MEOWStar of memes Grumpy Cat has a savvy owner who's leveraged the feline's sourpuss face to produce branded products, score a commercial spot and obtain a “spokescat” deal.
And now Grumpy Cat Limited has a court win for copyright and trademark infringement in a suit against a beverage company that had a licensing deal to produce iced coffee beverages called “Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino.”
Jurors in Santa Ana, California, awarded $710,001 to Grumpy Cat Limited on Monday, report Courthouse News Service, the Washington Post and NPR,
Grumpy Cat Limited claimed Grenade Beverage violated the licensing deal when it used the Grumpy Cat name for unauthorized products, violating Grumpy Cat’s copyrighted and trademarked name and image. Grumpy Cat Limited also alleged breach of contract.