Settlement Ends Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT Trademark Case Following Court Decision Supported by Analysis Group Expert Testimony

April 22, 2026

The trademark dispute between Yuga Labs and artist Ryder Ripps and his business partner Jeremy Cahen has ended, with the parties filing a notice of settlement in April 2026 following an appeal in the Ninth Circuit. The settlement imposed a permanent injunction and required Ripps and Cahen to transfer the disputed project’s smart contracts, domain names, and remaining non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to Yuga Labs.

The resolution follows a prior ruling by the US District Court for the Central District of California in favor of Yuga Labs, which found that Ripps and Cahen infringed Yuga Labs’ trademarks by creating and selling rival NFTs that reused images and branding from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection. The court determined that the defendants had deliberately created market confusion, permanently enjoined them from marketing or selling the infringing NFTs, and ordered the transfer of associated digital assets. It also awarded Yuga Labs nearly $1.6 million in damages, along with costs and attorneys’ fees.

Analysis Group supported Yuga Labs in the litigation. The team, led by Managing Principal Kris Comeaux and Vice Presidents Tracy Offner, Marcello Santana, and Mary Reiser, worked with two experts – Managing Principal Lauren Kindler and Principal Laura O’Laughlin – who testified at trial. Ms. O’Laughlin conducted two consumer surveys to assess the likelihood of confusion, and Ms. Kindler assessed Yuga Labs’ damages. The court described Ms. O’Laughlin’s testimony as “relevant, reliable, and admissible” and awarded the exact damages amount calculated by Ms. Kindler.

Yuga Labs, Inc. v. Ryder Ripps, et al. was named an Impact Case of the Year at the 2026 Managing IP Americas Awards, highlighting its role in shaping how traditional trademark principles apply to blockchain-based digital assets.