Yuga Labs Secures Settlement Plans in BAYC Trademark Clash With Ryder Ripps

A years-long legal standoff in the NFT space appears to be nearing its conclusion, as Yuga Labs and conceptual artist Ryder Ripps have agreed to resolve their trademark dispute, according to recent court filings.

The agreement, which also involves Ripps’ collaborator Jeremy Cahen, signals a potential end to a case that has stirred debate around artistic expression and intellectual property in the digital asset world. While the settlement terms remain undisclosed, Ripps has been formally prohibited from using Yuga’s imagery and trademarks moving forward.

The conflict dates back to 2022, when Yuga Labs filed suit against the pair for launching a derivative NFT project that mirrored the visuals of the widely known Bored Ape Yacht Club collection. Ripps defended the project as satirical “appropriation art,” arguing it was protected speech under U.S. law.

Yuga, however, maintained that the copycat collection misled buyers and damaged its brand. In 2023, a federal judge sided with the company, determining that the imitation NFTs created market confusion and violated trademark protections. The ruling initially imposed nearly $9 million in penalties on Ripps and Cahen.

That decision was later revisited by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which dismissed key elements of Ripps’ fair use defense but also vacated the monetary judgment and called for further proceedings—highlighting the evolving legal framework around NFTs and trademark law.

The case also included additional tensions, with Yuga previously seeking sanctions after Ripps claimed he had destroyed access to the disputed project’s digital assets.

With both sides now moving toward settlement, the outcome could mark another pivotal moment in defining how intellectual property rights apply in the fast-growing NFT ecosystem—especially as creators continue to test the boundaries between parody, art, and infringement.