Meme by the Washington Post, photo by George Mobley for National Geographic. Yes, we had to pay to post this Socially Awkward Penguin. (Getty)
Socially Awkward Penguin is arguably one of the most recognizable memes on the Internet. The blue-backgrounded image of the off-balance penguin — superimposed with funny text — has been plastered across every message board, forum and social network on the Web. It’s an inside joke. An icon. A mascot, even.
It’s also the intellectual property of National Geographic, which — awkward! — suddenly wants Internet users to pay up for posting it.
In the past year, the company’s licensing agency, Getty Images, has “pursued and settled” multiple infringement cases involving Socially Awkward Penguin, it confirmed to The Post. All of those actions were carried out in secret, with blogs and other posters agreeing to non-disclosure. Read more at the Washington Post
