Makes Trash Tier Memes

Zane alleges that Ulrich’s gaming memes are uniformly “trash tier.” Ulrich denies the charge and submits three specimens from the disputed body of work.

• The parties agree that Ulrich makes memes for their gaming community; the dispute concerns quality, not authorship.
• Defendant Exhibits A through C show recognizable meme formats adapted with gaming-community symbols and references.
• Ulrich’s claim of nearly 100,000 views is not independently established by the submitted record. In any event, views measure exposure, not wit.
• Zane submitted no examples or other evidence supporting the categorical “trash tier” classification and concedes that approximately 10% of the memes cause laughter.
• The exhibits do not establish consistent excellence, but neither does this thin record establish consistent failure.

The plaintiff bears the burden of proving that Ulrich’s memes belong in the alleged lowest tier. That burden is not met. Defendant Exhibits A through C display established meme templates, readable captions, and gaming references evidently tailored to the relevant community. Whether each lands is a matter of taste; Exhibit B, in particular, expects the viewer to arrive carrying substantial guild lore. But niche humor is not defective merely because it requires the niche. More importantly, Zane admits laughing 10% of the time. That is not a distinguished batting average, but it is fatal to a claim of total comedic insolvency. The Court therefore finds only that Ulrich makes some functional gaming memes—not that civilization must preserve them.

A conceded 10% laugh rate defeats a charge of total meme failure.