Future Public Domain for Superman & Batman (2034 & 2035), Yet DC Retains Trademarks for Iconic Terms and Logos

The original versions of Batman and Superman entered the public domain in 2034 and 2035, respectively. Nevertheless, DC has ensured trademarks for the terms “Man of Steel” and “Caped Crusader,” along with Superman’s “S” and Batman’s logo.

When are the original versions of DC characters expected to enter the public domain?

The original versions of DC characters are scheduled to enter the public domain on the following dates:

• Superman: 2034
• Batman: 2035
• Joker: 2036
• Wonder Woman: 2037

Variety reported that a decade ago, Zack Snyder had some unusual ideas for DC characters, like Batman having a child with Lois Lane and a unique take on Wonder Woman. Warner Bros. and DC Studios said no to these ideas, calling them “super creepy.” Now, in the next ten years, other artists and studios can make their own versions of the characters without asking for permission.

In an interview, Amanda Schreyer, a media and entertainment lawyer at Morse, said, “Those characteristics are going to fall into the public domain one by one.”

DC has strategically connected its characters to itself by trademarking terms like “Man of Steel” and “Caped Crusader,” along with Superman’s “S” and Batman’s logo.

Schreyer continued, “The bat symbol is a very strong mark. That is going to limit what subsequent creators can do.”

Mark Waid, a well-known comic book author and historian famed for his work on DC Comics titles like “Superman: Birthright,” highlights, “People will make a run at these characters because there’s money to be made. Take, for instance, Superman versus Godzilla. It’s a gray area. But in this town, we operate at the speed of capitalism, right? That’s how we work.”