KC Green Settles with AI Startup Artisan After ‘This Is Fine’ Meme Used in Ads Without Permission
The meme's creator has reached a settlement with the AI startup that used his work without authorization. The company has apparently taken down the advertisements featuring KC Green's "This is fine" illustration.
The Dispute
KC Green, the cartoonist behind the widely recognized "This is fine" comic depicting a dog sitting calmly in a burning room, filed a complaint against Artisan after the startup used the image in promotional materials. The ads appeared without Green's permission, prompting a legal response from the artist's representatives. Artisan is an artificial intelligence company that develops software tools for automating sales and marketing workflows.
The Settlement Terms
Neither party has disclosed the financial details of the agreement. The settlement resolves the unauthorized use claim without proceeding to a full trial. Artisan confirmed it has removed all advertising materials that incorporated Green's copyrighted artwork. The startup also issued a statement acknowledging Green's intellectual property rights, though the precise wording of that acknowledgment was not made public.
The "This Is Fine" Meme
First published by Green in 2013 for his webcomic "Gunshow," the "This is fine" panel has become one of the most enduring internet memes of the past decade. It depicts a dog sipping coffee while flames consume the room, often used to express ironic acceptance of chaotic or worsening situations. The image has been widely shared, parodied, and referenced in contexts ranging from personal anxiety to climate change commentary.
Artisan's Advertising Campaign
Artisan had deployed the meme in a series of online advertisements promoting its artificial intelligence platform. The ads reportedly ran on social media channels and programmatic display networks. Green's legal team argued that the unauthorized commercial use of the copyrighted image violated federal copyright law. The startup had not obtained a license from Green before using the artwork in its marketing.
Market Context
Bitcoin is trading at $73,481, down 0.7% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum is at $2,000.13, declining 1.4% in the same period. The broader cryptocurrency market shows modest losses today, June 1, 2026.