This unauthorized imitation of Superman must be stopped right meow. DC Comics is gearing up its opposition to a feline inspired trademark registration application for a new comic book character, SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN.

Superman is one of the most famous superheroes and one of the most recognizable trademarks associated with comics and entertainment. The SUPERMAN mark has been in continuous use since 1933, before even DC Comics existed. Over the years, DC Comics has been quite diligent about opposing trademarks that even come close to the SUPERMAN name or image. Meow, DC Comics finds itself ready to do battle with a four-legged villain.

In June 2015, Christine Walsh of Minnesota filed a trademark registration for the mark SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN. The mark was filed in two classes, one for t-shirts and hats and the other one was described as follows: “a series of fiction works, namely, novels and books featuring superheroes; Comic strips”. This application got off on the wrong foot because, as we have wrote about many times here before, the term SUPERHERO is a registered trademark owned jointly by DC Comics and Marvel. Good rule of thumb, try to avoid using someone else’s trademark in your trademark registration….d’oh. This is an intent to use mark meaning that the name is not yet being used but the registrant plans on using the mark in the foreseeable future. We can only assume that SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN is a new comic book character, with a tail, that does battle with dogs and the occasional hairball.

Yesterday, DC Comics requested and was granted an extension of time to oppose the mark. Since SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN contains DC Comics entire SUPERMAN trademark, DC Comics will argue that the proposed mark is confusingly similar to theirs especially since this is another comic book character. DC Comics will claim that people are likely to think that SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN is endorsed by or affiliated with Superman and DC Comics when it is not. The parties have some time to work out the dispute before DC Comics formal opposition to the mark is due. This is also the time that SUPER MEOW MEOW MAN can walk away from the registration and avoid the legal battle. Meow, we just have to wait and see what happens in this cat and mouse game of trademark registrations.

(Thanks Wheezy…and her mom…for the cute pic.)

