Category talk:Public domain characters
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[edit] Fawcett and Quality Characters
Based on the discussions here and here, as well as this flowchart, I placed most Quality characters in public domain. The only exceptions were characters whose copyright was retained prior to DC's acquisition of Quality Comics (namely Blackhawks and Plastic Man). Using the same logic, I placed Fawcett characters that haven't appeared in any publication between 1960 and 1972 in this category. I hope that's okay with everyone. --Strannik 23:07, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
Good! I'm somewhat of an expert in this field, having studied it for years for some potential commercial stories. Icarus 23 09:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Nedor Characters NOT NECESSARILY in Public Domain
I DO refer folks to my comments on the Nedor characters' page -- the situation is NOT as clear as most folks believe,and I wouldn't want someone starting something that they may NOT be legally able to do based on the information here. Icarus 23 09:37, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Trademark is not copyright
This article is not about trademark, it is about copyright. You cannot trademark characters, only their titles, hence DC owning the copyright to Fawcett's Captain Marvel but not the trademark, so they have to use an alternate title, Shazam for his comic.
Some of the characters listed, Conan for example, certainly do have a current trademark associated with their name, and possibly their appearance. While it might be legal to publish stories about Conan it would not be legal to include his name in the title of the publication, and any illustrations could not be based on the interpretation of the character in Marvel comics beyond elements that were expressly described in the original R.E.Howard stories. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.46.103.66 (talk) 06:57, 15 February 2007 (UTC).
