I know nothing about Personal Injury law, therefore I would never file a lawsuit over a slip and fall. Personal injury lawyers may consider that edict when trying to file a Trademark application. A California-based personal injury attorney is drawing the ire of DC Comics by trying to register a trademark for the phrase SUPER WOMAN SUPER LAWYER used in association with her law practice.

Maryam Parman is an attorney out of California that describes herself as  having “an awareness of human injury and she knew that she wanted to help people who have been physically harmed.” Parman help victims of accidents, elder abuse, and animal attacks. In March 2018, Parman, repping herself, filed a trademark for the term SUPER WOMAN SUPER LAWYER, which can be seen in use to the right. After receiving an Office Action from the Trademark Office, Parman abandoned the attempt but later revived it with a different attorney handling.

DC Comics has filed a request for an extension of time to oppose the trademark. This gives the opposer more time to think if they actually want to file the opposition, time to prepare it, or even time for the parties to discuss a settlement. In similar oppositions in the past, DC Comics cited both its SUPERMAN and SUPERWOMAN trademarks as being potentially confusing . Superwoman is the name of several fictional characters from DC Comics. Not to be confused with Supergirl, there have been several incarnations of the character. The first being Lois Lane who, in Action Comics #60, dreams that she has gained superpowers from a blood transfusion from Superman and launches a career as Superwoman. DC Comics argued that its marks are world famous and predate the attempt to register the mark and that the registrant had to know of DC Comics’ use of the marks.

While confusion does not seem too likely here, (would anyone actually see the ad to the right and think it is affiliated with Superwoman or DC Comics?) it could be a reason to walk away from the trademark registration. We shall see what happens with the super mark.