Webcomic artist Elmer Saflor files four suits over paid LinkedIn ads using his meme comics, against Scytale AI, Ledge, Metaview and Coast

What was filed

The complaint is Document 1 in No. 1:26-cv-09067, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, filed October 15, 2026 (8 pages). The plaintiffs are Elmer Saflor, an individual artist and graphic designer who resides in the Philippines, and Nicholas Gurewitch, an individual artist and graphic designer who resides in New York. The defendant is Scytale AI, Inc., a Delaware corporation that the complaint, on information and belief, describes as a software and technology company providing corporate security, risk management, and privacy services, with headquarters in New York, New York. The plaintiffs demand a jury trial. (Compl. paras. 3 to 8; pp. 1 to 2, 8.)

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that Saflor, also known as "Superelmer," created a two-panel webcomic titled Running Away Balloon in or about April 2017 and first published it on his Facebook account, and that Gurewitch created a four-panel webcomic titled Quiz Kid (Note Passing) in 2016 and first published it on The Perry Bible Fellowship website, the online comic series he created and manages. It alleges both works became popular online memes, copied, altered, and shared non-commercially tens of thousands of times, largely without the artists' permission, and that both are available for licensing through a Germany-based agency that licenses online memes. (Compl. paras. 12 to 16; pp. 3 to 4.)

On information and belief, the complaint alleges that Scytale copied and published the two works in paid LinkedIn advertisements distributed to hundreds of thousands of users, and it reproduces screen captures of one ad featuring a derivative version of each work. It alleges Scytale never sought or received a license, that plaintiffs' counsel notified Scytale by email and letter on or about September 22 and September 30, 2026, that Scytale did not respond, and that the version using the Saflor work remains available in Scytale's LinkedIn Ad Library. It says the full scope of the uses is not yet known. (Compl. paras. 17 to 23; pp. 4 to 6.)

Count and relief

The single count is copyright infringement of the plaintiffs' exclusive rights under section 106 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 106. It identifies Registration No. VA 2-397-201 for the Saflor work and Registration No. VA 2-519-253 for the Gurewitch work, and it alleges, on information and belief, that the infringement was willful, intentional, or reckless, citing Scytale's experience with third-party intellectual property licensing, and separately that it was willful because the ad stayed up after notice. The prayer asks for a permanent injunction, delivery of copies for destruction, statutory or actual damages including lost licensing revenue and Scytale's profits, and costs and attorneys' fees. (Compl. paras. 24 to 33 and prayer; pp. 6 to 8.)

Second suit: Saflor v. Ledge, Inc.

Saflor v. Ledge, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-09379 (S.D.N.Y.), filed October 27, 2026, is assigned to Judge Arun Subramanian. Saflor is the only plaintiff. The complaint is Document 1 (6 pages); it states one count of copyright infringement, demands a jury, and relies on the same registration, No. VA 2-397-201, which it says became effective March 21, 2024. The defendant is Ledge, Inc., a Delaware corporation that the complaint alleges, on information and belief, is a software and technology company providing AI-powered accounting services for businesses, with headquarters in New York, New York. (Compl. caption; paras. 3 to 6, 19 to 20.)

The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that Ledge copied and published the work as part of a paid advertisement distributed on LinkedIn to thousands of users, and it reproduces a screen capture that it says shows a Ledge advertisement featuring a derivative version of the work. It alleges Ledge never sought or received a license or permission, that the plaintiff's counsel contacted Ledge by email and letter on or about September 22, 2026, and again on September 30 and October 8, and that Ledge did not respond to any of those communications. It alleges, on information and belief, that the infringement was willful, intentional, or reckless, including because Ledge is a sophisticated business with knowledge of third-party intellectual property licensing and ignored the notices, and that Ledge benefited through increased exposure of its brand and traffic to its website and social media accounts. The prayer tracks the one in the first suit. (Compl. paras. 13 to 17, 23 to 24; prayer.)

Third suit: Saflor v. Metaview Labs, Inc.

Saflor v. Metaview Labs, Inc., No. 4:26-cv-12621-HSG (N.D. Cal.), was filed October 28, 2026. Saflor is the only plaintiff. The complaint is Document 1 (9 pages); it states one claim for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501, demands a jury, and relies on the same registration, No. VA 2-397-201, effective March 21, 2024. The defendants are Metaview Labs, Inc., which the complaint alleges, on information and belief, is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California, and an AI-native recruiting and hiring platform, and Does 1 through 10. (Compl. caption; paras. 3 to 5, 8, 10, 20.)

The complaint alleges that Metaview ran 13 paid LinkedIn ad campaigns between September 11, 2024 and October 14, 2026 that use Running Away Balloon, with at least around 60,000 U.S. impressions, and that one of the paid ads received over 1 million impressions. It alleges the ads place the Metaview logo over the artwork, cast the running figure as the "Recruiter," and carry the headline "You focus on the hiring. Let Metaview's AI take care of the notes." It alleges Metaview never had permission, consent, or a license, that the infringement was willful, and, on information and belief, that Metaview is a sophisticated entity well aware of the need to license creators' digital art for commercial use. The prayer asks for a permanent injunction; an accounting; actual damages and disgorgement of profits; statutory damages, including for willful infringement, under 17 U.S.C. 504(c); attorneys' fees under 17 U.S.C. 505; and costs and interest. (Compl. paras. 9, 14 to 17, 21, 24; prayer.)

Fourth suit: Saflor v. K-Dimensional Holdings Inc.

Saflor v. K-Dimensional Holdings Inc., No. 1:26-cv-09429-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), was filed October 28, 2026, and is assigned to Judge Jed S. Rakoff. Saflor is the only plaintiff. The complaint is Document 1 (13 pages) and demands a jury. The defendants are K-Dimensional Holdings Inc., doing business as Coast, and K-Dimensional Services, LLC, which the complaint alleges, on information and belief, are a Delaware corporation and a Delaware limited liability company with their principal place of business in New York, New York, and Does 1 through 10. It describes Coast as a financial technology company offering fuel cards, corporate cards, expense management, and bill-payment tools, and K-Dimensional Services as an affiliate. It calls the work at issue the Subject Artwork, says Saflor is its sole copyright owner, and identifies the same registration, No. VA 2-397-201. (Compl. caption; paras. 4 to 6, 10 to 14.)

The complaint alleges the defendants used the Subject Artwork as key art in paid advertising campaigns distributed online, including on LinkedIn, and it reproduces two LinkedIn Ad Library entries. It alleges Coast never obtained authorization, consent, or a license. It pleads three claims against all defendants: copyright infringement, alleging, on information and belief, access through Saflor's social media profiles and willful infringement; vicarious and/or contributory infringement, also on information and belief; and violations of 17 U.S.C. 1202, alleging, on information and belief, that the defendants removed Saflor's copyright management information and provided false copyright management information by adding their own branding, logos, promotional text, and attribution. The prayer asks for an injunction requiring removal of content that incorporates the artwork, the defendants' profits and Saflor's losses or statutory damages, a constructive trust, statutory damages and penalties, costs and attorneys' fees, and prejudgment interest. (Compl. paras. 15 to 37; prayer.)