Marvel Trademarks The Phrase Hail Hydra After Website Controversy
If you have not been keeping up with Marvel’s most recent comic event, then you have a bit to [...]
If you have not been keeping up with Marvel's most recent comic event, then you have a bit to catch up on. The publisher recently embarked on its full-on revisit to Secret Empire. The story has kept fans on-edge as the controversial series retconned Captain America in a dangerous way. Rather than being a warrior for justice, Steve Rogers had his past manipulated by the Red Skull. The tampering turned Captain America into a sleeper Hydra agent who turned on his comrades by uttering the feared phrase, "Hail Hydra." However, it looks like Marvel is trying to keep fans from abusing the phrase, and the comics company is going to court to make it happen.
Earlier this month, it looks like Marvel filed a trademark registration for the term "Hail Hydra." The application wants to trademark the phrase for "downloadable electronic publications in the nature of comic books, comic magazines and stories in illustrated form, comic books; printed periodicals in the field of comic book stories and artwork, entertainment services, namely, providing online non-downloadable comic books and graphic novels." Reading through the long list, there is little doubt the application would extend over website domains as well - and that would be bad news for one man.
Recently, news broke that a website URL using the phrase 'Hail Hydra' was causing trouble for the White House. If you type in the URL hail-hydra.com on your favorite web browser, you will discover the root of the controversy. Rather than sending you to a Red Skull recruitment site, the URl simply redirects netizens to the official website for the White House. In fact, it takes people to the page which describes Trump's administration. There isn't much information floating around about the domain's owner, but it looks like Marvel isn't pleased with the tech-savvy user's recent plans.
For now, only time will tell whether the offending site will be taken down or if its redirect will be - well - redirected. When ComicBook asked Marvel whether they knew who owned the domain, they admitted they did not have that information. But, if the company's trademark is accepted, the company will have to proof they will use it in a meaningful way in the future. So, sadly, Captain America's Secret Empire backlash might be far from over.
As for Secret Empire, you can find more information about the event below.
The Marvel Universe is under siege from within! Captain America, secretly a true believer in the cause of Hydra, has turned his back on the Super Hero community. Using the trust and respect he has gained over the years he has ascended to a position where he can enacts Hydra's ideals. The death of Jack Flag, the trial of Maria Hill, the second Civil War, the alien Chitauri Queen. All of the dominos of Captain America's plan have been laid out – and it will take only the slightest push to set them into action! Now, the Avengers, the Champions, the Defenders, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and more will be tested. As Hydra's grip tightens around the Marvel Universe, the heroes stand at the precipice of an unprecedented challenge. How will they Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted among them?
Enshrouded in darkness, plagued by the minions of Baron Mordo and cut off from all assistance, The Defenders and Doctor Strange struggle to save the lives of the innocent people consigned to this hell on Earth. Will Dagger prove to be the key to stopping this nightmare? Meanwhile, will the appearance of a new hero provide Iron Man with the key to Captain America's startling change? THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL DEFEND YOU!
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