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Hasbro sues DC over Bumblebee name
- Thread starter mreddie
- Start date
Marmaladefire
Member
I don't really think kids would get confused. They're usually very involved and specific about the things they like. "NOT THAT BUMBLEBEE! MY BUMBLEBEE!"
It's pretty much the only other option. I assumed Vixen wasn't in because Bumblebee was a fairly unpopular token inclusion anyway. The only place little girls would plausible know her from is a few appearances in Teen Titans (2003), and she doesn't get much promotion in the doll commercials and whatnot. The fact that both Blackfire and Beast Boy got an action figure before Vixen is laughable.
It's pretty much the only other option. I assumed Vixen wasn't in because Bumblebee was a fairly unpopular token inclusion anyway. The only place little girls would plausible know her from is a few appearances in Teen Titans (2003), and she doesn't get much promotion in the doll commercials and whatnot. The fact that both Blackfire and Beast Boy got an action figure before Vixen is laughable.
SpaceCadetKeon
Banned
Is all that Brony money not enough for Hasbro anymore? Gotta screw with other companies' trademarks for a quick buck too?
HarryDemeanor
Member
They'll be suing bumblebees next.
LordOfLore
Banned
Yep. She was created for the original book and even got her name there. Think she was one of the first afro-american female superheroes.
Gordon Shumway
Banned
balladofwindfishes
Member
Yes
Pandora012
Member
Yeah, think she was with Titans East.
Keyser Soze
Member
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass,
bump to the bump to the Bumble!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass,
bump to the bump to the Bumble!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the boom-boom,
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass-as-as-ase!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the boom-boom,
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass-as-as-ase!
bump to the bump to the Bumble!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass,
bump to the bump to the Bumble!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the boom-boom,
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass-as-as-ase!
Bump to the bump to the bump to the boom-boom,
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass-as-as-ase!
NERD!!!
I think Hasbro needs to bring in this man to confront DC...
AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA
are you fucking kidding me
this should be banworthy
LSauchelli
Member
Hasbro has the trademark, so I don't think it will be a super easy win for DC.
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
.
Last edited:
Beer Monkey
Member
cause that worked out for DC last time
It's pretty different than that.
When Marvel trademarked 'Captain Marvel' in the late 60s, there hadn't been any Captain Marvel comics in decades and DC did not own or have license of the character.
DC licensed Captain Marvel in 1972, five years after Marvel trademarked that name.
Hasbro can fuck off, DC's character is earlier than theirs. It comes down to nothing more than that.
Edit: my bad, I was v drunk while writing that, hasbro certainly has a big disadvantage here, but they could argue down certain rights with each other here I believe? I've seen rights get piecemealed before in some way, possibly..
Edit: my bad, I was v drunk while writing that, hasbro certainly has a big disadvantage here, but they could argue down certain rights with each other here I believe? I've seen rights get piecemealed before in some way, possibly..
evil solrac v3.0
Member
But bumblebee is an awful autobot.
As children we all obsessed over our favorite toys and characters and knew who was who by heart. I really doubt that scenario happens so often that it would hurt sales.
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
.
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Shin K Dash
Member
Didn't DC just dust off Bumblebee as far as marketing her? Even if they owned the trademark earlier I don't see how they can win this when Hasbro has been more aggressive with their license than DC.
Copyright laws are confusing...
Copyright laws are confusing...
gutter_trash
Banned
odd on the part of Hasbro,
many Transformers and GI Joe characters had names used by other IPs like Jazz, Onslaught
many Transformers and GI Joe characters had names used by other IPs like Jazz, Onslaught
UnemployedVillain
Member
She's made a cameo apparently. They used her actual name instead of calling her vixen.
Please let this happen lol
LordOfLore
Banned
Will just have to add "DC's" before every toy.
If you have enough money, that'll never be an issue. Look at how Microsoft managed to trademark "Windows" in the 90s...
LordOfLore
Banned
or they could do "B.Bee" or something dumb
I'm still mad DC went for Shazam as the name and not Captain Thunder.
Which, Ironically, is what Hasbro already does to every marvel character with a generic name such as "Marvel's Wrecker".
Earthbound64
Banned
Doctoglethorpe
Member
Eh. I really thought an animated Transformers flick with Jerry Seinfeld as Bumblebee would be fantastic but I was gravely disappointed in that movie. There weren't even any robots, what kind of rip off is that? Transformers is now dead to me now, so DC should just keep the name.
Hard to believe consumers would really confuse a freaking transforming car robot for a cute black super hero girl.
The only possible scenario where i can see this happening is if someone's tomboy daughter who is into Transformers asks for a bumblebee toy and their aunt buys the one that looks meant to be aimed at girls.
And the funny thing is no matter the result that kid would be getting a super hero toy.
ZackieChan
Member
That's not how trademarks work. A "generic" trademark is one that is inseparable from the goods or services sold under the trademark. A common word can be a valid and strong trademark if it is distinctive from the goods and services sold under the trademark. Think Apple - can't protect it as a trademark to sell apples, but you CAN use it as a super strong trademark to sell computers and phones. Google "trademark distinctiveness" for more.
If they began using the Bumblebee name as a brand in connection with those goods and services, in commerce, they accrue trademark rights. If you're not using it as a trademark, though (just a character in a comic book that's not the actual branding of the comic book or toy), you have no trademark rights.
Explained above, you're both wrong. And this is how international trademark law works pretty much across the board. What are you even talking about?
You accrue trademark rights by using the mark in commerce, not by registration.
Yes you can.
You don't "put a trademark" on a word. You use a word as a trademark, to identify the source of goods or services. By doing so, you gain exclusive rights to use that trademark in connection with those goods or services.
There can be the same trademark being used for different goods and services, if it wouldn't be likely to confuse customers. Delta airlines and Delta faucets, for example, can exist at the same time and both have strong trademark rights.
Or, in the tuna example flippantly posted above
Gordon Shumway
Banned
I think when the other company has that as their name it gets a lot more problematic.cause that worked out for DC last time
I half expect settling out of court.
DC just will get it around by calling her Titan Bumblebee.
Hasbro is very familiar with losing and gaining trademarks for toys.
Its why Jazz is called Autobot Jazz.
Shit is very common in the toy business, DC fucked up.
Hasbro is very familiar with losing and gaining trademarks for toys.
Its why Jazz is called Autobot Jazz.
Shit is very common in the toy business, DC fucked up.
SatoAilDarko
Member
She's made a cameo apparently. They used her actual name instead of calling her vixen.
Yeah I feel the name is the holdup. Vixen being in Justice League Unlimited and Arrowerse would make her seem the more obvious choice. Also her powers are more interesting to me.
I saw the multifigure pack with Beast boy just yesterday.
I assume his role is needy/comic-relief male friend I witnessed so much in teen girl media growing with having two younger sisters.
Which admittedly is good casting.
Beer Monkey
Member
DC should have bought and trademarked the original Captain Marvel before 1967 (the year Marvel Comics created and trademarked their Captain Marvel).
I mean, it's kind of ironic, in that DC forced Captain Marvel off the racks in 1953, resulting in there being no Captain Marvel comics marketed for 14 years when Marvel finally decided to jump on the character name.
If i recall correctly, guys are part of the show/webseries, it just focuses on the girls, technically speaking there is no problem on making all the usual DC guys into figures for the line.
I'm about to start suing these companies for emotional damages and defamation of character for assuming I'm not intelligent enough to distinguish between characters of a similar name. Newsflash assholes, we have billions of people on this planet. Ideas will overlap at an ever increasing pace and there is only so many combinations of words that can be used.