I'll be very curious to see how ERB Inc.'s court case against Dynamite Comics goes. Dynamite says it's basing its "John Carter" and "Tarzan" comics on the characters and concepts of the portion of Burroughs' work already in public domain. ERB Inc. says poppycock, they have a trademark for those items.
If you can trademark this kind of stuff, the whole idea of copyright expiration and the public domain goes out the window.
Also, best bellylaugh of the article: "ERB claims that the manner in which Dynamite uses the mark, and specifically some of the covers which feature partial nudity, are damaging to the reputation and good will of ERB and the business it has built up around Tarzan and John Carter."
Dudes, have you even read this stuff? Like this introductory description of Dejah Thoris, Princesss of Mars?
"She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure."
Yeesh. #ddtb
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Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Using Trademark Law To Prevent The Use Of Public Domain Stories | Techdirt
The public domain is meant to be a source of free culture for all the world to enjoy, mix and derive other works from. Unfortunately, there are many people and organizations in the world that wish to …