Filipino Cartoonist Sues Memes.ai Over Comic Template Use

Filipino cartoonist Elmer Saflor, known as "Superelmer," has filed a lawsuit against Memes.ai, alleging the company sold access to his comic "Running Away Balloon" as an advertising template. The complaint was filed on July 1 in the Central District of California, claiming that Memes Apps offered the two-panel strip, registered in 2024, to paying subscribers. The original comic, posted on Facebook in April 2017, features a grey stick figure reaching for a balloon labeled "opportunities," held back by a pink character marked "shyness." Memes.ai markets its services to brands and agencies, with subscription plans ranging from 40 to 199 dollars per month, allowing up to 1,000 meme ads. The complaint argues that the artwork was included in the template library under its own name, making it searchable by subscribers. Saflor seeks a permanent injunction, profit accounting, and statutory damages capped at 150000 dollars per work for willful infringement. He aims to raise broader questions about AI platforms' use of creators' work. Legal expert Eric Goldman noted that a ruling against Memes Apps could impact all meme generators, referencing a 2024 federal appeals court ruling that found Steve King's campaign infringed the "Success Kid" meme. Saflor's lawsuit targets the supplier rather than the advertiser, potentially creating new legal challenges.