Marvel, DC lose 'Super Hero' trademark after almost 60 years
What's the story
Marvel and DC, the two titans of comics, have been co-owners of the "Super Hero" trademark since 1967. Now, they have lost the exclusive rights to the same. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has decided to cancel the trademark. Why? Well, a tiny player called Superbabies Limited threw down the gauntlet, challenging their claim. This little company is famous for its Superbabies comics series that has baby superheroes in it.
Trademark dispute
The challenge was initiated by Superbabies creator
The whole thing kicked off when S.J. Richold, the guy behind Superbabies, decided to challenge DC after they tried to stop him from promoting his series The Super Babies. According to Richold's legal team, neither Marvel nor DC bothered to respond to this challenge by the deadline of July 24, 2024. And guess what? That's what led to the cancelation of their trademark according to the USPTO.
Patent cancelation
Marvel, DC still own 'Super-Villain' trademark
The USPTO's ruling led to the cancelation of four patents. The oldest one was for the "Super Hero" trademark, which was registered way back in the 1960s. But it's not all doom and gloom for Marvel and DC. They still co-own a "Super Heroes" trademark from 2018 and a "Super-Villain" trademark from 1985.