Yuga Labs has reached a settlement with artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen, ending nearly four years of litigation over the RR/BAYC project, according to filings in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Under the terms of the settlement, Ripps and Cahen are permanently barred from using Yuga Labs’ imagery and trademarks. They must transfer control of the smart contracts, domains and any remaining NFTs tied to the RR/BAYC project to Yuga Labs within 10 days. The court also enjoined the pair from transferring, assigning, concealing, or otherwise disposing of any NFTs, domains, accounts, or other assets covered by the injunction before compliance can occur.
The dispute began in June 2022 when Yuga Labs sued, alleging Ripps and Cahen created lookalike NFTs that copied Bored Ape Yacht Club artwork and profited while causing consumer confusion. Ripps and Cahen said the RR/BAYC tokens—first minted in May 2022—were intended as satire and parody protected by free-speech law.
A district court ruling in April 2023 found Ripps and Cahen had violated copyright law and ordered them to pay damages totaling roughly $1.57 million. That penalty later grew to $9 million after a 2024 counterclaim loss. In 2025, an appeals court vacated part of the judgment, concluding a jury trial was required to resolve whether Yuga’s trademarks had been infringed, which extended the legal fight.
The settlement resolves those outstanding disputes between the parties. According to reports, the RR/BAYC NFTs remain accessible on OKX Wallet while ownership and control are transferred as required by the court order.
Readers are encouraged to verify court filings and other primary sources for full details.
