All Questions
18 questions
0
votes
1
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82
views
Trademarked Name Use in Novel
Can I have a character's name be the same as the one in a popular children's book?
For example, the kids in a neighborhood think an old man is hiding something. This has been going on for years and ...
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
Can I use a song lyric as the title of my theatre production?
I'm starting a theatre company and one of the ideas I have thought of for a production is an ongoing series of monologue/scratch evenings. I want to have the premise of each night to latch onto the ...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can I use more specific monsters and creatures legally?
To be specific, metallic or chromatic dragons for an example. I know mindflayers and beholders and such are way off the list. But is the concept of dragons in distinct categories like this too similar ...
- 61
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Are you allowed to use sci-fi terms you get from the internet?
I’m working on a sci-fi project for a major franchise and it focuses heavily on sci-fi tech terms and science concepts and terms. Lots of the terms I invented but some I found on Internet forums like ...
- 11
4
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Can a story have a monster called the "Venomancer"?
The name "Venomancer" is taken from the Defense of the Ancients series of video games, where it is a monster capable of poisoning targets.
Now I am asking: can a fantasy story have a monster ...
user55751
0
votes
1
answer
99
views
A location for a big event
My novel I am writing has a Queensland, Australia castle in it, Paronella Park. I did research and I’m using facts, except my characters paid extra to stay inside the castle (which I understand that’...
1
vote
1
answer
384
views
Character name trademarks and copyrights [duplicate]
I've had some characters for a while for a comic I'm wanting to write, and until now I never thought about name copyright and trademarks. After looking it up, quite a few of my characters have the ...
- 11
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are fictional town names trademarks or protected intellectual property of their author?
If a town name in a popular fictional work is widely associated with a particular fictional work, can the name be freely used as a name for a new nonprofit organization even if the nonprofit is ...
- 171
2
votes
7
answers
883
views
Writing a novel that is set (semi-)inside an established universe
How free are we to write a story that is set inside another universe, that doesn’t necessarily mention anyone or anything specifically about said universe?
For example, let’s say that I want to write ...
- 29
-2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is it copyright infringement to Disney if I were to name my online company BuzzLightYear? [closed]
I want to use the name BuzzLightYear (one word) as a business name. What are the laws on character copyright infringement for just using the name of a Disney character? And in this case a slightly ...
3
votes
1
answer
126
views
How to protect my idea/design to re-publish a public domain book?
I found a public domain book that has never been re-published and I wanted to include illustrations with the book. If I submit manuscripts to publishers, how can I protect my idea? What if they just ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
5k
views
Can I use the real name of TV shows in my novel? [duplicate]
My main characters are famous. Can I use the actual name of entertainment TV shows, such as 'Entertainment Tonight' in my fictional novel?
- 11
4
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Can I legally use these song lyrics as book/chapter names?
This topic has been discussed--but please advise me on this particular test case.
The title of the fiction novel is "Shorter of Breath" -- a reference to a lyric in Pink Floyd's "Time."
Chapter ...
- 41
1
vote
4
answers
111
views
Use Moscow Metro in a book
I'm publishing a short book about a trip to Moscow that I made. Is it OK for me to mention the Moscow Metro and specific stations?
Also I've described walking through it in the following way. Might ...
- 113
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Use of Registered trademark
I'm writing a book on Windows and I need some guidelines.
On the cover of the book, as part of the subtitle, may I include Windows® in it?
Inside the book, do I have to use the ® every single little ...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Copyrighted Names
I'm very confused in regards of copyrighted names, some say you can copy right names, and then I read that you can only trademark names and copyright them ONLY if the book/movie is named after them, ...
1
vote
4
answers
969
views
Can a plagiarist sue one who plagiarized them?
I sometimes write rather vicious satirical pieces that heavily reference (arguably - but possibly beyond the point of plagiarism; definitely the same setting, the same characters, strong references to ...
- 15.4k
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Referencing, but not using, trademarked characters
Obviously, you're not allowed to use trademarked characters like Superman or Batman in your published works. If I wrote a novel about Superman fighting Lex Luthor, I could get sued.
But what about ...
- 273