Yuga Labs Secures Settlement in Long-Running Bored Ape Copyright Battle

Yuga Labs, the creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), has officially settled its legal dispute with artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen. According to filings in the District Court for the Central District of California, the parties have reached an agreement to resolve allegations that the artists profited from unauthorized copies of the BAYC collection. The conflict began in June 2022 when Yuga Labs accused the pair of minting lookalike NFTs that confused consumers and eroded the brand's value. While the defendants argued that their project, RR/BAYC, was a work of satire and protected under free speech laws, the courts previously found that copyright laws had been violated. Under the terms of the settlement, Ripps and Cahen are permanently prohibited from utilizing Yuga Labs' trademarks and imagery. Furthermore, the defendants must transfer all associated smart contracts, domains, and remaining NFTs from the RR/BAYC project to Yuga Labs within a 10-day window. The legal battle had seen significant financial swings, including a 2023 order for the defendants to pay $1.57 million, which later escalated to a $9 million penalty in 2024. Although an appeals court in 2025 had called for a jury trial to determine trademark infringement, this settlement preempts the need for further litigation. This resolution reinforces the enforceability of intellectual property rights within the NFT ecosystem. By reclaiming the infringing assets and securing a permanent injunction, Yuga Labs strengthens its control over the BAYC brand and sets a precedent for other digital asset creators facing similar copyright challenges.