SpaceX and the makers of the popular game Cards Against Humanity have quietly settled a lawsuit over a piece of land in Texas. The case involved accusations that SpaceX had trespassed on and damaged land the card company owns in Cameron County, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The dispute began over six months during which SpaceX allegedly used the property without permission. Cards Against Humanity claimed that SpaceX placed construction materials like gravel and debris on the land, which the game maker said it had kept in a natural state. The company put up "no trespassing" signs to warn people to stay off the area.
Cards Against Humanity first bought the land in 2017. They said the purchase was a political statement against former President Donald Trump’s border wall plans. About 150,000 fans each chipped in $15 to help buy the property.
The card company sued SpaceX, asking for $15 million in damages, including the cost to restore the damaged vegetation. During the case, SpaceX admitted to trespassing. The two sides reached a settlement last month, just before a trial was set to start on November 3. Neither side has shared the terms of the agreement.
Cards Against Humanity said a trial could have cost more than they might win, so settling made sense. They can now work with local landscapers to restore the land and clear away SpaceX’s equipment and debris.
Though they had hoped to share settlement money with the many fans who helped buy the land, the company warned they might only get a small amount or nothing at all. For now, the land will be peaceful again, free from construction clutter and border wall controversy.