The iconic Superman "S" logo is well known the world over but that's apparently not the case in Switzerland.

The Swiss company FAF AG recently filed a trademark on a new logo (pictured right) for an assortment of it's products. However, due to the logo's close resemblence to the Superman logo, DC Comics took issue.

Since DC had not actually filed a trademark for the Superman "S" in Switzerland, they were forced to rely on the "S" logo being well known and recognizable using the provision of art.

In line with standard case law, the Swiss IPO decreed that in order to establish that the Superman logo was well known in Switzerland, it needed to be shown that the logo was intensely used in Switzerland, or at least heavily advertised. DC Comics submitted evidence for foreign registrations of the "S", press clippings concerning the "Superman" brand in Switzerland, and some revenue figures. However, the Swiss IPO decided that this evidence was insufficient to establish that the "S" logo was well known in Switzerland.

DC Comics is currently appealing the descision.