Marvel and DC Enforce "Superhero" Trademark

An anonymous reader writes "GeekPunk is announcing that their flagship comic book title featuring superheroes patronizing their favorite bar & grill during their off-hours will now be entitled Hero Happy Hour beginning with the fifth issue of the ongoing series. According to creator Dan Taylor, "The decision to change the title was brought upon by the fact that we received a letter from the trademark counsel to 'the two big comic book companies' claiming that they are the joint owners of the trademark 'SUPER HEROES' and variations thereof." " Read the recent boingboing post for more background as well.

Comments

Trademarks are the same as copyright and patents

[dada21]

I'm anti-copyright and anti-patent as I believe they destroy the desire to invent -- the legal hassles of trying to make sure your creation is unique leaves the power of invention to the distribution cartels.

I believe the market would provide many ways to profit without the force of government backing up the inventors, and I think trademarks are no different.

Copyright and patents and trademarks were intended to protect for a very short period of time so the creator and only the creator can make enough profit to keep food on the table. Today, that government force is only profitable for those powerful enough to control all the distribution cycles.

This is a tragedy that a real artist loses to the content cartels -- proof yet again that these avenues of force do not protect the common man, and should be abolished. All trademark really means is a legal structure that utilizes government force to protect residual value. Most jobs have zero residual value, and I believe that's the way it should be. Get paid for the work you do, not future uses of the products you made and then sold to another.