• Chinese actor Ge Yu is suing lots of of firms for utilizing the meme of him mendacity on the sofa.
• He is received over $1.1 million in 544 lawsuits, Chinese outlet Southern Weekend first reported it.
• “Jie you lying” grew to become a viral meme in 2016 as a part of the “Laying flat” motion in China.

A veteran Chinese actor whose likeness grew to become a meme for the “false flat” motion has earned $1.1 million after suing lots of of firms.

Ge Yu, 65, has efficiently sued 542 companies over the previous six years for utilizing his picture with out consent. After profitable most of those circumstances, he’s set to obtain a public apology from every firm and a complete of seven.6 million Chinese yuan, or $1.1 million, in compensation from the companies. Local outlet Southern Weekend first reported on 27 March.

The outlet reported that they sued a complete of 544 companies, giving them a 99.6% win price.

Since 2017, more than 600 civil cases GE’s meme is talked about in China’s courtroom judgment archive filed in appeals by defendant companies disputing the dues.

Ge grew to become the web face of China’s “fake flat” motion lately after Web customers posted pictures of him reclining on the sofa for the 1993 sitcom “I Love My Family.”

Within the present, Ji Jie performs Chunsheng, a lazy free-loader who spends days within the protagonist’s home lounging on the couch. When the characters of the present ask G to go away the home, he refuses.

Chinese folks on social media seized on Ji’s visuals for instance of “lying flat”, a motion amongst weary youths to reject the rat race in favor of doing the naked minimal simply to get by. promotes.

—Yujun （中国語フレーズ） (@atons86) January 16, 2021

The phrase “Jiu Tang” or “Jiu Laing” grew to become an web sensation in China in 2016.

it was hailed as one of many Top 10 Internet Culture Phrases of the Year by the Chinese journal Yaowen Jiaozi, and have become so standard that it’s now a default phrase used to describe when somebody reclines on a settee.

A whole bunch of firms started utilizing the meme in advertising campaigns or social media posts, akin to one automotive firm that says its autos have seats that let folks slouch like GE, seen by a courtroom insider. As per information.

In response, Ge has sued banks, leisure firms, automakers, know-how companies, house equipment producers, and even an airline for utilizing his picture. In some circumstances, the courts dominated that the actor ought to have obtained lower than $50.

However the sheer quantity of those lawsuits has now added up to small sums. And on Chinese social media, Ge’s authorized victory is being lauded – exactly for a way they’ve made cash for the actor with out him truly paying for it.

“Now this is how you lie and make money,” A user commented on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform.

“Lying and making money is still Big Uncle Ji’s!” Wrote another.

Ge has joined a small crowd of people that have made cash off their likeness being used in viral memes.

“Disaster Girl” Zoe Roth,” earned nearly $500,000 in 2021 after selling the original photo of her meme as an NFT. In January, “Popeye’s Kid” Dienerst Colin signed a sponsorship deal with fast food company Popeyes.