Brief
AI‑generated character sparks US copyright lawsuit
The case could define how generative‑AI works are treated under US copyright law.
By Felo News Desk · Published
An Indonesian teenager known as Noxa created the AI‑generated character Tung Tung Tung Sahur using OpenAI’s image generator, and a French agency, Mementum, is now suing Do Big Studios over its use of the figure in the Roblox game Steal a Brainrot. The dispute is being heard in a California federal court.
What happened
In September 2025, Mementum sent a cease‑and‑desist letter to Do Big Studios, the developer behind the game that featured the wooden, bat‑carrying character. Do Big Studios initially removed the character and attempted settlement talks, but when negotiations failed it filed a lawsuit against Mementum in a California federal court.
What the report adds
Creative Bloq notes that US copyright law protects only works created by humans, citing a 2025 US Copyright Office report that “purely AI‑generated material” cannot be copyrighted. The same report adds that works with “sufficient human creative input” may be eligible for protection, but each case must be evaluated individually.
What was said
The article quotes no parties directly, but explains that the court will need to assess how much human input went into the character, which was generated in about 15 minutes using seven prompts, starting with the command “draw a pentungan sahur with a face and legs.”
How it came about
The character emerged from the “Italian brain rot” internet trend that began in early 2025, producing absurd AI‑generated creatures that quickly turned into merchandise, including trading cards, Fortnite skins and the Roblox game. Noxa’s creation became a global sensation, prompting Mementum to represent the teen’s interests and protect the intellectual property.
Key facts
- The character Tung Tung Tung Sahur was generated by an Indonesian teen using OpenAI’s image generator. (creativebloq.com)
- Mementum sent a cease‑and‑desist letter to Do Big Studios in September 2025 over the character’s use. (creativebloq.com)
- Do Big Studios sued Mementum in a California federal court after settlement talks failed. (creativebloq.com)
- A 2025 US Copyright Office report says purely AI‑generated material cannot be copyrighted, but works with sufficient human input may be. (creativebloq.com)
- The AI character was created in about 15 minutes using seven prompts. (creativebloq.com)
Sources
- [1] creativebloq.com — originally reported as “This weird legal case could change how we think of copyright forever”
