Eric July’s Rippaverse settled their Isom trademark dispute with Berin Gilfillan and Good Shepherd Ministries.
A scene from Isom #2 (2023), Rippaverse
Gilfillan announced the settlement on social media writing, “It is with a sense of joy and relief that we at Good Shepherd Ministries announce that we have fully resolved our dispute with Mr. Eric July and his Rippaverse companies. This is being announced during this season where we celebrate God sending His Son to resolve a major issue between Him and humankind, not that the two events are in any way compatible but the desire to reconcile is the appropriate analogy.”
He continued, “Both Mr. July and I, Rev. Berin Gilfillan, are people who profess a Christian faith and we both ultimately answer to one Master, Jesus Christ. It is therefore right that we come to the table and discuss very real issues and find ways that are mutually acceptable to resolve them. Unfortunately this had to play out in a very public way and in an ultra polarized social and political environment. It is somewhat miraculous that, despite all the hateful rhetoric online and the thousands of hours of other negative online commentary, reason and commonality prevailed.”
A scene from Isom #1 (2022), Rippaverse
RELATED: Eric July’s Rippaverse ISOM Campaign Now Tops THREE MILLION Dollars
“We are grateful to Mr. July and all the lawyers involved for their attention to detail, their willingness to create a legitimate separation in our names and branding and for the countless hours both sides put into the negotiations,” he said. “In the end a willingness to find a solution drove us to a mutually acceptable agreement.”
He concluded, “We look forward to going on, with this issue resolved, each in our separate lanes and we wish Mr. July and all the Rippaverse fans a wonderful Christmas and blessings in 2024 and beyond.”
Announcing a Settlement between Good Shepherd and Eric July and his Rippaverse LLC – ISOM Trademark Lawsuit UPDATE – @EricDJuly #isom #rippaverse
It is with a sense of joy and relief that we at Good Shepherd Ministries announce that we have fully resolved our dispute with Mr.…
— Berin Gilfillan (@ceoisomorg) December 21, 2023
July also made an announcement. He posted to YouTube saying, “Today, I have some fantastic news, but first let me set the scene. As many of you know there was an active lawsuit between us and Good Shepherd Ministries. Good Shepherd Ministries was founded in the 1990s by Reverend Dr. Berin Gilfillan and he continues as its leader to this day. Good Shepherd has an International School of Ministry and registered its trademark Isom many years ago for its various activities and efforts in its ministries.”
“The Rippaverse has a character by the name of Avery Silman. His heroic name is Isom and it is not an acronym. Isom is named after a real person whose name was Isom Knox and is my great great great grandfather. He was born way back in the 1800s.
A scene from Alphacore #1 (2023), Rippaverse
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“Some of this dispute played out in public and of course everybody had their opinions on what they wanted to be the outcome. Despite this being such a hyper divisive world two men of God were able to come to a mutually beneficial, simple understanding. There are no losses here and neither the Rippaverse nor Good Shepherd admit to any wrongdoing.
“As this played out both parties understood that it was best we resolve this outside the courts especially as Christian men,” he continued. “Let me explain some things. Both Dr. Gilfillan and I wanted to resolve this amicably and the more we converse the more obvious the common ground is. They respect our business and what it is that we’ve accomplished as independents and The Rippaverse has no issues with Good Shepherd and finds their mission to be admirable.”
A scene from Isom #1 (2022), Rippaverse
“So regardless of the circumstances that brought us here we made the most of it. We sought to further ensure the distinction between Good Shepherd’s International School of Ministry (ISOM) and the Rippaverse character known as Isom. Both parties will continue to do their own thing staying in their own separate and unique lanes. We both have agreed to take steps to avoid any confusion between our respective future uses of Isom.
“However, The Rippaverse maintains that there was never any actual confusion in the first place. We only come to this conclusion due to the willingness of both parties to resolve this amicably and we wish each other well in our respective future endeavors,” July concluded.
July also noted on X, “For further clarification: We’ll be moving forward with Isom and his name will remain as such. Nothing has changed in terms of the ownership. It’s the Rippaverse’s character. All is GREAT and we’re continuing on with Isom #3!”
For further clarification: We’ll be moving forward with Isom and his name will remain as such. Nothing has changed in terms of the ownership. It’s the Rippaverse’s character.
All is GREAT and we’re continuing on with Isom #3!
— Eric July (@EricDJuly) December 21, 2023
Gilfillan previously detailed he would proceed with a lawsuit claiming that July was infringing on Good Shepherd’s Isom trademark and was damaging their business.
He posted on X, “The CORE issue in this dispute is Trademark infringement. A basic test for trademark infringement is whether consumers are likely to be confused as to the source of the trademarked things – in other words, are consumers likely to think there is a connection between (1) Good Shepherd’s decades of using its ISOM trademark and Good Shepherd’s U.S. Registration of its ISOM trademark, and (2) Mr. July and his company starting a little over a year ago to use ISOM as the name of a graphic serial novel character. As mentioned below, we already are far past a “likelihood of confusion.” We have evidence that Mr. July and his company have caused actual confusion.”
ISOM Trademark Lawsuit UPDATE – Why Serving the Lawsuit Against Eric July and Rippaverse LLC has now become necessary: @EricDJuly #isom #rippaverse
It is with deep sadness that Good Shepherd Ministries, International (https://t.co/VonICcEIrQ) announces that its efforts to…
— Berin Gilfillan (@ceoisomorg) October 11, 2023
July responded in a YouTube video stating, “Now, a trademark is connected to specific goods sold under the mark. Good Shepherd failed to accurately compare the relevant goods. The goods identified in their registration fall into distinct classes. Class 9 covers audio material and Class 16 covers print material. In their original letter to me, Class 9 is what Good Shepherd rely on, but that’s limited to audio material not comic book characters. So there’s some misidentification of the covered goods in the lawsuit as it was filed. That’s obviously a problem.”
“But they also are trying to expand the scope of the goods they claim are under this mark by claiming they are printing instructional, educational, and teaching materials all in the field of religion, which is a direct text from their registration, somehow could be confused with comic books,” he continued.
“But the worst part is that the ministry’s claimed goods involve religious content, not comic book characters,” he said. “Conveniently for them, the arguments broaden the scope of the goods that they claimed with the trademark office.”
July continued, “We do not sell audio or electronic books. We do not sell print material centered around religious, instructional content. Our industry is dominated by physical copies and that’s all we currently sell. But Good Shepherd is claiming that we sell many of the same types of goods and that’s nonsense.”
“They’re relying on the fact that our character has a cross on his belt,” July added. “Good Shepherd does not own the rights to the use of a cross symbol. On top of that, claiming that there is overlap in the target market is flat out wrong. Good Shepherd identifies itself as the largest multi-denominational video-based Bible school in the world targeting Christians who seek to obtain training to bring forth the Word. This was stated by televangelist Marilyn Hickey and it’s on their website.”
A scene from Isom #2 (2023), Rippaverse
“We are a comic book company. We set out to entertain first and foremost,” July asserted. “The Rippaverse is not a ministry nor does anything that we do have faith-based instructional or training aspects. Maybe there will be some overlap if our business was like the International School of Ministry with Pastor Chris and Christ Embassy, or if we were the Illinois School of Ministry, or the Indiana School of Ministry, or the Islamic Society of Midwest. They all are specifically involved in faith and ministry. To our knowledge there aren’t any active trademark disputes between them and Good Shepherd.”
“The Rippaverse is not a religious organization,” he said. “The individual religious beliefs of our employees and contractors are completely irrelevant to what we do. We have a public code of ethics and it says nothing about religion.”
“But we are a for-profit business and therefore have profit to plunder and that is what Good Shepherd has demanded,” he accused.
A scene from Alphacore #1 (2023), Rippaverse
What do you make of Eric July’s The Rippaverse settling the lawsuit with Dr. Berin Gilfillan and Good Shepherd Ministries?
What? 2 parties coming together amiciably to come to an agreement that doesn’t involve the courts?
That is a miracle!
While I don’t know anything about the Good Shepherd Ministries, I am greatly enjoying the Isom comics, and I know the good Shepherd, so this sound like a win-win.
Thank you for the article, Mr. Trent!