DC Comics loses lawsuit for a bakery called Superpan

In Santiago de Chile, in the town of Quinta Normal, there is a bakery called superbread which is owned by Gonzalo Montenegro. This bakery has more than twenty years with that name, being an innocent reference to the iconic superhero of DC Comics, Superman. However, instead of flattering the publishing house, he had sued Gonzalo for copyright infringement.

This had cost Gonzalo more than three years in court, and a lot of anguish. However, in a strange twist of fate, Gonzalo won the legal battle against the comic book giant. This is how the media reported CHV Chile.

Gonzalo Montenegro founded 20 years ago “Superpan Amasanderia”. At first, it did not have that name, and it was the customers who gave it the nickname of Superpan. Gonzalo put on some T-shirts with the logo of Superman himself and that’s where it all started. After this, Gonzalo proceeded to change the design so that it would be more attached to the superhero.

Years later, the baker received a lawsuit from DC Comics alleging copyright infringement. The company justified this lawsuit by saying that it caused confusion and harmed its brand.

The institution in charge in Chile for these matters, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI), declared that Superpan does not infringe any intellectual property and that it is free to use the name. Gonzalo explained the following:

“DC thought they were suing a corporation, a brand, but they found me, a humble guy who was going to be stripped of everything because of the nickname he adopted out of admiration for Superman as a child”.

Luckily for Gonzalo Montenegro, the lawsuit was ruled in his favor and the Superpan bakery will continue to operate as it has done until now.