The image of the meme character Zhdun has become the center of a sprawling civil litigation effort in Russia, with the rights holder pursuing hundreds of lawsuits in state courts. Reports indicate that nearly 500 cases have been filed across various jurisdictions, targeting the unauthorized use of Zhdun’s likeness in social media posts, video clips, and television programming. The claimant asserts that each use constitutes a violation of copyright, and therefore warrants financial compensation. The legal action demonstrates the tension between viral online content and intellectual property rights, especially when a meme gains broad public visibility and commercial traction.
According to coverage from the Telegram channel Shot, the plaintiff seeks remuneration for use of Zhdun’s image in diverse formats, arguing that these displays fall outside permissible, treaty-compliant usage without permission. The amount claimed in these proceedings points to a substantial aggregate sum, reflecting both the scale of distribution and the perceived value of the image as a cultural asset in contemporary media. The channel notes that the defendants extend beyond a single television network to include individual content creators and bloggers with sizable followings, underscoring the decentralized nature of meme circulation on modern platforms. Court filings reportedly number in the dozens, with approximately 50 cases under active consideration at any given time in the system.
Shot also indicated that the copyright-holding company is pursuing more than 48 million rubles in total in damages and settlements, a figure that illustrates the potential financial stakes involved when user-generated content leverages branded or trademarked imagery without authorization. Legal experts in Russia often point to the case as a litmus test for how courts will weigh the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of intellectual property in online ecosystems where memes propagate quickly and widely across networks and programs.
Earlier, public commentary from Ekaterina Mizulina, who chairs the Safe Internet League, touched on the broader phenomenon of self-meme culture. In a discussion with students at Samara University, Mizulina acknowledged a certain fondness for meme humor centered on public figures. She suggested that such jokes can drive traffic and visibility for the people depicted, while also cautions that responsibility surrounds the use of someone’s image online. The exchange highlighted the perceived benefits and potential risks of meme-based publicity in digital communities, where humor frequently intersects with copyright concerns and online governance considerations.
Meanwhile, a note from a former Hollywood actor, Lawrence, referenced a separate media moment involving a stunt that led to a physical reaction. The actor described feeling unwell after a spicy-food challenge filmed for a production, illustrating how high-energy, sensational content can attract attention and generate discussion, sometimes independent of copyright issues. Taken together, the collection of incidents outlines a media landscape in which viral content can become subject to serious legal scrutiny while simultaneously fueling public discourse about online culture, creative rights, and platform responsibility.