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Marvel and DC Enforce "Superhero" Trademark

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the stupid-legal-moves dept.

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.

2 of 430 comments (clear)

  1. Holy ruined comics Batman! by Paperghost · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look, up in the sky, its a shattered childhood.

  2. Look up in the sky. It's a flying bull. Ewwwww. by rs79 · · Score: 5, Informative

    " Isn't the term "Super Hero" pretty generic"

    Trademark laws exist to protect the consumer, not the producer.

    If you buy a brown fizzy beverage, and if it says "cocacola" you should have some sort of confidence you're buying CocaCola brand of fizzy soft drink.

    Is there some consumer confusion that your "superhero" is not a DC or Marvel brand of superhero? To say nothing of the fact if don't activly protect your mark you lose it.

    Goog sez: "Results 1 - 50 of about 7,330,000 for "superhero""

    If Marvel and DC jointly own the trademark on "superhero" I'd be saying the words "Anti trust". A LOT. And ignoring the C&D letter.

    --
    Need Mercedes parts ?