The pervasive sharing of a popular internet meme has led to a copyright infringement lawsuit. The meme in question features a photograph of an array of carpenter’s levels, each modified with the word “wrong” taped onto it, and is commonly captioned with the phrase, “This is wrong on so many levels.”
Background of the Dispute
Among the numerous social media users who shared this viral content was Analytical Grammar, Inc. (AG), a family-owned small business based in North Carolina. AG specializes in developing curricular materials for grammar and language arts, maintaining a significant following on its Facebook platform.
More than eighteen months after AG shared the meme, the company was served with a lawsuit. The complaint was filed on behalf of Matthew Bradley of Windsor, California, who asserts that he is the original creator of the meme. Prior to the commencement of the litigation, there was reportedly no communication between Bradley and AG.
The Legal Proceedings
The plaintiff, Bradley, is represented by New York attorney Richard Liebowitz. The case has been in litigation since the filing, incurring substantial legal expenses for AG’s owner. The matter is now proceeding to court-mandated mediation as the parties attempt to resolve the dispute outside of a full trial.
This case highlights the growing legal challenges surrounding the use of user-generated content and copyrighted material shared across social media platforms.
[Sources: Dan Booth Law; Analytical Grammar legal defense GoFundMe; earlier information regarding attorney Liebowitz, available here and here.]
