Bored Ape Yacht Club Accused of Illegally Trademarking Iconic Logo
A popular nonfungible token (NFT) collection has been accused of illegally trademarking the wolf skull logo of its NFT collection.
This is ironic, given that NFTs were introduced to the world to help solve the illegal use of the intellectual property and protect artists.
Alleged illegal use of intellectual property
Yuga Labs’ wolf skull logo was allegedly illegally trademarked without proper licenses from Easy Drawing Guides, a company specializing in drawing tutorials for children and beginners.
Background on Easy Drawing Guides and Bored Ape Yacht Club
Easy Drawing Guides advertised a “step-by-step drawing tutorial” for a wolf skull in April 2021.
The art displayed by the company closely resembled BAYC’s official logo. This raised suspicion of wrongdoing, considering that BAYC’s Kennel Club collectibles launched on June 17, 2021.
The response
Easy Drawing Guides responded to the commotion by confirming that Yuga Labs had no license to use the wolf skull drawing. Yuga Labs went one step further and trademarked the unlicensed logo.
However, Easy Drawing Guides stated that the intellectual property rights for the drawing belong to them as it’s their original drawing and is protected by their terms and conditions.
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BAYC supporters and compensation
BAYC supporters believe that no intellectual property was breached in using the logo. However, most agree that Easy Drawing Guides is entitled to some serious compensation.
Yuga Labs’ intellectual property dilemma
This is not the first time Yuga Labs has been accused of breaching intellectual property rights. One of the founders of the BAYC copycat NFT collection RR/BAYC filed an opposition notice against 10 trademark applications from Yuga Labs.
RR/BAYC co-founder, Jeremy Cahen, claimed that Yuga Labs had “abandoned any rights” to certain logo and artwork designs due to BAYC NFT sales granting “all rights” of the digital images to the owners.
Andrey Kunev
Reporter at CoinsPress
Andrey Kunev is a knowledgeable cryptocurrency content creator passionate about the crypto market. With extensive experience in market analysis and investment reporting, Andrey is a valuable asset to the CoinsPress team. As a frequent contributor, he offers insightful and comprehensive coverage of market trends, price fluctuations, and new advancements in cryptocurrency. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started, Andrey's clear and concise writing offers a comprehensive look at the current state of the crypto market and its prospects. Stay up-to-date with CoinsPress's expert analysis and commentary on all things cryptocurrency.
