cahen.
About the author
Sharan Kaur Phillora’s thirst for knowledge has led her to study many different subjects, including NFTs and Blockchain technology – two emerging technologies that will change how we interact with each other in the future. When she isn’t exploring a new idea or concept, she enjoys reading literary masterpieces.
