DC Comics Vs. Rihanna: Company Battles Singer Over ‘Robyn’ Trademark
It’s not every day that you hear DC Comics and Rihanna in the same sentence, but the two are in all-out battle. Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, recently filed a trademark for her first name, “Robyn,” which she would use in her fashion and cosmetics lines. The singer now wants to create her own fashion and beauty empire. Meanwhile, DC Comics wants to prevent the singer from going further with her trademark application.
Rihanna’s legal firm, Roraj Trade, originally tried to trademark her name on June 23, 2014, for her new magazine. DC stopped the singer on May 11, 2015. They claimed that the name “Robin” already has his own trademarked products. The company trademarked the name “Robin” in 1995 so he could have his own comic book series and merchandise. Some would argue that Robyn is typically known as a female name.
Could a “Robyn” magazine be in the works? According to a previous report via FACT Magazine, RiRi is interested in starting a new digital magazine, entitled Robyn. That’s exciting information for Rihanna’s Navy to look forward to, unless DC Comics prevents her from doing so.
DC Comics believes that “Robyn” is too close to “Robin,” who is best known as Batman’s sidekick. DC believes that the name “Robyn” will confuse consumers and fans into thinking that Rihanna’s products have something to do with the Boy Wonder. As anyone can point out, “Robyn” and “Robin” are spelled different, but that doesn’t stop the comic book publisher from thinking differently.
According to the legal blog Pirated Thoughts, “The name is ‘identical and/or highly related’ to the crime-fighting comic character, DC says in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing.”
DC also believes that Rihanna is trying to latch onto the success of Batman and Robin.
What about the Swedish pop star named Robyn? DC Comics hasn’t gone against the singer for using her name on her albums and her merchandise. Fans don’t go to a Robyn concert to see the Boy Wonder perform on stage in his green tights. DC hasn’t taken any legal action against other famous Robyns or Robins until now.
Maybe publishing an online magazine is pushing it too far. Last year, Disney made headlines for going after DJ DeadMau5 when he wanted to trademark his “mau5head” logo, which looks similar to the classic Mickey Mouse logo.
If Rihanna and DC Comics can’t reach an agreement on the trademark, they will have to take their battle to the Trademark Office, the people who will determine if “Robyn” looks similar to “Robin.” Neither Rihanna nor DC has returned a request for comment to the media.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Rihanna’s name “Robyn” looks too similar to DC Comics’ “Robin”? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
[Image: Jason Merritt / Getty Images for Clear Channel and Gage Skidmore / DC Comics Booth]
