The Onion Acquires License to Infowars Intellectual Property

The Onion Seeks to License Infowars' Intellectual Property in Bid to Take Control of Right-Wing Platform

A court-appointed receiver controlling Infowars parent Free Speech Systems LLC has filed papers in a Texas state court seeking approval of a licensing agreement for the company's intellectual property, including the Infowars trademark and associated domains. The proposed deal with War Is Over LLC, an affiliate of The Onion owner Global Tetrahedron LLC, would grant the licensee exclusive use of the IP assets for $81,000 per month over a six-month term.

The effort comes more than three years after Alex Jones, the right-wing conspiracy theorist, filed for bankruptcy owing $1.3 billion in judgments to families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The proposed deal would bring in revenue to cover operational costs and preserve the value of the assets while a broader legal stay prevents a final sale, according to the motion. The receiver, Gregory S. Milligan, would maintain ownership and quality control, while The Onion unit would gain full editorial authority over website content.

A post on The Onion's website said the company had been working on the deal for months. Jones has maintained control over the Infowars platform for about 25 years. The proposed deal is seen as a way to replace the existing platform with something better and more accountable.

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A hearing to consider court approval would likely come later this month, according to a spokeswoman for The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins. Jones and his lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Jones suggested there could be appeals and other legal action to push back on the move.

The receiver is represented by Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC, while War Is Over is represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. The deal has the support of Sandy Hook families who have won judgments in both Texas and Connecticut. "When InfoWars finally goes dark, the machinery of lies that Jones built will become a force for social good, thanks to the families' courage and The Onion's vision, persistence and stewardship," said Chris Mattei, a Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder attorney for the Connecticut Sandy Hook families.