Phoenix Comicon opened the new year with a fresh start by rebranding to Phoenix Comic Fest, saying it preferred to avoid the “litigious” nature of the word “Comic-Con” — but, according to a new report from Bleeding Cool, they haven’t given up hope of being able to use the name again in the future.
A late December 2017 motion filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (which includes Arizona) seeks recognition of Square Egg Entertainment’s right to use the Comicon name, asks the court to strike down San Diego Comic-Con International’s trademark stranglehold on the term, and also seeks the awarding legal expenses back to the company.
Earlier in December, San Diego Comic-Con International claimed victory in a trademark lawsuit against Salt Lake Comic Con in a ruling with widespread implications for the many similarly-named events across the country.
According to Bleeding Cool’s report, Square Egg wants a jury trial, and the case was assigned to a judge and SDCC notified Jan. 2 — the same day Phoenix Comicon became known to the rest of the world as Phoenix Comic Fest (for now?).
When contacted by Nerdvana for confirmation and a chance to comment on the report, Square Egg’s public relations director Kristin Rowan declined to address it: “At this time, we have no comment regarding any legal matters,” she said.
Phoenix Comic Fest 2018, meanwhile, is on track for May 24-28 (Memorial Day weekend) at the Phoenix Convention Center. See all the guests announced so far here.
More coverage of Phoenix Comic Fest
- AZ Gaming Indies: ‘Morpheus’
- Will Manu Bennett return to ‘Arrow’ and more questions answered
- AZ Gaming Indies: ‘Dice Tactics’
- Arizona family recreates ‘Supernatural’ car
- Phoenix Comic Fest 2018 – photos from Sunday
- Another name change: Phoenix Comicon to Phoenix Comic Fest to Phoenix Fan Fusion
- Fire alarm triggers Phoenix Convention Center evac, ending Saturday’s Comic Fest events (UPDATED)
- Phoenix Comic Fest 2018 – photos from Saturday
- Phoenix Comic Fest 2018 – photos from Friday
- Party on! Phoenix Comic Fest 2018 – photos from Thursday
SPECIAL THANKS ARE IN ORDER:
Discuss Literary Adventures at the Facebook group 'For the Love of All Things Edgar Rice Burroughs.'
Trademarks TARZAN®, TARZAN OF THE APES®, JOHN CARTER OF MARS®, DEJAH THORIS®, PELLUCIDAR®, A PRINCESS OF MARS® and EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS® are owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.