Editing Superhero (section)

=== Current status/relevant cases ===
The following trademarks were or are registered jointly with MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. and DC COMICS:

* 73222079 SUPER HEROES for publications<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73222079&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73222079&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 72243225 SUPER HERO for costumes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72243225&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72243225&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 77732560 SUPER HEROES for production and distribution of a series of animated motion picture<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77732560&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77732560&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 78356610 SUPER HEROES for t-shirts<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78356610&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78356610&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)
* 73011796 SUPER HEROES for toy figures<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73011796&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73011796&caseSearchType=US_APPLICA |url-status=live }}</ref> (Cancelled)

As mentioned, the two companies also own a variety of other superhero-related marks. For instance, DC owns "Legion of Super-Heroes" and "[[DC Super Hero Girls]]" and Marvel owns “Marvel Super Hero Island" and "Marvel Super Hero Adventures."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Search |url=https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-results |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tmsearch.uspto.gov |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232510/https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-results |url-status=live }}</ref>

DC and Marvel have garnered a reputation for zealously protecting their superhero marks. As noted above, one of these instances included a man by the name of Graham Jules, who sought to publish a book entitled ''Business Zero to Superhero''.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants">{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=A. B. A. |title=Law student prevails against Marvel and DC Comics over the use of word 'superhero' in book title |url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants_in_battle_over_use_of_word_superh |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=ABA Journal |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232516/https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants_in_battle_over_use_of_word_superh |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, he received a cease and desist from DC and Marvel who claimed that his use of the term superhero would cause confusion and dilute their brands.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/> He was offered a few thousand dollars in settlement to change the name of his book, but he did not concede.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/> A few days prior to the scheduled hearing at the Intellectual Property Office in London, the companies backed down.<ref name="abajourna_law_student_prevails_against_comic_giants"/>

A similar scenario occurred when comic book creator Ray Felix attempted to register his comic book series ''A World Without Superheroes'' with the USPTO.<ref name="nydailynews_2013-04-25">{{Cite web |date=2013-04-25 |title=Comic book creator takes on publishers Marvel and DC for right to use term 'superhero' |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/04/25/comic-book-creator-takes-on-publishers-marvel-and-dc-for-right-to-use-term-superhero/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232516/https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/04/25/comic-book-creator-takes-on-publishers-marvel-and-dc-for-right-to-use-term-superhero/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Felix is one of many who argue that the term "superhero" has become generic (see discussion below).<ref name="nydailynews_2013-04-25"/> Felix's mark is currently abandoned, but he has stated that he intends to fight against DC and Marvel for use of the term.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85098521&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218074011/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85098521&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, Superbabies Limited managed to obtain a default judgement and cancel the "super heroes" trademarks as genericized, except for the animation pictures mark.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92085201&pty=CAN&eno=8 | title=USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92085201 }}</ref> This was unexpected as Marvel and DC had filed a motion to extend time to answer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92085201&pty=CAN&eno=4 | title=USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92085201 }}</ref>
[[File:Daredevil Battles Hitler.djvu|thumb|''Daredevil Battles Hitler'' (July 1941), the premiere issue of ''Daredevil Comics''; art by [[Charles Biro]] and [[Bob Wood (comics)|Bob Wood]].]]