14 DAY TRIAL // The Spanish football federation La Liga and the comics giant DC Comics have very little in common so they don't usually interact. Which explains why it took DC some time to find out that a Spanish football team, Valencia, was using a logo that depicted a bat and that, to their view, looked suspiciously similar to their own famous Batman logo, which happens to be trademarked.
A Spanish website, Plaza Deportiva, reports in humorous tones that Valencia FC has “a powerful enemy,” referring to the American company which manages the hooded superhero, as well as an army of other similar figures.
Bats have been used in Spanish heraldry since the 13th century, Valencia has been using it since 1919
DC has already taken the first steps in this legal battle and it filed a complaint with the OHIC – the European Union's trademark registration body – in which it pointed a blaming finger at the football club.
For those not familiar with the football team and the whole Spanish scene, it's worth mentioning that Valencia has been using bats on their club logo since 1919, which is over 20 years before the original Batman was even created, so chances are that the Batman creator might have inspired himself from the club and not the other way around.
The bat has an even longer history in Spain as a symbol, being used in local heraldry (family crests, logos etc.) as far back as the 13th century.
Looking at the photo, it's hard to see any real connection other than the fact that both logos represent a stylized drawing of a bat with extended wings. While they are at it, DC Comics might want to also take a look at other Spanish football team logos because several other use the bat for a logo.
Fans will be able to tell you that Albacete Balompie, CD Alcoyano and Levante UD also use the bat in their branding and have been doing so for many years.
DC reacts immediately as Valencia tries to register new bat logo
The Valencia football club has been using the bat as a logo or many years, but it turns out that the problems arose when the club tried to register a new logo where the bat was represented with outstretched wings. At this point, DC Comics objected that the new logo looked too much like their own version of the Batman logo.
At the moment, the regulative body has not yet made a decision in the matter, but while they're at it, DC Comics might also want to look into the Bacardi logo which is also a bat with outstretched wings.
