Supreme Court Rejects Steve King's Appeal in Copyright Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear former Iowa Congressman Steve King's appeal regarding copyright infringement for using the popular 'Success Kid' meme in his 2020 campaign without permission. King was ordered to pay $750 to Laney Griner, the mother of the child in the meme, after a jury ruled in her favor. His campaign argued that Griner had granted an implied license by allowing the meme's widespread use; however, the court upheld the lower court's decision. King also claimed that the damages were disproportionate to his proposed settlement offer of $15,000. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the realm of copyright law as it relates to internet memes and their use in political campaigns. Griner's image has been widely licensed for commercial purposes, adding to the complexity of the dispute.