Avengers Assembled Collection box set delayed by lawsuit


Marvel Delays Release of Superhero DVD Box Set Due to Trademark Claim

The Wrap
Studios has delayed the release of a robust box set of its latest films including The Avengers due to a trademark claim filed Aug. 1 against parent company Disney. Marvel and Disney had been planning to release Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One — Avengers Assembled Collection, a box set ranging from the first Iron Man through The Avengers — a grouping that also includes the Iron Man sequels, Thor and Captain America.

Rimowa GmbH, a German luggage manufacturer, is accusing Disney and Marvel of stealing a design feature in the packaging of the box set. Samuel L. Jackson’s character Nick Fury used a Rimowa briefcase in The Avengers, but Marvel has also used a miniature version of briefcase to house the box set, and it also appears in advertising for the set.

"Images of the replica briefcase on Marvel's advertising materials, and fan video from Marvel's product display at this year's Comic-Con convention, show the plastic 'replica case' to be a close copy of Rimowa's Topas attache case in every respect but quality," a lawsuit filed Aug. 9 in the U.S. District Court of Central California alleges. Rimowa has said Marvel does not have the right to use replicas of the briefcase and seeks compensatory damages.

Marvel has since delayed the release of the set from Sept. 25 to next spring, a studio spokeswoman confirmed. The standalone release of The Avengers on DVD and Blu-Ray remains set for Sept. 25.
by Lucas Shaw

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