A spoof website is shutting down because its owner says he can't afford to go up against Québecor Media, the conglomerate that owns the newspaper he is satirizing.

Le Journal de Mourréal went online in 2013 and has more than 100,000 followers on Facebook.

Earlier this month, Québecor Media filed a request for an injunction against the parody website's creator, Janick Murray-Hall, saying the website's name and design were too similar to the Journal de Montréal's and that their "ordinary, rather busy readers" might mix up the two publications.

In addition to requesting the site be shut down, Québecor Media also demanded the site's owner turn over any profits he made on the venture.

The satirical website mounted a crowdfunding campaign to finance a legal fight against the injunction, but on Sunday admitted defeat, citing rising legal fees.

A message posted to the Journal de Mourréal's Facebook page said a new website will eventually "rise from the ashes" with a name and logo that "won't be confusing to 'ordinary, rather busy readers,'" a jab at Quebecor Media's description of the people who read its daily newspaper.

"I hope to avoid the wrath and future prosecutions by the almighty Quebecor empire and I hope they will cease all legal action against me in good faith," the post reads.