Texas Supreme Court to Decide on The Onion's Bid to License Infowars Brand
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The Supreme Court of Texas is now considering whether the satirical website The Onion can license the Infowars brand, a move that would redirect proceeds to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. A lower court deal was paused Wednesday by an appeals court, while Alex Jones prepares to move his studio.
Facts First
- The Supreme Court of Texas is reviewing a dispute over whether The Onion can license the Infowars brand.
- Proceeds from The Onion's proposed deal would go to families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, who won over $1.3 billion in a defamation case against Alex Jones.
- A Texas appeals court paused the deal late Wednesday, granting an emergency request.
- Alex Jones stated he must move from his Austin studio Thursday night, citing a court-appointed receiver who is no longer paying bills.
- The families have not collected any money from the judgment to date, though final judgments have been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court.
What Happened
A Texas appeals court granted an emergency request to pause a deal that would allow the satirical website The Onion to license the Infowars brand name. The dispute is now before the Supreme Court of Texas. The Onion sought a deal to turn the Infowars show into a mockery of itself, with proceeds going to the families of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting victims. Those families won more than $1.3 billion in a defamation case against Alex Jones based on his claims that the 2012 shooting never happened.
Why this Matters to You
This legal battle highlights how defamation judgments can be enforced against media figures, potentially redirecting funds to victims. If the deal proceeds, it may serve as a novel method for compensating families who have endured harassment. The outcome could also influence how satirical media interacts with controversial brands.
What's Next
The Supreme Court of Texas will decide whether the deal can proceed. Alex Jones stated that Thursday is the last official Infowars show from his Austin studio. A court-appointed state receiver is tasked with taking control of Jones's assets and selling them to pay the families, though they have not yet collected any money. Attorneys for the Sandy Hook families filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Texas on Thursday.