Rihanna and DC Comics enter trademark battle over the name 'Robyn'

Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, the singer’s company, Roraj Trade, filed a trademark request for the name in 2014, hoping to use it as the title for her upcoming fashion and cosmetics franchise.

As you have probably already guessed, that name looks an awful lot like that of a certain Batman sidekick; Robin.

The creators of the beloved superhero’s Superman and The Flash are attempting to stop the trademark going through as they believe consumers may be confused into thinking Rihanna’s products may have ties to their own Boy Wonder, Robin.

Rihanna attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 show at Brooklyn Navy Yard In their formally submitted complaint, DC argue the name is “identical and/or highly related” to their own Robin and “is likely to cause confusion, cause mistake, or to deceive the public” into thinking the two are connected.

If no agreement is reached between the two then both could soon be meeting in a trademark office to discuss how different ‘Robyn’ and ‘Robin’ really are.

The “Umbrella” singer is no stranger to the courts. In 2013 she managed to win a public battle against Top Shop after they used her image on one of their T-Shirts without permission. DC comics have also previously been taken to court, winning their high-profile copyright battle with the heirs of Superman artist Joe Shuster.

Most controversial fashion moments of 2014

 

DC comics has embroiled in controversy recently over a comic book cover featuring the Joker holding Batgirl to gunpoint. The hashtag #changethecover went viral, leading to acrimonious debate between those supporting and those opposing the cover, and with the comic book company withdrawing the now-infamous cover from publication.

In other trademarking news, Taylor Swift has applied to trademark a number of her lyrics including “this sick beat” and “party like it’s 1989”, all from her bestselling album, 1989.

Should permission be granted, Swift’s words will not be free for unauthorised use on a range of commercial products including clothing, toys, stationery, stickers, tattoo transfers, home décor, musical instruments and accessories, jewellery and non-medicated toiletries.

Have celebrities and comic book companies gone mad? Possibly.  Do we hope Swedish singer Robyn gets involved? Absolutely.

Read more: DC Comics pulls ‘controversial’ Batgirl variant Joker
Court dismisses Top Shops’s appeal over use of Rihanna image
Taylor Swift trademarks 1989 song lyrics including ‘this sick beat’

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