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More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

Edit: Thank you for your responses. So, to summarize everyone's comments, if there existed a person John Doe who had a lightning-bolt scar and round glasses, and who was nicknamed the "Real Harry Potter" because of it, and he wrote an autobiography, he would be sued. Is that right? (because it seems kind of unfair to John Doe :) )

Also, I have one more question: When referring to pop culture in your work, say the Harry Potter series, are you allowed to refer to characters by their nicknames (e.g. the Boy Who Lived)? For example, I know something like "Hey, you look just like Harry Potter!" is allowed, but is "Hey, you look just like the Boy Who Lived!" allowed?

More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

Edit: Thank you for your responses. I have one more question. When referring to pop culture in your work, say the Harry Potter series, are you allowed to refer to characters by their nicknames (e.g. the Boy Who Lived)? For example, I know something like "Hey, you look just like Harry Potter!" is allowed, but is "Hey, you look just like the Boy Who Lived!" allowed?

More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

Edit: Thank you for your responses. So, to summarize everyone's comments, if there existed a person John Doe who had a lightning-bolt scar and round glasses, and who was nicknamed the "Real Harry Potter", and he wrote an autobiography, he would be sued. Is that right?

More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

Edit: Thank you for your responses. So, to summarize everyone's comments, if there existed a person John Doe who had a lightning-bolt scar and round glasses, and who was nicknamed the "Real Harry Potter" because of it, and he wrote an autobiography, he would be sued. Is that right? (because it seems kind of unfair to John Doe :) )

Also, I have one more question: When referring to pop culture in your work, say the Harry Potter series, are you allowed to refer to characters by their nicknames (e.g. the Boy Who Lived)? For example, I know something like "Hey, you look just like Harry Potter!" is allowed, but is "Hey, you look just like the Boy Who Lived!" allowed?

More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

More specifically, consider the following examples:

1. Say my protagonist is a boy who has a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, wears round glasses, and has dark hair and green eyes. His name is NOT Harry Potter, he is NOT a wizard, and he DOESN'T attend Hogwarts.

Would this be considered copyright? After all, it's perfectly plausible that there could exist a person with these physical attributes.

2. Can my protagonist have a nickname like "Harry Potter" or "the muggle Harry Potter"? (again assuming he's not a wizard etc.)

Edit: Thank you for your responses. So, to summarize everyone's comments, if there existed a person John Doe who had a lightning-bolt scar and round glasses, and who was nicknamed the "Real Harry Potter", and he wrote an autobiography, he would be sued. Is that right?