DC Comics is going head to head with one Robyn Fenty over a trademark dispute. The comics giant is opposing a trademark registration by Robyn Fenty for the name “Robyn,” which they say would be confused with their own trademark of “Robin,” the Boy Wonder from the Batman series.
But who is Robyn Fenty? And why does she want to trademark her first name?
The Robyn Fenty that DC Comics is up against is none other than Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known by the mononym Rihanna. That’s right, the singer.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty filed for trademark protection of her first name through her company, Roraj Trade LLC. The filing last year is now being challenged.
According to filing records, the filing that DC Comics is challenging reads thusly:
“On Monday, June 23, 2014, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for ROBYN by Roraj Trade LLC, Los Angeles. The current federal status of this trademark filing is OPPOSITION PENDING. The description provided to the USPTO [U.S. Patent and Trade Office] for ROBYN is Providing on-line non-downloadable general feature magazines.”
Rihanna not only had her company file for trademark protection of her own name, but for several other terms as well. The list shows that Rihanna was possibly planning to branch into some merchandising areas.
Fenty Apparel
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Clothing
Fenty Cosmetics
Fenty Face
Fenty Intimates
Fenty Lingerie
Fenty Makeup
Fenty Nails
Fenty Swim
Fenty Swimwear
Boomflick
Fenty Corp
Robyn
Fenty 88
Rhi Rhi
However, filing records show that some of these trademark filings have been abandoned by Roraj Trade LLC. But the application for “Robyn” is still active.
DC Comics insists in its opposition filing that the name “Robyn” is “virtually identical” to their comic book character andthat “consumers are likely to be deceived” by a magazine put out by Rihanna with the title “Robyn.”
The DC Comics complaint further explains that their “Robyn” is a “world-famous” who has “appeared alongside Batman, Batgirl, The Joker, Catwoman and The Penguin.” DC Comics has had a trademark on “Robin” for decades.
”[Rihanna’s] registration is likely to cause dilution by blurring and tarnishing the famous opposer’s mark,” DC Comics says. they say the magazine “Robyn is likely to cause confusion, cause mistake, or to deceive the public.”
Theresa Middlebrook, a lawyer representing Rihanna’s firm has declined to comment on the complaint as it is pending legislation.
Rihanna wants to trademark 'Robyn,' her real first name, but DC Comics isn't having it http://t.co/nRcfJIsoHU
— Mashable (@mashable) May 20, 2015