Lawsuit in the Southern District of New York Settles $69 Million NFT Claim over Beeple’s “Everydays: The First 5000 Days“

According to Artnet, in March 2021, Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days sold for $69.3 million, “sending an earthquake through the art world.” The lawsuit matters because it shows how traditional trademark, unfair competition, and reputation control doctrines are used. These doctrines police identity and authorship claims in the NFT/crypto space. This happens despite all the tech novelty.

The lawsuit settlement confirms a single person purchased the NFT. A former independent contractor denied any role in the sale. The NFT market has since sharply declined.

The settlement ends one of the few long-running sagas over NFTs.

When your brand, reputation, or creative work is on the line, you need counsel who understands both the traditional rules and how they apply to fast‑moving technologies. Trademarks and digital branding go hand in hand. If you’re facing a dispute or want to proactively tighten your assets, reach out to discuss your situation and explore practical strategies tailored to your business.

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Published by David

I am a the founder of a boutique intellectual property law firm based in Chicago, Illinois. In my role as a trusted advisor, I act as the primary transactional attorney for my clients, reporting directly to a company’s executive staff and/or its General Counsel. I provide advice to business units and executives on copyright, trademark, ecommerce, software/IT, media & entertainment and issues associated with creating and commercializing innovations and creative content, drafting and negotiating contracts and licenses, advising on securities laws and corporate governance and managing outside counsel. My clients frequently rely on me to successfully draft and negotiate complex commercial and intellectual property transactions such as supply/distribution agreements, IP development and license agreements and documentation related to mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

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