Superman’s birthday present of a kryptonite lollipop to Superkid may have been a sign that there was some tension between the two. DC Comics has opposed a new trademark registration by Scholastic Books, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERKID claiming that it is too similar to the SUPERMAN trademark.

Scholastic Inc. is the distributor of fine children’s books that I used to purchase at book fairs or mail order in grade school. Back in the days when a book was still a book and not read off a tablet, just saying. In August 2013, Scholastic started distributing a series of books called The Adventures of Superkid that tell stories about the neighborhood’s “spunky new hero” as he accomplishes daring feats using fruits and veggies as the secret to his power. Superkid was having a good ole time on his adventures and devouring bunches of bananas until Scholastic filed to register the trademark for the series of books. Scholastic was apparently never taught to not tug on Superman’s cape.

On Monday, DC Comics formally filed its opposition to the registration of the SUPERKID trademark. DC Comics cites the long use of the SUPERMAN trademark, dating back to 1938, and the SUPERBOY trademark, dating back to the 1940’s, as confusingly similar to the SUPERKID trademark. DC Comics argues that people are bound to confuse the SUPERKID mark with the SUPERMAN and SUPERBOY mark and be confused to believe that DC Comics endorses or is associated with THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERKID trademark and series of books.

When not seeing the covers of the Superkid books it is easy to see how people might be confused to believe that The Adventures of Superkid is a new line of comics or stories associated with Superman. The parties will head to discovery and a decision on the registration of the trademark is still a long way away unless the parties can reach a settlement.

