The court granted the claims brought by Yuga Labs, the entity behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT collection, regarding its trademark rights being infringed by Thomas Lehman.
The latter created websites and smart contracts for Ryder Ripps, the author of the ‘fake’ RR/BAYC tokens.
The terms of settlement include a ban on Lehman from using any BAYC marks, destruction of all company materials in his possession, and the burning of RR/BAYC NFTs that he owns.
“I am glad about the resolution of the trademark case with Yuga Labs. I did not intend to harm the brand and reject all disparaging statements about Yuga Labs and its founders, and I recognise their significant positive contribution to the NFT space,” Lehman said in a comment to CoinDesk.
In June 2022 Yuga Labs accused Ryder Ripps, the artist behind the ‘fake’ RR/BAYC tokens, of issuing and selling ‘fake’ BAYC tokens that devalue the original works.
Earlier in December, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California declined the motions filed by Ryder Ripps and Not Larva Labs founder Jeremy Cayne in the proceedings.
The defendants asked to dismiss Yuga Labs’ objections and a frivolous suit under California’s Anti-SLAPP statute. The court denied those requests.