A fan of Costa Rica holds a superman toy while watching a broadcast of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between Costa Rica and Greece, in San Jose
A fan of Costa Rica holds a superman toy while watching a broadcast of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between Costa Rica and Greece, in San Jose June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

The statue of Jeffrey Baldwin will not have the Superman logo. Jeffrey, a big Superman fan from Toronto, was killed in 2002 at the age of five by his abusive grandparents.

It was Todd Boyce, a 45-year-old father of three, who decided to raise $25,000 to make a bronze statue of Jeffrey in a Superman costume. Jeffrey's photo in a Superman costume was often used during the extensive inquest in 2013. Boyce felt that "little Jeffrey smiling in a Superman costume" was a "powerful picture." The maternal grandparents of the child were eventually charged for second-degree murder as Jeffrey had been killed of starvation and septic shock. Boyce wanted to gift the statue of the little child in Superman costume to the City of Toronto. However, he was required to have permission for using the Superman logo.

When Boyce asked permission from DC Entertainment - the company which is authorised to grant such permission - he was not allowed to use the logo. According to Boyce, the company did not want to associate Superman with child abuse. Boyce called the company "overly cautious" as the statue was about a child who had been a victim of child abuse. Even though Boyce was angry and surprised to know that he was not allowed to use the Superman logo, he later realised after consulting the company lawyers that the company took the matter seriously and gave the matter serious consideration.

Amy Genkins, the senior vice-president of business and legal affairs of the company, informed Boyce through an email that the company would not be able to give permission even though it was "touched" by the story of little Jeffrey. ""We know this decision is not what you were hoping for, but it is not at all a reflection of your incredible endeavor and the little boy you seek to honor," she said in the email.

Jeffrey will still have the cape, the belt buckle and a superhero look. However, the letter "S" will now be replaced with his initial "J," Boyce said.

Update: DC Entertainment allowed the use of the Superman logo on Jeffrey's statue.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au