Exxon Challenges Oak Cliff Comic Store Over Red Pegasus Logo
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - It's a battle of "David versus Goliath" in North Texas as the world's largest oil company challenges a small, Oak Cliff comic shop over its logo.
For about the last two years Red Pegasus Comics has operated using a red Pegasus.
On Tuesday, lawyers for Irving-based ExxonMobil informed the comic book store it needed to change its logo or could face a lawsuit.
Driving through Dallas, a person will easily spot the mythological flying horse all over the place. It's found on flags, shirts, show posters, pillows, coffee cups and license plate covers.
But it likely will not be found at Red Pegasus anymore.
"I think most people in Dallas at least associate the red Pegasus with Dallas at large," said Kenneth Denson, co-owner of Red Pegasus Comics.
"We were kind of like, I guess we've arrived. We caught attention from a top ten company," said Denson. "They said our name was okay, but that we needed to revise our logo."
The comic book shop logo appears more cropped, has less detail in the wings and the ears of the Pegasus are different.
"It's hard to stop that dilution once it starts," said Bret Madole, an attorney who specializes in trademark law. "They don't want the endorsement risk out there. They don't want the confusion risk out there, they don't want the dilution risk out there and that's what will happen."
Madole said the City of Dallas has permission to use the sign in downtown. He feels it might only be a matter of time before ExxonMobil catches on to companies using it illegally.
He can see the differences in the logo, but thinks it would not be a dispute worth fighting.
"Who's going to fight them? It would take somebody with some pretty deep pockets," said Madole.
Denson said as a small business, it is a dispute he will not pursue.
"It was always in the back of our minds. It was a gamble," said Denson. "We knew we might have to change it, and that day has come."
The owners of the shop are now enlisting some graphic designers to come up with a new logo, but will keep the name.
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