Bored Ape NFT Critics Face Skeptical Panel in Free Speech Appeal

Attorneys for artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen told a seemingly skeptical panel of judges Monday that they should be allowed to dodge a lawsuit accusing them of violating trademark law by selling counterfeit Bored Ape Yacht Club nonfungible tokens.

The controversial conceptual artists are appealing a lower-court ruling denying their Anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation motion against Bored Ape maker Yuga Labs Inc. The anti-SLAPP motion argued that Yuga Labs, upset with Ripps’ criticism of the Bored Apes on social media, initiated the lawsuit to silence him and bury him in legal fees.

Ripps and Cahen have argued that ...