Marvel Rages over "Hulk" Power Tools

Marvel Rages over "Hulk" Power Tools

Marvel is bulking up to protect its "Hulk" trademark...

By ROBBEATZZZ - Oct 20, 2010 08:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Hulk
Source: reuters.com

I came across this article from reuters.com. It seems Disney isn't "Playing around!"

The Disney-owned superhero factory is targeting an Ohio-based power tool manufacturer, Airbase Industries, that's introducing a line of industrial and home equipment under a "Hulk" brand. The company's marketing tag line for these tools is "Unleash the Power."

A subsidiary of Airbase Industries registered the Hulk mark last year. The company can be forgiven for believing there wouldn't be a problem. Throughout the years, other companies have registered "Hulk" with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, including a security company that sells "Hulk" locks and a supplier of "Hulk" detergent dispensers for use with industrial degreasers, not to mention a certain famous professional wrestler and reality television star.

Last October, an examiner at the office gave the thumbs up to Airbase, enraging Marvel which had opposed the application. Airbase began selling its Hulk air compressor, and now Marvel has filed a lawsuit in Ohio District Court.

According to the complaint, the infringing product's green shade is "confusingly similar" to the green on its own Hulk character and the defendant's logo is "nearly identical" to Marvel's Hulk logo. The studio says the configuration so closely resembles the look and feel of Marvel's Hulk that consumers will be left with the impression that the studio authorized and licensed the sale of the power tool.

Marvel is looking for an injunction, a cancellation of the defendant's trademark, and all of the defendant's profits from the allegedly infringing products.
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Shaman
Shaman - 10/20/2010, 8:40 AM
Time to pay the piper.
MercWitaMouth88
MercWitaMouth88 - 10/20/2010, 9:48 AM
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/20/link-ink-building-abe-sapien-from-the-gills-up-animated-ultima/


The Picture of the HULK air compressor is on the bottom of the article. Check it out. It does look just like the movie logo.
juggy4711
juggy4711 - 10/20/2010, 10:03 AM
Yeah if the font was different and the compressor not green I'd say Disney/Marvel were being thugs but that is a definite trademark infringement. Rather bold one to be honest.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/20/2010, 10:12 AM
'Gulp!'

ropeslinger82
ropeslinger82 - 10/20/2010, 10:14 AM
comic2004
comic2004 - 10/20/2010, 10:15 AM
You wouldn't like Disney when their angry!
niknik
niknik - 10/20/2010, 10:24 AM
Yep! That's a definite rip-off. Time to redesign some power tools methinks!
SHHH
SHHH - 10/20/2010, 10:38 AM
$$$$$$$
SkullFace616
SkullFace616 - 10/20/2010, 11:21 AM
@CaptainProg HAahahahaha! Made me laugh bud.
Kablamo
Kablamo - 10/20/2010, 11:21 AM
Good thing for the hulkster he already is a copyright of Marvel
punkazzINC
punkazzINC - 10/20/2010, 11:25 AM
@Captain - Unless your penis looks a sickly green color, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
SHAZAM171
SHAZAM171 - 10/20/2010, 11:40 AM
UGH, here we go with Disney... Selling out our characters. LOL
ScionStorm
ScionStorm - 10/20/2010, 11:55 AM
@SHAZAM171 How is sueing for copyright infringement "selling out" ?
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 10/20/2010, 3:42 PM
my dreams have come true
HelaGood
HelaGood - 10/20/2010, 3:49 PM
i think they should! it protects the integrity of the property!!

if only they can nail down ONE SINGLE ACTOR to play him thereby protecting the integrity...
CBArtist
CBArtist - 10/21/2010, 7:30 AM
The only thing Marvel/Disney has a chance to sue for is possibly the logo appearance. The word "hulk" is a common word in the dictionary.

The meaning of the word "Hulk":

noun
1. the body of an old or dismantled ship.
2. a ship specially built to serve as a storehouse, prison, etc., and not for sea service.
3. a clumsy-looking or unwieldy ship or boat.
4. a bulky or unwieldy person, object, or mass.
5. the shell of a wrecked, burned-out, or abandoned vehicle, building, or the like.
–verb (used without object)
6. to loom in bulky form; appear as a large, massive bulk (often fol. by up ): The bus hulked up suddenly over the crest of the hill.
7. British Dialect . to lounge, slouch, or move in a heavy, loutish manner.
Use hulk in a Sentence

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME hulke, OE hulc; perh. < ML hulcus < Gk holkás trading vessel, orig., towed ship
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