Yuga Labs and Ryder Ripps reach settlement, BAYC trademark dispute comes to an end

Comparatively, Yuga Labs and artist Ryder Ripps have settled a long-standing trademark dispute, marking the end of the legal dispute surrounding Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC).

According to the settlement agreement, Ripps and its partners will be prohibited from continuing to use Yuga Labs' related images and trademarks. The specific terms have not been fully disclosed.

The case began in 2022, when Ripps launched a copycat NFT series (RR/BAYC), using the same ape image as BAYC, and called it an “art of expressive misappropriation.” Yuga Labs then sued for trademark infringement.

In 2023, a US court ruled that the imitation project constituted trademark infringement and at one point awarded compensation of about $9 million. The appellate court then partially overturned the ruling and requested a retrial, bringing the case into a tug-of-war phase.