What is a trademarked name?

[bardoul]

I created a crossword puzzle. Spent a long time on it. Anyway, can't use trademarked names... But I am confused.
The theme of my puzzle is comic book characters.
Incredible Hulk. Spiderman, Wolverine. Batman.
Are these trademarked and therefore no good? I have seen these used in puzzles before.
I am confused. I understand how ADVIL or LISTERINE is a trademarked name... but I don't quite understand if comic book character names are as well.
Any help would be great.

[larry]

Hi, Any name / brand or concept is automatically the copyright of the person or company that created it. However if a person or company wanted a greater level of legal protection then they can apply for a trademark for their brand / product / company name. Comic book characters are the intellectual property and creation of the person / company who invented them and they can also apply for a trademark for the names of the comic book characters in order to protect them. Its the same as Microsoft registering the email product "Outlook" as a trademark ( which they have ) it is protected and therefore another company cannot use the name "Outlook" to refer to any other email product.

To answer the first part of your question you can of course use comic book characters in the Q&A's of your Puzzle but you cannot use the name of a comic book character in the actual name of your puzzle unless it was authorised and licensed by the trademark holder.

Hope that helps