SAN DIEGO — A federal judge has given Salt Lake City Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con one last chance to settle their legal spat over the use of the words “Comic Con.”
In an order filed in San Diego federal court last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jan Adler gave both comic conventions until August 18, 2016 to reach a settlement. Meanwhile, Judge Adler also set a timeline for the name dispute, beginning with an October hearing before another judge. Based on the deadlines, it appears the lawsuit between San Diego Comic-Con and Salt Lake Comic Con would go to trial in late 2016 or early 2017.
In comments to FOX 13 in July, Salt Lake Comic Con organizer Bryan Brandenburg said no settlement had been reached and the two sides were headed for trial. San Diego Comic-Con is suing Salt Lake Comic Con for infringing on its trademarks by using the words “Comic Con.” Salt Lake Comic Con points out there are numerous other “comic cons.”
Salt Lake Comic Con was recently granted a trademark for its name, something the group hopes will help it should the lawsuit by San Diego Comic-Con go to trial.
