MAD Magazine Seals Win Against ‘Don Martin’ Trademark Claims

The publisher of MAD Magazine prevailed against trademark claims from the wife of a longtime cartoonist and writer, as a Florida federal judge affirmed a magistrate’s February recommendation.

Norma Martin failed to show she had trademark rights in her late husband, Don Martin’s, name, and also failed to show E.C. Publications and parent DC Comics had his publicity rights, the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled. The court adopted a magistrate judge’s February recommendation that MAD Magazine’s publishers be granted summary judgment on claims revived by the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit last ...