The world of American comics is in danger of experiencing a huge upheaval. Indeed, we learned today that the giants of the industry, DC and Marvel, have just lost this immense privilege over the competition.
DC/Marvel: the end of an era
While American comics are not limited to superhero stories alone, thanks in particular to independent publishers such as Image Comics, Dark Horse, Top Shelf or Avatar Press, the superhero genre remains the king genre. The two main stables are of course the very well-known DC Comics and Marvel, owned respectively by Warner Bros. Discovery and Marvel Entertainment. The superheroes born in these comics occupy such a prominent place in our collective imagination that the mere mention of the word superhero immediately makes us think of these two legendary publishing houses.
What is less known on the other hand, it is thatThe word “Superhero” is a trademark jointly registered by DC Comics and Marvel in 1977. The trademark was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1979. This trademark registration has long allowed DC Comics and Marvel to dominate the American market. How is it then that Garth Ennis was able to use the term in the comic book The Boys? Because the publisher Wildstorm is a property of DC Comics. The same goes for the use of the word in Alan Moore's Top 10, published by the America's Best Comics (ABC) imprint, which is also owned by DC Comics.
The law firm Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg (RJLF) has just announced that the term is officially no longer a property of DC Comics and Marvel. The request was accepted by the court because the publishers did not respond to the court's requests. Is this a lack of attention or awareness by both publishers of an injustice? It is difficult to answer, but it is certainly a reason for rejoicing for the competition between the two publishers. One of the lawyers also stated: “Obtaining this result is not only a victory for our client, but a victory for creativity and innovation. By establishing the place of SUPER HEROES in the public domain, we are protecting it as a symbol of heroism available to all storytellers.“
Moreover, DC Comics and Marvel fans can rest assured. The loss of this immense privilege will absolutely not impact the economy of the two giants of comics who are not at risk of losing their historical status. Did this article interest you? Then don't hesitate to discover this impressive tattoo of the Joker.