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Remember Nyan Cat (Viewed 96 Million Times)? Someone's Using It Illegally!

The authors of two YouTube videos that have both had 96 and 30 million views are suing Warner Brothers for unauthorised use of "Nyan Cat" and "Keyboard Cat." The company now faces a federal lawsuit for using two feline-themed Internet memes in a video game without their creators' permission.

By Melody Oei — 03 May 2013, 05:40 PM — Updated about 11 years ago

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Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat sues Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers is facing a federal lawsuit for using two feline-themed Internet memes in a video game without their creators' permission.

The authors of Keyboard Cat & Nyan Cat argued that the game Scribblenauts, published by WB Games, infringes their copyrights & trademarks. The game's developer, 5th Cell, is also named in the lawsuit.

Warner Brothers is being charged with both copyright and trademark infringement, and the case will play out in the Central District of California.

Creators of Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat - Chris Torres and Charlie Schmidt - have established full-time careers out of the memes, which are currently managed by Ben Lashes (Grumpy Cat & Scumbag Steve)

What is Nyan Cat?

Nyan Cat

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The Nyan Cat.

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Nyan Cat is featured in what is perceived as an "extremely irritating video" that was uploaded to YouTube in 2011. Up till today, it has garnered over 96 million views.

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What is the Keyboard Cat?

Keyboard Cat is a YouTube video uploaded in 2007. It shows a man's cat supposedly playing music on a keyboard. It has, up until today, over 30 million views.

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How did Warner Brothers use the Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat without permission?

A Warner Bros. game called "Scribblenauts Unlimited" features two Easter eggs that unlock images of the two cats.

Image via mshcdn.com

A Warner Bros. game Scribblenauts Unlimited features 2 Easter eggs that unlock both cats. Typing "Keyboard Cat" reveals a cat with a keyboard, typing "Nyan Cat" brings a Pop-Tart-bodied cat.

What does Nyan Cat author Chris Torres have to say?

Torres said he first noticed Nyan Cat in the game when the trailer debuted, "I have no issues with Nyan Cat being enjoyed by millions of fans as a meme."

"We reached out to the companies yet were disrespected & snubbed each time as nothing more than nuisances for asking for fair compensation for our intellectual property."