Two things:

I understand that the *original* daemon was drawn by Phil Foglio,
not John Lassiter.  So I gather.


Second, more importantly: All that I've ever seen claimed is a
copyright.  I am certainly not a lawyer, but a copyright is not a
trademark to my understanding.
purpose.

A copyright just prevents one from taking the particular image,
and making a copy of it (perhaps with modifications) without the
owner's permission.  A copyright does not prevent one from making
a new image of the same likeness.


That said, I'll leave the rest of the comments aside, as I've
had my say on them already.  (^&

-- 
  "I probably don't know what I'm talking about."  http://www.olib.org/~rkr/