Ninth Circuit Reverses $9 Million Award in Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Trademark Case, Sends Suit Back for Trial

Key Points

1. The Ninth Circuit ruled that NFTs qualify as 'goods' under US trademark law, setting a precedent for NFT-related intellectual property disputes.

2. The court reversed the $9 million damages award against Ryder Ripps, citing insufficient proof of consumer confusion or harm from his NFT collection.

3. The case was sent back to trial to evaluate whether Ripps’ NFTs infringed on Yuga Labs’ trademarks or qualified as fair use.

4. The ruling distinguishes between commercial and expressive uses of NFTs, clarifying trademark protections in blockchain-based art.

5. The decision balances trademark enforcement with innovation, impacting future NFT intellectual property cases.