Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: [s--r--h] at [uchimvs1.uchicago.edu] (Rich Lukes)
Subject: Chicago Comicon to Oppose San Diego's Trademark Registration
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 04:01:57 GMT

Chicago Comicon to Oppose San Diego's Trademark Registration  
 
For Immediate Release
  
 Saying: "enough is enough", Chicago Comicon, Inc. has formally opposed
the attempt by San Diego Comic Con Inc. to register the trade mark: Comic
Con.

 According to Chicago Comicon CEO, Gary Colabuono, "Obviously San Diego
isn't satisfied with simply being the San Diego Comic Con or Comic Con
International. They want to trademark "comic con" and any similar term,
such as "comicon" so they can control all use of it." 

 Not only would national shows like the Chicago Comicon, the Motor City
Comic Con, and the Pittsburgh Comicon be prohibited from using the term,
but every casual gathering of fans in church basements and VFW halls would
also be forbidden from using it. Colabuono was quick to point out that,
"Big Brother is alive and well in the comic convention business." 

 Asked to comment on the proceedings, Michael Goldman, president of the
Motor City Comic Con, said, "We fully support Chicago in this matter.
We've worked hard to create the good will associated with the name "Motor
City Comic Con". For us to have to change our name after so many years
would put us back to square one.  There's no doubt this would severely
damage our business."
 
 "We've weathered the competitive onslaught of many rival promoters over
the years because the public knew there was only one true Chicago
Comicon", said Colabuono.  "The rich history and tradition of our 21 years
is important not only to us but to the art form of comics itself. For San
Diego to want to usurp ownership of this descriptive term smacks of all
that's gone wrong in the comics industry these past 5 years. 

 When pressed for a reason for San Diego's action, Colabuono remarked,
"It's inexplicable to us. My partners and I find it incomprehensible that
a nonprofit organization, founded on the principle of promoting the comics
art form and its creators, would proceed with an action that's so
obviously harmful to the comics community."
 
 It is the intention of the Chicago Comicon to oppose this attempt to
seize control of the comics convention marketplace with all the conviction
and resources we can muster," concluded Colabuono.

Rich Lukes
University Of Chicago
[S--r--h] at [uchimvs1.uchicago.edu]