In arguably the most shocking news to jumpstart the week, Marvel and DC Comics will soon lose their joint trademark for the term “Superhero.”

For decades, Marvel and DC held exclusive rights to the term, allowing them to control its appearance in comic books, movies, merchandise, and marketing materials. This monopoly has been a key factor in shaping the superhero genre as we know it today,

A U.S. Trademark Office tribunal has canceled a set of "Super Hero" trademarks jointly owned by comic giants Marvel and DC at the request of a London-based comic book artist, according to a Thursday order.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has shaken things up in the world of comics today, as a long-held trademark by Marvel Comics and DC Comics has now been canceled. The announcement comes courtesy of law firm Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg (RJLF),

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled in favor of Superbabies after neither Marvel owner Disney nor DC owner Warner Bros. fil

Marvel and DC have jointly held the trademark for the word "superhero" since 1980, but no longer. The United States Patent and Trademark Office, in response to a petition from Superbabies, Limited, has canceled the trademark.