https://www.thewrap.com/grumpy-cat-wins-710001-in-copyright-lawsuit-memes-have-rights-too/
"Grumpy Cat has a lot of reasons to be less grumpy this week — 710,001
reasons to be exact.
The Grumpy Cat Limited company was awarded $710,001 in damages on Monday
when a California jury decided that the beverage company Grenade was
guilty of infringing on its copyright and trademark.
“I think, first of all, that it’s a just verdict. The jury followed the
law and facts and reached a verdict that was justified based on the law
and the facts,” David Jonelis of Lavely & Singer, Grumpy Cat’s lawyer,
told TheWrap. “It’s nice that my client’s rights were vindicated on
this. It was a hard fought battle.”
Grumpy Cat Limited, formed by Tabatha Bundesen to monetize the viral
fame of her sour-faced cat (real name, Tardar Sauce), sued Grenade in
2015, claiming the company used the cat’s image on several of its
products, despite only having the rights to sell a line of iced coffees
called “Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino.”
The Grumpy Cat image appeared on Grenade’s roasted coffee line and
tee-shirts, neither of which were part of the original deal.
Grenade filed its own countersuit, claiming Grumpy Cat didn’t hold up
its end of the bargain and failed to promote the brand as outlined under
the terms of the deal. However, the jury wasn’t moved by its argument
and ultimately decided in favor of the meme.
“It’s important precedent when you have something like a meme online,”
Jonelis said. “It’s the first verdict ever rendered in favor of a viral
meme. Memes have rights too.”"
"Grumpy Cat has a lot of reasons to be less grumpy this week — 710,001
reasons to be exact.
The Grumpy Cat Limited company was awarded $710,001 in damages on Monday
when a California jury decided that the beverage company Grenade was
guilty of infringing on its copyright and trademark.
“I think, first of all, that it’s a just verdict. The jury followed the
law and facts and reached a verdict that was justified based on the law
and the facts,” David Jonelis of Lavely & Singer, Grumpy Cat’s lawyer,
told TheWrap. “It’s nice that my client’s rights were vindicated on
this. It was a hard fought battle.”
Grumpy Cat Limited, formed by Tabatha Bundesen to monetize the viral
fame of her sour-faced cat (real name, Tardar Sauce), sued Grenade in
2015, claiming the company used the cat’s image on several of its
products, despite only having the rights to sell a line of iced coffees
called “Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino.”
The Grumpy Cat image appeared on Grenade’s roasted coffee line and
tee-shirts, neither of which were part of the original deal.
Grenade filed its own countersuit, claiming Grumpy Cat didn’t hold up
its end of the bargain and failed to promote the brand as outlined under
the terms of the deal. However, the jury wasn’t moved by its argument
and ultimately decided in favor of the meme.
“It’s important precedent when you have something like a meme online,”
Jonelis said. “It’s the first verdict ever rendered in favor of a viral
meme. Memes have rights too.”"
