Pump(dot)fun, a Solana-based meme coin platform, is under legal scrutiny as recent allegations suggest that several tokens launched on the platform have violated intellectual property (IP) rights. On February 5, U.S. law firms Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP issued a cease and desist letter to Pump(dot)fun, demanding the removal of several tokens that allegedly misused the names and logos of their clients.
A cease and desist letter is a formal legal notice urging an individual or entity to halt an unlawful activity immediately to prevent further legal consequences.
The letter specifically calls for the “immediate removal” of the Dogshit2 token and other tokens that the firms claim were created to impersonate them. The legal notice accuses Pump.fun of enabling these unauthorized token creations and failing to take action, despite having the capability to do so. The law firms assert that these actions violate their intellectual property rights and contribute to deceptive market practices, potentially putting investors at risk.
To date, hundreds of tokens have been created on Pump(dot)fun, with some of them themed around Burwick Law, Wolf Popper LLP, and Burwick’s managing partner, Max Burwick.
Growing Legal Pressure on Pump.fun
The cease and desist letter comes amid intensifying legal pressure against Pump.fun. Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP claim that Pump(dot)fun played a role in efforts to “intimidate” their clients and “interfere with ongoing litigation.” The firms point to meme coins that appear to impersonate plaintiffs involved in legal cases, arguing that these tokens are disrupting justice and due process.
One section of the letter warns: “Any further unauthorized use of our firms’ names, intellectual property, or association with this token may result in immediate legal action.”
Previous Lawsuits Targeting Pump.fun
The cease and desist letter follows two class-action lawsuits filed against Pump.fun, both led by Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP on behalf of investors. The first lawsuit, filed on January 16, targets the sale of the Peanut the Squirrel token, claiming it was an unregistered security promoted through influencer-driven hype. The second lawsuit, filed on January 30, expanded the scope of the allegations, naming Pump.fun’s operator, Baton Corporation Ltd, and key figures behind the platform.
The complaint accuses Pump(dot)fun of profiting from a pump-and-dump business model by aggressively marketing meme tokens, which later lost a significant portion of their value. Plaintiff Diego Aguilar alleges he suffered losses from purchasing tokens like Fwog and Griffain, which were heavily promoted and experienced drastic value drops. The lawsuit also claims that Pump.fun extracted nearly $500 million in fees from traders while running a scheme resembling elements of Ponzi structures.
Dogshit2 Token Controversy
The situation took a turn when community members analyzed Exhibit C of the lawsuit, revealing how easily tokens can be created on the Pump(dot)fun platform. The Dogshit2 token, in particular, became the focus of controversy when it was discovered that the wallet address mentioned in the lawsuit matched one associated with DOGSHIT2. This led to speculation that Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP may have created the token in order to strengthen their legal case.
Despite the controversy, those holding the DOGSHIT2 token benefited from the increased attention, as its value surged over 170% in the 24 hours following the issuance of the cease and desist letter, reaching an all-time high of $0.01437 on February 6.
No Official Response Yet from Pump.fun
As of the time of publication, Pump(dot)fun has not issued an official statement regarding the allegations or responded to the cease and desist letter. The legal battle surrounding the platform continues to intensify as more details unfold.
