BYB Extreme Fight Series files lawsuit against Triller over triangular ring design

A bare-knuckle boxing organization has filed a lawsuit against Triller alleging copyright infringement pertaining to the ring design for an upcoming event.

BYB Extreme Fight Series and Lights Out Productions, LLC, filed a civil complaint Thursday in Florida Middle District Court, which accused Triller, Triller frontman Ryan Kavanaugh and streaming service FITE TV of design patent infringement, unfair competition, copyright infringement, and related claims, according to court documents acquired by MMA Junkie.

The focal point of the lawsuit is the design of the triangular ring that’s been used to promote Triller’s upcoming MMA vs. boxing event, Triad Combat, which takes place Nov. 27 in Arlington, Texas. For seven of its nine events, BYB Extreme Fight Series has used a signature triangular fight surface called the “TRIGON,” for which Lights Out Productions says it has a patent.

“We have, since 2015, invested a significant amount of capital into BYB and our Triangle ring design, the TRIGON,” BYB Extreme Fight Series promoter Mike Vasquez said in a statement. “Upon seeing Triller’s blatant copy of our patented ring design, we made our best efforts to communicate and solve the situation amicably. Unfortunately, we were absolutely rebuffed.

“Incredibly, Triller and Hollywood exec Ryan Kavanaugh believe they can roll over us and our intellectual property rights. We are here today to demonstrate that we won’t sit by quietly and let that happen. It’s a combat sport, and we are ready for the fight.”

The complaint also states current Chief Boxing Officer Peter Kahn, when working for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, told Vasquez in person at a Titan FC event in 2019 that the only advantage BYB had over BKFC was the triangular ring.

In September 2021, plaintiff representative Elvis Crespo met with Kavanaugh and professional boxer Shannon Briggs at a Triller Fight Club event, according to the complaint. During their discussion, the idea was pitched of a partnership to allow the “TRIGON” structure to be licensed to Triller for usage.

BYB Extreme Fight Series and Lights Out Productions are seeking a halt to alleged infringement, unfair competition, and misrepresenting authorship of the design. The plaintiffs also seek award of damages for copyright infringement and patent infringement, statutory damages for willful acts of infringement, costs of attorney’s fees, and additional fees.

BYB Extreme Fight Series launched in June 2015, with street fighting legend Dada 5000 as the lead spokesperson (and referee for the inaugural event). Since 2019, the promotion has held six events in the “TRIGON.”

While Triller is scheduled to hold the hybrid-rules event Nov. 27, BYB Extreme Fight Series 8 takes place Dec. 17 at James L. Knight Center in Miami.