Batman Spin-Off TV Series Confirmed Featuring Commissioner Gordon; DC Comics Acquires ‘Gotham’ Trademark From 20th Century Fox
DC Comics has acquired the trademark for "Gotham" in preparation for the Spin-off TV Series featuring Gotham Police Chief Gordon.
After the successful pilot episode of "Agents of SHIELD," Warner Brothers has announced that they will also have its own superhero spin-off TV series.
The official statement first released by Deadline: "In one of the biggest drama deals this season, after a bidding war, Fox has landed Gotham, from Warner Bros. TV and The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller, with a series commitment. For Gotham, Warner Bros TV is mining one of DC Comics' most popular character universes, Batman. It explores the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains who made Gotham City famous. In Gotham, Gordon is still a detective with the Gotham City Police Department and has yet to meet Batman, who will not be part of the series."
However, it has to be clear that they have access to use the Gotham universe but not, in any way, Batman or Bruce Wayne. Still, they have a lot to work on and they can present the villains that urged Bruce Wayne to don the cowl in the first place.
It is also notable that the series is signed with Fox, not CW which currently has "Arrow" and is working on "The Flash." Thus, no crossover seems imminent.
Meanwhile, the trademark for the word "Gotham" which used to belong to Fox has now been transferred to DC Comics. According to BleedingCool.com, Fox and Warner apparently made a deal, and now DC has the specific rights to use "Gotham" under these conditions: "Entertainment services in the nature of live-action, comedy, drama, animated and/or reality television programs; production of live-action comedy, drama, animated and/or reality television programs.
Downloadable live-action, comedy, drama, animated and reality television series; audio tapes, audio-video tapes, audio video cassettes, audio video discs, and digital versatile discs featuring music, comedy, drama, action, adventure, and/or animation."