Viral meme Success Kid's mum sues fireworks firm using her son's likeness
The mother of ‘Success Kid’, the most positive meme in the memosphere, is suing a fireworks company for using her son’s likeness on its products without her permission.
Mashable reports that the 2007 image of Ms Laney Marie Griner’s son on the beach was used without her permission on a fireworks product called ‘Back Off’.
The lawsuit, filed at a Florida court, alleged that Jake’s Fireworks infringed the copyright of the image - she seeks unspecified damages in return for the alleged infraction.
Furthermore, it asserts that Griner requested the firm cease its use of the Success Kid last July to no avail. Following the legitimate legal action however, the product seems to have been removed from sale on the Jake's Fireworks website.
The action comes despite her son being one of the most popular memes on the internet telling countless tales of everyday lucky breaks.
The lawsuit reads: “The photograph, titled Success Kid, is one of the most 'viral' images on the internet, has inspired millions of fair uses by fans to illustrate commentary through meme as a result.
“Success Kid has generated substantial value, goodwill, and licensing revenue from authorised and age-appropriate commercial uses by companies who wish to associate Success Kid’s goodwill with their products and services, including Virgin Mobile, Radio Shack, Bell Canada, Marriott Hotels, Medicare, General Mills, and Coca Cola.”
Perhaps one day Ms Lace will be able to say…
