So there’s a bit of a trademark kerfuffle going on down in the Houston convention scene. As we reported back in March, the Houston Convention Bureau is suing Space City Comic Con over their name. It seems that (while everything else in Houston gets to call itself Space City) the Bureau has a very specific trademark when it comes to conventions.

Normally this would be a pretty boring situation, except that Space City Comic Con has literally been using the name for years, and the Bureau has seemingly only decided to enforce their trademark now that they’ve become a major investor in competing show Comicpalooza.

So yeah, it may be within the Bureau’s legal rights, but it’s also super f**king douchey.

And they aren’t just looking to get Space City Comic Con to stop using the name – the Bureau is also seeking profits from all previous years that the convention was using the Space City name. If the Bureau wins, this could literally risk the future of Space City Comic Con going forward (which would heavily impact Houston’s tourism revenue).

But hey, who ever said the Houston Convention Bureau gave a crap about conventions taking place in Houston?

The newest development in this ridiculous spat (which does literally nothing but make Comicpalooza look bad) is that the Convention Bureau has filed for a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent Space City Comic Con from using the name going forward. While it went in front of a judge yesterday afternoon, it has yet to be ruled on.

If granted, Space City Comic Con would have to immediately stop using the name they’ve had for years. As the con is only scheduled for a month from now, likely many materials have already been printed for the convention and redesigning and reprinting would likely be a large financial burden for the event.

Apparently no one told the Houston Convention Bureau that just because they can act like a bunch of douchecanoes doesn’t mean they should. I mean, it’s not like the Convention Bureau literally waited years to address this, and that waiting an extra month to deal with it wouldn’t kill them (and might help further local tourism revenue and the economy).

Oh, wait.

Update: It looks like Space City Comic Con gets to keep its name (for now) as a judge has chosen to not prevent them from using it this year.

Via Houston Chronicle

Trouble’s brewing down in the lone star state, as the Houston Convention Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Space City Comic Con over a 2004 “Space City” trademark.

For those of you who don’t know, pretty much every business and their dog likes to use the phrase “Space City” in their name or motto in Houston. The Houston Convention Bureau has a very specific trademark on the phrase “Space City,” where it’s used to promote tourism, business and conventions though.

What’s strange though is that while ‘Space City Comic Con’ hasn’t always used that moniker, they have used it since 2012. It seems strange that the Houston Convention Bureau is only now going after Space City Comic Con.

…well, unless you put your tinfoil hat on.

You see, last year the Houston Convention Bureau invested in Comicpalooza, which is only scheduled for a month later. That they suddenly have a horse in the race makes it feel like this is an action specifically designed to take down a competitor.

But even if that’s true, the trademark still exists, and the Houston Convention Bureau does need to defend it. The real question will be whether or not the term is generic enough to save Space City Comic Con.

Honestly, this whole thing’s a mess.

Via Houston Chronicle