We may never get to see Spider-Man join forces with Luke Skywalker to take on the Emperor but the two can team up at the Trademark Office. Marvel and Lucasfilm are joining forces to fight the registration of the INHUMANOIDS trademark based on a 1980’s era cartoon/toy line.

Flash back to the 1980’s when coming home from school was the greatest thing, and not just because you got out of school, because it was cartoon time. Cartoons were used as propaganda to sell action figures and it completely worked with such greats as Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, Thundercats and the lesser remembered, Inhumanoids. Airing in 1986, the cartoon told the story of a group of scientists as they battle subterranean monsters called the Inhumanoids. Marvel was one of the companies behind the show and even put out a four issue comic book series in 1987. Despite attempts to reboot the franchise over the past, the Inhumanoids have remain extinct, until now.

In December 2014, Brian M. Flynn filed a trademark registration application for INHUMANOIDS for a class that covers toys and action figures. This is an intent to use mark so the toys are not yet available for sale. On the same day, Flynn also filed for another 1980’s era toy/cartoon trademark, GOBOTS. Flynn distributes action figures such as the one to the right bearing another of his trademarks, SUPER SHOGUN, which appears to be a Shogun warrior-style of a Stormtrooper.

The mark was published for opinion and just yesterday, Marvel and Lucasfilm both requested and were granted additional time to oppose the mark; this is the usual first step before filing an opposition. Marvel has several reasons to object to the registration of the mark. First, Marvel was involved with the original production of the Inhumanoids television show and produced a comic of the same name. Second, Marvel uses a very similar trademark, INHUMANS. The Inhumans are featured in the comic books, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television show and also the title of an upcoming film to be release in 2019. Lucasfilm’s objection to the mark isn’t as straightforward and this is where it takes some guessing. Lucasfilm owns a trademark for the term DROID which they may argue is similar but this is all speculation.

Disney’s opposition to the mark isn’t due until September so this will give all the parties some time to possibly reach a settlement or prepare to do battle over the INHUMANOIDS.

