Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW

Salt Lake Comic Con Files For New Trial In Trademark Case

Logo for Salt Lake City's Annual Comic Con convention.
soundbooks.org
Logo for Salt Lake City's Annual Comic Con convention.

Salt Lake Comic Con lawyers have filed a motion for a new trial following a federal jury's decision that the convention infringes on San Diego Comic-Con's trademark.

The Salt Lake lawyers filed the paperwork on Tuesday in response to last month's eight-day trial in U.S. District Court, during which jurors decided that the California convention's trademarks are valid. The jury found that the infringement was not willful and awarded $20,000 in damages to the San Diego Comic-Con, which had sought $12 million.

The Salt Lake lawyers say evidence was wrongly excluded during trial and improper jury instructions undercut the evidence.

The case began in 2014 when the California convention sued; claiming the use of "comic con" in the Salt Lake company's name infringes on its trademark and confuses the public.