Report: Phoenix Comic Fest still fighting for 'Comicon' name

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Phoenix Comicon 2017 (Photo credit: Christen Bejar)

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.