Buzz
By Dan Stewart
Every day, memes emerge from the depths of the internet, spreading across platforms like Reddit and Facebook. But what happens when individuals unexpectedly become the faces of viral content? While some welcome their newfound fame and leverage it for personal gain, others pen reflective articles on the challenges of online fame. However, a few take a legal route, seeking to safeguard their rights or challenge their sudden spotlight. Here are seven memes that chose the courtroom:
1. and 2. Keyboard Cat and Nyan Cat
This week, two famous feline memes made headlines by securing a legal victory for intellectual property rights. Charlie Schmidt, the mind behind Keyboard Cat, and Christopher Torres, creator of Nyan Cat, took Warner Bros and 5th Cell Media to court in April for unauthorized use of their memes in the game "Scribblenaughts." Their triumph ensures compensation and continued inclusion of their creations in the game. They join Grumpy Cat, who recently enlisted legal help to combat copyright violations. As Katie Van Syckle noted in New York, "Never underestimate the power of cats on the internet."
3. Star Wars Kid
Long before BuzzFeed, YouTube, and Reddit became household names, Ghyslian Raza became an internet sensation. A video of the Canadian teen wielding a makeshift "lightsaber" against imaginary foes went viral in 2003 after his classmates uploaded it to Kazaa. His parents filed a $250,000 lawsuit against the classmates' families, citing emotional distress. Despite fears of lasting trauma, Raza has thrived, now serving as president of a conservation study and holding a law degree.
4. Epic Boobs Girl
In 2006, Alix Bromley uploaded a photo of herself to Bebo, only to see it transformed into a meme with the caption "Epic Boobs." The image spread across forums and chatrooms, eventually leading Bromley to sue British magazine Loaded in 2010 for privacy violations after they featured the photo alongside a cash reward for convincing her to pose. The Press Complaints Commission dismissed her case, citing the image's widespread online presence. Bromley later pursued a modeling career under the name Alix Boop.
5. Angry Hitler
Clips from the 2004 war film Downfall, depicting a fictional Adolf Hitler raging at his generals, became a global YouTube sensation in the late 2000s. Users added humorous subtitles, making it appear as though Hitler was outraged over events like Obama's election or Kanye West's VMA interruption. Constantin Films, the creators, were less amused and filed a copyright claim in 2010 to remove these parodies. Despite their efforts, the videos proliferated, and Constantin eventually allowed ads on some. Today, enthusiasts can even create their own versions using a "My Fuhrer" Android app.
6. "Technoviking"
The dispute over "Technoviking" spans over a decade. Filmmaker Matthias Fritsch uploaded a video of a muscular, shirtless raver from a 2001 outdoor party to his website, only for it to go viral on YouTube in 2007. Fritsch earned around 10,000 euros from TV show licenses and merchandise. However, the raver later sued for 250,000 euros. After lengthy legal battles, a court ruled in June that Fritsch must edit the video to obscure the raver's identity and pay 8,000 euros. Fritsch, who plans to document the legal saga, remarked, "The meme won't disappear; it's only gained more attention due to the plaintiff's actions."
7. Adam Holland
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