A legal dispute has arisen concerning the mask design utilized by AEW’s Luchasaurus. On December 20, Composite Effects, LLC initiated a lawsuit against AEW and Austin Matelson (known as Luchasaurus), alleging that their copyrighted mask design has been used for merchandise without proper authorization.
Composite Effects asserts that it holds the licensing and design rights for the mask, which AEW has allegedly infringed by producing related merchandise.
They argue, “While Matelson had the right to use the mask during wrestling events, neither he nor any representative was authorized to produce merchandise featuring the mask design.”
The complaint includes instances of AEW featuring the mask design on various products, such as t-shirts and action figures. In late 2016, Matelson collaborated with Composite Effects to create a modified version of their ‘Viper Silicone Mask,’ with an updated version including horns developed in March 2019.
Composite Effects claims they sent multiple requests in 2022 to both AEW and Matelson to cease using the design or establish a licensing agreement, but no agreement was reached. The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the jurisdiction where Composite Effects is located.