That may be so, but, in the long run the trademark isn't associated so much with the story/fan fic aspect as the copyrights. And it's the copyrights that make the news, and seem to draw the most ire when it comes to fanfic. And yeah images and anything that is specific to a character or titled work can be trademarked, this I know, eBay constantly has auctions taken down because of VERO, and trademark issues. People seem to think they can take trademarked images and characters and print them on something and sell them for a profit.

If any fanfic author was actually making a profit then the Big Guns would have already had them in court over it. As long as fanfic doesn't affect their bottom line most of them are content to ignore it because they know it puts money in their pockets in the long run. They're not stupid enough to try what the Music Association is doing and alienate their fan base as long as it's not encroaching on their bank balance.

This person is just spouting what they've heard rather than what they've read or researched themselves. He/she is a good little drone. GIGO.