I want to say 'superhero'.

Lago PARANOIA · Post by **Lago PARANOIA** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:17 pm

Why the crap am I not allowed to say superhero in a derivative work? Whose ass do I have to kick to make this happen?

Username17 · Post by **Username17** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:29 pm

Marvel and DC jointly own the word Superhero and have a trade mark on that terminology.

So, basically you need IFF Help.

-Username17

Lago PARANOIA · Post by **Lago PARANOIA** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:48 pm

How the crap do they get away with that?

Everyone says the word 'superhero'. You'd think that there would be a huge public outcry over this. But then again, this is the first time I heard about it so still.

Username17 · Post by **Username17** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:45 pm

Lago wrote:How the crap do they get away with that?

You mean because Trademarks are either owned or not owned, and there's no such fucking thing as a joint trademark ownership? Especially not when there's clearly demonstrable prior art in the public god damn domain? Blame Mickey Mouse. Seriously.

Marvel and DC stole the word and retroactively trademarked it. And the government totally went for it back in 1979

Everyone says the word 'superhero'. You'd think that there would be a huge public outcry over this. But then again, this is the first time I heard about it so still.

Because it only applies to:

Publications, but basically comic books and magazines. Also, cardboard stand-up figures, playing cards, paper iron-on transfers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pencils, notebooks, stamp albums, and costumes.

So if you have a newspaper article about superheroes, hell even if you have a movie, you can use the word superhero to your heart's content. Indeed, when you write a newspaper article about superheroes, you're in the clear.

Really the only thing it applies to is the people who make superhero pajamas or comics. And honestly, no one cares what those people think. You can make a superhero roleplaying game, you just can't label it a superhero role playing game. That's why Champions is called "The Super Role Playing Game!" It's not called the superhero RPG, because that's a breach of copyright,. But it still uses the word Superhero indiscriminately within the text, because trademarks don't affect the inner text of a book - only the advertising packaging. Furthermore, the slashfic mark for superheroes is "CB" for "comic book" and not "SH" for "superhero" to comply with trademarks. But of course, they use the word superhero inside those slashfics constantly and that is OK.

So the only people who really get the shaft are independent comic producers like Image, who are barred by law from advertising themselves as producers of "superhero comics." And since no one gives a flying fuck if the writers of Savage Dragon are happy or sad, the situation just rumbles forward.

-Username17

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:08 am

How about "superheroic", "superpowered hero", "superheroine" or other such "we're dancing around the boundary" terms?

Aside from that, I agree. That's just dumb, and they're being dicks. I was never a fan of trademarks/copyright in general, and this is a good example of why.

Also, one of them managed to copyright the silly little cardboard cut-out things that you could theoretically use in place of Hero-clix. You know, where you fold it along the middle and it has a picture of the hero on either side? No really, they copyrighted that. Because obviously they invented such an idea.

Brb, copyrighting the d6. I'm going to make a fucking mint.

Bigode · Post by **Bigode** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:49 am

One of your fellows seems to have patented the circular transportation facilitation device. Though maybe an expansion patent can still be made for use in torture, if you wanna try.

zeruslord · Post by **zeruslord** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:52 am

Damn. Copyrights don't even do that.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:05 am

I'm glad someone finally patented the wheel. I mean, it's absurd that we don'y pay fees to use absolutely everything ever.

zeruslord · Post by **zeruslord** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:12 am

Patents are for sissies. I'm copyrighting the wheel. Given how long it's been since Steamboat Willie, my descendants will be living the sweet life forever.

JonSetanta · Post by **JonSetanta** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:34 am

Koumei wrote: Brb, copyrighting the d6. I'm going to make a fucking mint.

Fuck your shit good madam, I'll copyright the dπ (d-pi) and make billions.

Talisman · Post by **Talisman** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:44 am

I'm just going to copyright the letter D. Then all you d# copyholders will have to pay me.

I think I'll also copyright the letters 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:26 am

Beer.

Talisman · Post by **Talisman** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:48 am

Maj wrote:Beer.

Thanks! *drinks beer*

Now, where were we?

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:07 am

Talisman wrote:I think I'll also copyright the letters 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20.

You go do that. How about the numbers?

Also, the colour purple is a trademark under the Cadbury group of Schweppes.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:17 am

I think Mauna Loa has trademarked their blue, too (under Hershey's).

Talisman · Post by **Talisman** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:32 am

Koumei wrote:
Talisman wrote:I think I'll also copyright the letters 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20.
You go do that. How about the numbers?

A number is a concept. Maybe I'll go with the numerals instead.

Hey Maj! More beer!

JonSetanta · Post by **JonSetanta** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:05 am

I'll copyright the word "Talisman" so that even if he complains about said madgrab for dominance I get paid in the process.

Bigode · Post by **Bigode** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:09 am

A madgrab for dominance of Talisman, Sigma? I thought you liked women, and were even committed to one ...

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:37 am

Bigode wrote:A madgrab for dominance of Talisman, Sigma? I thought you liked women, and were even committed to one ...

It's the internet. everythign is always the opposite of what you think it is!

JonSetanta · Post by **JonSetanta** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:55 am

Bigode wrote:A madgrab for dominance of Talisman, Sigma? I thought you liked women, and were even committed to one ...

Context, Biggy. Read it again.

Yes though I am with a lovely girl.

Bigode · Post by **Bigode** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:37 am

And now I'm "Biggy".