BOMBSHELL: Marvel and DC’s Grip on "Super Hero" Trademarks SHATTERED
In a shocking turn of events, the US Patent and Trademark Office has CANCELED the joint ownership of "Super Hero" trademarks held by Marvel and DC for decades. And it’s not just a minor setback – the cancellation of these four patents marks a major blow to the comic giants’ stranglehold on the term.
But who’s behind this sudden shift in power? Enter Superbabies Limited, a tiny comic book publisher that dared to challenge the behemoths’ claim to the trademarks. And it all started when DC attempted to silence Superbabies’ creator, S.J. Richold, from promoting his own superhero babies series.
The plot thickens: Marvel and DC failed to respond to the challenge by the July 24th deadline, resulting in the automatic cancellation of the trademarks. And with that, the office has freed up the term "Super Hero" for public use – a move that’s sending shockwaves through the comic book industry.
But don’t think for a second that Marvel and DC are going down without a fight. They still co-own a "SUPER HEROES" trademark, registered in 2018, as well as a "SUPER-VILLAIN" trademark secured in 1985. It’s a battle for control of the superhero universe, and only time will tell who will emerge victorious.
Want to dive deeper into the rabbit hole? Check out the two-part series of articles by lawyer Adam Adler, who represented Superbabies in the trademark challenge. Adler’s articles explore how Marvel and DC came to jointly own the trademarks and what they’ve done to guard that ownership over the years.
