The superhero genre has been dominated by Marvel and DC Comics for decades. However, a recent legal victory could shake up the landscape. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has canceled a long-held joint trademark of the word “Superhero” by DC and Marvel.
This paves the way for other companies to use the term freely. Amazon’s ‘The Boys’, especially woul not pass on the opportunity.
‘The Boys’ Use Popular Homelander Meme To React To The News
The decision came after a legal challenge by S.J. Richold and Superbabies Limited, who argued that “Superhero” is a generic term and should not be protected by a trademark. The law firm represented the plaintiffs and successfully argued their case. Moreover, the cancellation of the trademark has significant implications for the superhero genre.
It means that other companies can now use the term “Superhero” without fear of legal repercussions. The anti-superhero show ‘The Boys’ reacted to the news with a meme featuring Homelander. Posted on the show’s official ‘ handle, the meme shows Homelander looking shocked, and confused but smiling.Â
The meme did a good job of highlighting the potential impact of the trademark cancellation on the superhero landscape. Moreover, ‘The Boys’ is known for taking inspiration from the popular MCU and DCU superheroes to brutally mock them. So, only time will tell what they’ll do with this new freedom.
What Does The Trademark Verdict Mean For Superhero Genre?
The cancellation of the “Superhero” trademark is a landmark decision that could have far-reaching consequences for the superhero genre. It opens up new possibilities for creators and allows for greater diversity and innovation in storytelling.
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Moreover, while often seen as rivals, DC and Marvel Comics have actually collaborated on several occasions. One of their most notable partnerships was the creation of the ‘Amalgam Universe’, a shared universe that combined characters from both companies.
For example, Dark Claw was a combination of Batman and Wolverine. Whereas, Super Soldier merged Superman and Captain America. Additionally, while they may compete for market share, they have also shown that they can work together to create exciting and innovative stories.
Moreover, while Marvel and DC will still be able to use the term “Superhero,” the loss of exclusivity could lead to a lot of new things. So, fans of both the DCU and MCU, and ‘The Boys’ can look forward to an interesting future for superheroes.Â