Supreme Court Declines Steve King's Appeal in 'Success Kid' Meme Case

The court refused to hear the former congressman's bid to recover attorney fees after losing a copyright lawsuit over his campaign's use of the viral meme.

• The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear former Rep. Steve King's appeal in a copyright case involving the 'Success Kid' meme, leaving a $750 judgment against his campaign intact.
• Laney Griner, the mother of the child in the meme, sued King in 2020 for unauthorized use of the image in his campaign fundraising materials.
• King argued that he had an implied license to use the meme and sought to recover attorney fees, claiming Griner engaged in 'lawfare' to target him unfairly.
• Lower courts ruled that King could not recover attorney fees under copyright law, which reserves such reimbursements for prevailing parties.
• The case stems from King's controversial political career, which included losing his 2020 primary after being criticized for inflammatory rhetoric and stripped of committee assignments.

3 Articles

The Hill USA TODAY