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The creators of the popular card game Cards Against Humanity are suing Elon Musk’s SpaceX for $15 million. They accuse the aerospace company of trespassing on their land near the Texas-Mexico border.
The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX cleared vegetation and turned CAH’s “pristine” property into a dumping ground for its Starbase operations.
SpaceX Used CAH’s Land Without Permission
Following the filing, CAH published an online letter to supporters detailing their grievances. According to the letter, SpaceX had used the land without permission for six months as a staging area for various activities, including parking, vegetation clearing, running generators, and storing construction equipment.
7 years ago, we bought a plot of land on the US-Mexico border to stop racist billionaire Donald Trump’s dumb wall.
But this year, an even richer, more racist billionaire—@ElonMusk—fucked that land with tractors and garbage, so we’re suing for $15 million. https://t.co/MzNuHAcRIo
— Cards Against Humanity (@CAH) September 20, 2024
The letter also stated that when CAH confronted SpaceX, they were given a 12-hour ultimatum to accept an offer worth less than half of the land’s value. CAH declined the offer, informing SpaceX they would initiate legal proceedings. The property in question has an interesting history.
In 2017, CAH purchased the land near Brownsville, Texas, through a crowdfunding effort that attracted 150,000 backers, each contributing $15 to help the game company acquire the property. The purpose of this acquisition was to block then-President Donald Trump’s plans for a border wall.
While the wall was never constructed on this site, CAH still maintains a “No Trespassing” sign on the property. The land now sits next to SpaceX’s Starbase facility, which has become central to the company’s rocket development and testing operations.
Cards Against Humanity locking tf in against his dumbass was not on my 2024 bingo card but I am ALL FOR IT. GET HIS ASS https://t.co/4Wa8koTyPq pic.twitter.com/GHKubOWNmI
— ⌦ Aether (@Starb0undPl3xus) September 21, 2024
CAH alleged that SpaceX’s use of the land is not only unauthorized but also disrespectful, as it ignored the company’s clear ownership and the purpose for which the land was bought. In the legal filing, CAH reiterated that the land was purchased to protect it from being used for harmful purposes and to maintain its natural state.
While SpaceX has faced regulatory challenges in the past, including potential civil liabilities over launch safety concerns, this marks the first time the company has been embroiled in a dispute over property ownership and unauthorized land use.
CAH has made it clear that they’re not backing down. They hope to win the case and set an example for other small businesses or individuals who may find themselves in similar situations dealing with more powerful entities.
The game company promises to split the net proceeds from the lawsuit with the donors who helped purchase the disputed land.
