A closer look
Capitalism truly peaks when a massive comic book conglomerate successfully claims ownership of the concept of the walking dead. Back in 1973, Marvel launched a horror series titled 'Tale of the Zombie' and somehow convinced the US Patent and Trademark Office to let them legally own the word 'zombie.' They successfully held the trademark for over twenty years, routinely sending cease-and-desist letters to anyone attempting to use it in a comic book title. They eventually realized enforcing it was impossible and let it lapse in 1996, freeing the undead for public consumption.
