Grumpy Cat won a 710,000 dollar court case over coffee
Grumpy Cat, the internet's most famous frown, became a business. When a beverage company went beyond its licensing deal, a federal jury awarded her company 710,001 dollars in 2018.
The cat behind the frown
Grumpy Cat's real name was Tardar Sauce. She was born on April 4, 2012, at the Arizona home of her owner, Tabatha Bundesen. Her permanently grumpy look came from an underbite and a form of feline dwarfism. She was not actually grumpy. Her owners described her as a calm, relaxed cat.
On September 22, 2012, her owner's brother posted a photo of her on Reddit. Users added captions, and the image became one of the most widely shared memes of the decade.
From meme to brand
The family formed a company, Grumpy Cat Limited, to manage her image. She appeared in ads, on talk shows and in a TV movie, and her face appeared on books, toys, calendars and clothing. By 2018 the company held several registered trademarks, and its official shop listed more than a thousand products.
In May 2013, Grumpy Cat Limited made a deal with Grenade Beverage LLC to sell an iced coffee drink called the "Grumppuccino."
The dispute
The license covered specific products. According to the lawsuit, Grenade expanded the line beyond what had been agreed, including roasted ground coffee, even after being told by email that it was not approved. In December 2015 Grumpy Cat Limited sued for breach of contract and trademark infringement. Grenade countersued.
The verdict
In January 2018 a jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California found in favor of Grumpy Cat Limited. It awarded 710,000 dollars in damages for copyright and trademark infringement, plus 1 dollar in nominal damages for breach of contract. That is where the oddly specific total of 710,001 dollars comes from.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 4, 2012 | Tardar Sauce is born |
| September 22, 2012 | Photo posted on Reddit |
| May 2013 | Licensing deal for "Grumppuccino" |
| December 2015 | Lawsuit filed |
| January 2018 | Jury awards 710,001 dollars |
| May 14, 2019 | Grumpy Cat dies |
Tardar Sauce died on May 14, 2019, at age seven, from complications of a urinary tract infection. Tributes poured in from around the world.
How licensing works
A license lets another company use your brand on specific products, in specific places, for a specific time, usually in exchange for a fee or a share of sales. The details matter. Going beyond what the license allows, such as a new product, a new country or after the deal ends, can count as infringement.
What it teaches
- Memes can be businesses. A single photo built a company with real legal rights.
- Get it in writing. The case turned on what the contract allowed and what emails said.
- Small details, big totals. The 1 dollar for breach of contract is a reminder that courts treat each claim separately.
- Pet fame is real fame. Animals that go viral need the same protection as human celebrities.
For another orange cat with a big name, read about Bill Murray and Garfield. Trademark and license are explained in the glossary.
