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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 23:29:06 GMT -5
So apparently San Diego Comic Con has won it's lawsuit protecting their trademark on the term comic con and only those that license it's use from them can now use it, so comic cons will have to come up with a different name for their shows or risk getting sued by SDCC (as the Salt Lake City Comic Con was that initiated this suit). I know a few con organizers who are already exploring options or considering options whether they should change (and have to pay more to redo all the marketing and branding for their upcoming shows or wait and see if they get served by SDCC. It looks like a few folks might be looking to trademark some of the other options out there too (Comics Expo, etc.) which I find kind of lame. Just because SDCC is being d*ckish about this doesn't mean others need to jump on that bandwagon. Bad enough SDCC is sucking the fun out of the comics past time trying to monetize every aspect of it to pad their bottom line. -M
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Post by Randle-El on Dec 9, 2017 23:36:35 GMT -5
Correct me if I'm wrong -- but hasn't SDCC's litigation in this area been a fairly recent phenomenon? At least, in comparison to the length of time "comic con" has been in broad use within the convention circuit? I would think there would have been some consideration to the fact that many many conventions have been using "comic con" for a long period of time.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 23:39:49 GMT -5
But they trademarked and have now successfully protected it, so everyone else is S.O.L. now. That's kind of the way trademarks work. Once someone trademarks it and it gets approved, everyone else using it is fair game essentially, no matter how long youhave been using it or who had it first. The trademark make's it a proprietary name for SDCC now.
-M
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Post by kirby101 on Dec 10, 2017 8:34:29 GMT -5
How about Comicon?
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Post by MDG on Dec 10, 2017 10:54:06 GMT -5
Comic 'Vention
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 10, 2017 13:56:54 GMT -5
It's not over yet. The decision is being appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I haven't followed the case very closely because, frankly, I haven't had the time. But from what I can glean in legal circles the District Judge in the case made some very questionable evidentiary rulings. It very well could come back.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 15:13:56 GMT -5
It's not over yet. The decision is being appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I haven't followed the case very closely because, frankly, I haven't had the time. But from what I can glean in legal circles the District Judge in the case made some very questionable evidentiary rulings. It very well could come back. Last I read was that the folks from Salt Lake City Con weren't sure if they were going to appeal for 2 reasons (neither having to do with the merits of the case) 1) the damages awarded by the jury were far less than those asked for by SDCC and far less than the best settlement offer Salt Lake received from SDCC and 2) they folks form Salt Lake weren't sure they had the money available to keep up the legal fight and have any capital left to operate their business. I hope they appeal, but from what I've heard through the grapevine, con organizers are prepping for the worst case scenario as the belief is the decision will either stand or SDCC will start picking other targets if this case starts to drag on in the appeals process. And I doubt SDCC will take on someone like ReedPop (the organizers of NYCC and other shows), but instead would target smaller mom and pop cons without the resources to properly defend the case. -M
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Post by DubipR on Dec 10, 2017 19:47:06 GMT -5
How about San Diego Multi-Media Overcharged Tickets Prices 5 Day Event That Has Little To Do With Comics Con? Has a nice ring to it
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Post by Pharozonk on Dec 10, 2017 19:49:34 GMT -5
How about San Diego Multi-Media Overcharged Tickets Prices 5 Day Event That Has Little To Do With Comics Con? Has a nice ring to it I went there two years ago and it really doesn't feel like a comic con at all. Granted, I spent most of my time there hanging out with people from another board I frequent and attending panels from older creators (Waid, Wein, Levitz, etc.), but the main floor really feels too corporate. Heck, most of the actual comics dealers are pushed into a small corner away from the main attractions.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 10, 2017 19:54:36 GMT -5
Can the word "con" be used at all? Is it the entire phrase "comic con"? If "con" is allowed, places should just use that.
If not, call them Comic Cavalcades. I always loved that word.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 19:55:53 GMT -5
How about San Diego Multi-Media Overcharged Tickets Prices 5 Day Event That Has Little To Do With Comics Con? Has a nice ring to it And yet, as of today, tickets for the 2018 show are already sold out. I had a chance to go to San Diego in the summer of 89 but missed connections, so have never been, and doubt I ever will at this point. There are a few bigger shows I would like to try to attend (Dragon Con, Emerald City and C2E2) but I generally prefer smaller to mid-size shows that are more comic oriented. I just hope those shows don't suffer because of Comic Con International's Corporate Greed and d*ckish behavior. -M
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Post by DubipR on Dec 10, 2017 21:01:09 GMT -5
How about San Diego Multi-Media Overcharged Tickets Prices 5 Day Event That Has Little To Do With Comics Con? Has a nice ring to it And yet, as of today, tickets for the 2018 show are already sold out. I had a chance to go to San Diego in the summer of 89 but missed connections, so have never been, and doubt I ever will at this point. There are a few bigger shows I would like to try to attend (Dragon Con, Emerald City and C2E2) but I generally prefer smaller to mid-size shows that are more comic oriented. I just hope those shows don't suffer because of Comic Con International's Corporate Greed and d*ckish behavior. -M Emerald City is a fantastic show. Feels like a "Con", as they cater to the comic talent more than most big city conventions. I also recommend Heros in Charlotte, Phoenix and Mega in Orlando. All great middle level show that are more comic-centric
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 21:35:45 GMT -5
If not, call them Comic Cavalcades. I always loved that word. It's has the right ring to it ... I don't mind that at all!
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on Dec 10, 2017 22:28:36 GMT -5
Comicon Comix Con Comixcon Comixon Comic Convention Comiconvention Comicvention Comicfest Comicanza
There are definitely other possibilities.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 22:42:15 GMT -5
Comicon Comix Con Comixcon Comixon Comic Convention Comiconvention Comicvention Comicfest Comicanza There are definitely other possibilities. Sure but when you have already sunk money into marketing and building the brand of your show, you have to dig into your pockets again to redo all your material (flyers, signage, print ads, radio ads, merchandise, etc.) i.e. pay an artist/graphic designer to redesign it, pay to reprint it, destroy all old stock (if you sell con t-shirt,s coffee mugs, etc. all your old stock is now unsellable essentially so you have to eat that money plus pay to have more produced), put more advertising out there-if you went form Area Awesome Comic Con to just Area Awesome Con you now have to somehow get word out to possible new customers it is a comic book event, it's no longer obvious from your event name, etc. etc. It's not as simple as just finding a name that works, it's about how much is it going to cost you to do so and is that cost going to be more than you can bear and still keep functioning as a business. -M
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