Franchise FAQ

can superheroes from different franchises have the same name

by Jeanette Douglas Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Corporations like Marvel and DC which make vast amounts of money by licensing their intellectual property are very thorough in this regard. Having almost the same name can already be an infringement when there is reason to believe someone might mistake your character for the trademarked one.

To avoid copyright problems, almost no character has the same name in both universes. You have very similar names in some cases such as Deadpool and Deathstroke, who both look very similar, although they have very different stories and abilities.

Full Answer

What Marvel and DC characters have the same name?

15 Marvel And DC Comics Characters Who Share A Name 1 SPIDER-MAN/SPIDER MAN. 2 ENCHANTRESS. 3 MAGNETO. 4 ARES. 5 DOCTOR DOOM/DOCTOR DOOME. 6 CHEETAH. 7 CARNAGE. 8 BANE. 9 SABRETOOTH/ SABRE-TOOTH. 10 CYBORG/PSI-BORG. More items...

What are the 15 biggest superhero franchises that never got past the first?

15 Huge Superhero Franchises (That Never Got Past The First Film) 15 FLASH GORDON (1980) Flash Gordon premiered in 1980 and while many may not know it today, it was based on a comic strip of the same name. The strip ... 14 THE PUNISHER (1989) 13 THE ROCKETEER (1991) 12 THE SHADOW (1994) 11 TANK GIRL ...

Why don't superhero movies have sequels?

Sometimes superhero films don't spawn the franchises that producers were banking on. Some never even make it to the sequel. These are their stories. These days, it seems hardly a movie is released in the superhero genre that doesn't automatically come with a three-picture deal.

Can two businesses have the same name?

The claim to a business name has a lot to do with consumer confusion, and whether having two similar or same names will be a sore point for consumers. If you and another business have the same or similar name, but you are both not operating in the same industry or field, you may have a case for no consumer confusion, and there may be no issue.

Who is the X-Men's rival?

Who introduced Captain Marvel?

What is the Bane in Marvel?

Is Doctor Strange a hero or villain?

Is there a battle between Marvel and DC?

Is Hugo Strange a villain?

Is Magic User getting his own movie?

See 4 more

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Can superhero names be trademarked?

A: Comic characters/superheroes can contain both copyrights and trademarks.

Are Marvel character names trademarked?

Trademark Protection Trademarks are used to protect the names and likenesses of Marvel's comic book superheroes.

Can comic book characters have the same name?

Characters can have the same name, but the company who holds the trademark is able to thwart the competition's attempts to market products using that mark.

How do I find out if a superhero name is trademarked?

To search for trademarks, use the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. But you can assume that the name of every major comic book character and villain is trademarked.

Is the name Hulk copyrighted?

For Hulk, you definitely need permission. He is 100% a creation of Marvel Comics and they own all the rights to him.

Is the name Thanos trademarked?

THANOS Trademark of Marvel Characters, Inc. - Registration Number 4660110 - Serial Number 85762846 :: Justia Trademarks.

Do Marvel and DC have characters with the same name?

As we said at the start of this story, there are literally hundreds of shared names between Marvel and DC. If you know any interesting history about shared characters between the two companies, share it in the comments!

Are comic book character names copyrighted?

Thus a drawing, picture, depiction, or written description of a character can be registered for copyright. Protection does not, however, extend to the title or general theme for a cartoon or comic strip, the general idea or name for characters depicted, or their intangible attributes.

Is Hugo Strange a Dr?

Hugo Strange appears in one episode of Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by Ray Buktenica. In "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne", he is established to be a psychiatrist that runs a rest hospital that he uses to blackmail Gotham City's elite with secrets via a machine that reads minds.

Is the name Harley Quinn copyrighted?

HARLEY QUINN Trademark of DC COMICS - Registration Number 5530765 - Serial Number 87028685 :: Justia Trademarks.

Is the name Superman trademarked?

Superman is a great example: he was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, then later sold to the comic company that now owns all the character's copyright and trademark rights.

Is the name Bruce Wayne trademarked?

Bruce Wayne is trademark of DC comics, even if we assume its not registered.

Is the word Avenger trademarked?

AVENGERS Trademark of Marvel Characters, Inc. - Registration Number 4918897 - Serial Number 86338494 :: Justia Trademarks.

Is the name Black Widow trademarked?

BLACK WIDOW Trademark of Marvel Characters, Inc. - Registration Number 2571051 - Serial Number 76140621 :: Justia Trademarks.

Is The Avengers logo trademarked?

THE AVENGERS Trademark of MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. - Registration Number 0885486 - Serial Number 72278015 :: Justia Trademarks.

Is the Spiderman logo trademarked?

SPIDER-MAN Trademark of MARVEL CHARACTERS, INC. - Registration Number 1163134 - Serial Number 73240050 :: Justia Trademarks.

Marvel and DC: Similar Characters, Yes They Copied from ... - shortpedia

Marvel and DC, competitors and Rivals. Yet, they have many characters who are very similar to each other. To simply put it, each other's rip-offs. Here is a list of similar characters from Marvel and DC.

Who is the X-Men's rival?

Our first X-Men character of the list (but not the last) is the most well-known rival of Wolverine , the mutant Sabretooth. The big clawed mutant is the closest thing we’ve really had to an evil version of Logan, but usually he comes up short in his confrontations with his adversary. Still, he has a long history with Wolverine that has made him one the more recognizable figures in the world of the X-Men, and his allegiance to characters like Magneto often put him at the center stage for some very memorable and brutal conflicts in the comics.

Who introduced Captain Marvel?

So technically it was Fawcett Comics who introduced the world to the original Captain Marvel (now known as Shazam ), and for a time, he was one of the most popular comic book characters out there. But as that popularity waned, the company fell on hard times, and eventually DC acquired the rights to the character.

What is the Bane in Marvel?

Bane is one of the more unique entries here, because not only does the name belong to characters from both DC and Marvel, but it belongs to a multitude of characters at the latter company. The villainous forces in Marvel’s Knights of Pendragon comic series are a collective known as the Bane. It’s hard to judge an army rather than an individual character, but seeing as how they managed to endanger Britain and necessitated the summoning of the Knights of Pendragon in the first place, it seems safe to say they could be an effective bunch. Plus. they eventually had their master the Red Lord to bolster their forces and make them even more effective in spreading chaos in the world.

Is Doctor Strange a hero or villain?

You definitely shouldn't assume that just because a character from one of these companies is a hero or a villain that their counterpart will have the same morality as them. The first example of many that you'll see here is with Doctor Strange. To Marvel fans, the name belongs to the heroic sorcerer who will be getting his own movie this fall. The powerful magic user stars in his own comic, and will definitely be unlike any of the other Marvel protagonists who have made it to the big screen so far.

Is there a battle between Marvel and DC?

For some comic fans, the battle lines are still firmly drawn between Marvel and DC Comics. While many of us are willing to embrace any comic book character with a striking outfit, an intriguing backstory, and some cool abilities, others still hold strict allegiances to the big names of one company or the other.

Is Hugo Strange a villain?

Any Batman fan worth his salt knows that Dr. Strange is one of the Dark Knight's most intelligent enemies, and decidedly not a friendly guy. But unlike the magic using Doctor Strange, Dr. Hugo Strange is a man of science, and is so calculating that he's one of Batman's few foes who has managed to figure out his secret identity. While he definitely won't be getting his own movie, and will probably even be low on the list of villains to cross paths with the Bat on film , he's still a strong threat in Gotham.

Is Magic User getting his own movie?

To Marvel fans, the name belongs to the heroic sorcerer who will be getting his own movie this fall. The powerful magic user stars in his own comic, and will definitely be unlike any of the other Marvel protagonists who have made it to the big screen so far.

Who was the superhero in Daredevil?

The year 2003 saw the introduction of a classic Marvel character with Ben Affleck starring as the titular superhero in Daredevil. Unfortunately, the film bombed and it would take years and a hop over to DC for Affleck to redeem his poor showing as a superhero.

Why was The Shadow based on a comic strip?

That being said, the movie was critically panned for its poor screenplay, which critics and fans thought lacked direction.

How many Punisher movies are there?

There have been a total of three Punisher movies, the first being the 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren as the titular hero. That movie failed to launch a franchise of any sort and was rebooted in 2004. When it was released in 1989, The Punisher suffered thanks to a number of changes made to the character, including the removal ...

When did the Punisher come out?

When it was released in 1989 , The Punisher suffered thanks to a number of changes made to the character, including the removal of his trademark skull logo normally emblazoned upon his chest. Fans didn't latch on to the film and it bombed at the box office with a paltry take of only $9 million.

Do superhero movies ever make it to the sequel?

Sometimes superhero films don't spawn the franchises that producers were banking on. Some never even make it to the sequel. These are their stories.

Was Rocketeer a sequel to the movie?

13 THE ROCKETEER (1991) The Rocketeer is likely one of those movies you watched as a child and loved, but grew up wondering why they never made a sequel. While the movie received generally positive reviews, it performed poorly at the box office with a take of $46.7 million off of a $35 million dollar budget.

Will there be a Deadpool sequel?

A single film like Deadpool will land its sequel before the first viewer even has a chance to purchase a ticket, so it seems strange when a movie comes out and it isn't immediately followed by a sequel. Sadly, that does happen, and over the years, it has happened to more than a few superhero franchises.

What does it mean when a business name is the same?

The claim to a business name has a lot to do with consumer confusion, and whether having two similar or same names will be a sore point for consumers. If you and another business have the same or similar name, but you are both not operating in the same industry or field, you may have a case for no consumer confusion, and there may be no issue.

How to ensure your company name is yours alone?

To ensure your company name is yours alone, start by incorporating your business at the provincial and federal levels. When you incorporate at both levels, your business name is reserved for use by your business only throughout Canada, and you have a legal claim to using the name. Another option is to do a trademark registration.

What is the best way to protect your business name?

Another option is to do a trademark registration . Doing this gives you trademark rights to your business name and gives you the legal right to pursue trademark infringement lawsuits at a provincial or federal level if needed. Make sure you have the necessary trademarks for your business name, as well as incorporation in place, to protect your brand.

Can you check if a company is registered as sole proprietorship?

If you are registered as a sole proprietorship or a partnership, you can’t really check if your company name is already taken beyond typing it into a search engine like Google and seeing what comes up. Monitoring what’s online is an important way to prevent naming issues and protect your business’ brand.

Can a business name be approved by a corporation in Canada?

Keep in mind that though your business name may be approved by Corporations Canada, there is still a chance that another corporation is already using it, and in that case, it will be your responsibility as a business owner to settle any disputes with other businesses.

Can two companies have the same name?

However, if two companies are operating in the same field or industry, such as two clothing brands with the same name, this could be an issue. Another consideration is the name first rule. If your business was the first to use the name and registered the name first, then you may have the grounds to argue your legal right to the business name.

Can my company have the same name as another company?

As an entrepreneur, your company formation affects your legal right to all facets of your business, including your business name.

Can you trademark a character name?

Second, however, yes, character names can be and often are trademarked. For instance, in a quick search, you can find an entry related to Marvel's Cyclopsor Marvel's Magneto. And, to be honest, even if they didn't trademark their characters, they would still have a possible claim over their names - you own the rights over the things you create even without registering them.

Is it safe to change a character's name?

Sure, if you take the name of a character and change it enough, you might be safe from issues regarding the trademark of the original name. The practical problem is how much is "enough". It is something that can't be determined a priori. Therefore, there is always risk.

Is Superhero trademarked?

That said, first of all, certainly words in themselves are not trademarked per se. I very much doubt that the word " superhero" or its variants could even be trademarked. And even if they were, I very much doubt that such trademarking would make any sense in any judicial dispute.

How many comic book movies were made in 2016?

If these movies keep going on and on, with no end in sight, people will be asking: What’s the point? In 2016 alone, there have been six comic book movies released, which are Deadpool, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Captain America: Civil War, X-Men: Apocalypse, Suicide Squad, and Doctor Strange. All of those are part of a cinematic universe. In 2017 there are going to be seven more, all part of a franchise. While most of these movies have been successful, how long can they be though?

Is there a movie based on Deadpool?

Deadpool, a wise-cracking mercenary whose stories are very adult-oriented finally had a movie based on him released in 2016. It became one of the biggest hits of the year, and it was praised for being a breath of fresh air. The Guardians of the Galaxy was something not a lot of people were familiar with. In the comics they were a group of people or aliens who fight bad guys across the galaxy.

Who is the X-Men's rival?

Our first X-Men character of the list (but not the last) is the most well-known rival of Wolverine , the mutant Sabretooth. The big clawed mutant is the closest thing we’ve really had to an evil version of Logan, but usually he comes up short in his confrontations with his adversary. Still, he has a long history with Wolverine that has made him one the more recognizable figures in the world of the X-Men, and his allegiance to characters like Magneto often put him at the center stage for some very memorable and brutal conflicts in the comics.

Who introduced Captain Marvel?

So technically it was Fawcett Comics who introduced the world to the original Captain Marvel (now known as Shazam ), and for a time, he was one of the most popular comic book characters out there. But as that popularity waned, the company fell on hard times, and eventually DC acquired the rights to the character.

What is the Bane in Marvel?

Bane is one of the more unique entries here, because not only does the name belong to characters from both DC and Marvel, but it belongs to a multitude of characters at the latter company. The villainous forces in Marvel’s Knights of Pendragon comic series are a collective known as the Bane. It’s hard to judge an army rather than an individual character, but seeing as how they managed to endanger Britain and necessitated the summoning of the Knights of Pendragon in the first place, it seems safe to say they could be an effective bunch. Plus. they eventually had their master the Red Lord to bolster their forces and make them even more effective in spreading chaos in the world.

Is Doctor Strange a hero or villain?

You definitely shouldn't assume that just because a character from one of these companies is a hero or a villain that their counterpart will have the same morality as them. The first example of many that you'll see here is with Doctor Strange. To Marvel fans, the name belongs to the heroic sorcerer who will be getting his own movie this fall. The powerful magic user stars in his own comic, and will definitely be unlike any of the other Marvel protagonists who have made it to the big screen so far.

Is there a battle between Marvel and DC?

For some comic fans, the battle lines are still firmly drawn between Marvel and DC Comics. While many of us are willing to embrace any comic book character with a striking outfit, an intriguing backstory, and some cool abilities, others still hold strict allegiances to the big names of one company or the other.

Is Hugo Strange a villain?

Any Batman fan worth his salt knows that Dr. Strange is one of the Dark Knight's most intelligent enemies, and decidedly not a friendly guy. But unlike the magic using Doctor Strange, Dr. Hugo Strange is a man of science, and is so calculating that he's one of Batman's few foes who has managed to figure out his secret identity. While he definitely won't be getting his own movie, and will probably even be low on the list of villains to cross paths with the Bat on film , he's still a strong threat in Gotham.

Is Magic User getting his own movie?

To Marvel fans, the name belongs to the heroic sorcerer who will be getting his own movie this fall. The powerful magic user stars in his own comic, and will definitely be unlike any of the other Marvel protagonists who have made it to the big screen so far.

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