[Netherrealmer]

If the writer of a character has been dead for a century and has no living descendant obsessed with copyright, they are public domain. Google is your friend it is easy to find out which characters are public domain. Once a character is Public domain, You can exploit them and milk them for your advantage because they are free and you won't get sued for using them as long as its your own interpretation.

You can make money out of Public domain characters because nobody owns them anymore. That is why we have a Winnie the Pooh Horror movie right now.


So how can you take advantage of a Public domain character?

1.Make your own interpretation. The Wizard of Oz is a Public domain story so you already can write about the lore of that Universe. Nobody will sue you for writing a novel about Dorothy Gale and characters of your story as long as she doesn't wear Ruby slippers (Warner Bros copyrighted the Ruby Slippers, Dorothy Wear Silver Slippers in the book)

Winnie Holzman is a writer who decided to make a story about the Wicked Witch from Wizard of OZ and portray her in a sympathetic light. That book is wicked and it got adapted into a broadway Musical that made billion of dollars.



It will be adapted into a movie soon. It is hard to make your own characters but writing fan fiction with established Public domain characters is easier because people know their personality. It is easier to use them than make your own characters and start from scratch. You can make your own version of Snow White, Peter Pan and Robinhood and it won't be an issue at all. The descendants of their authors may not even know they are related to the author. They have no more copyright owners.

If you want to write your own novel but you are not yet capable of making your own characters, Use the 100% Public domain character. Just remember if you will use a Public domain character it should be your own version. You cannot use Disney's version of Snow White or Aladdin. You have to make your own version and art style.

Also you can even copyright your own version of a copyrighted character. Like your own version of let's say Cinderella have her own last name. With that No can pirate your version of her. The Wicked Witch from OZ have no name but the author of Wicked gave her a name, Elphaba so no one can steal his version of her.


2. Use them as Mascot for your business

Once a character is Public domain, You can take advantage of their image or even just their name. A logo or a mascot or name can be helpful to market your business. These names and characters are household names. They are free for you to use so why not take advantage of them. People have nostalgia from these characters so the familiarity makes an instant market.







3. You can republish the source material. The novel Dracula is Public domain,That means you can republish the original material or translate it in other languages and sell those copies and have no issues about legalities. Some Publishing companies made money out of Public domain novels with no issue.

[mrki444]

Would you Yotube ban your channel if it use some of those public domain characters?

[Netherrealmer]

No, they are public domain, Nobody owns them anymore and everyone can make their own version. As long you wont use someone else's version.

[jobless dude]

Interesting information. Can we buy a domain based on public character and flip it out in the future?

[Netherrealmer]

Yes you can if someone hasnt beaten you to it yet. You can even make merch based on them without repercussions as long as drew them in your own art style or an artist you hired.

[oldbuddy]

I know a barbershop quartet that used the Wizard Of Oz story to win an International Championship.

[jobless dude]

Yes you can if someone hasnt beaten you to it yet. You can even make merch based on them without repercussions as long as drew them in your own art style or an artist you hired.

Making merchandise is an interesting idea. I will do deep research on this.

[mrki444]

Is there some rule how somebody can apply for those rights and become fully owner of character?

I ma looking at this like word fifsfjos is public domain and when I protect it with some my product, I have rights on it.

Since this characters will become free public domain, can somebody claim again rights on it?

[Netherrealmer]

You cannot claim Public domain characters but you can claim an element for your version. Example You cannot give Dorothy the Ruby slippers because MGM owns the version of Dorothy that wears ruby slippers.

This is the public domain Dorothy from the books:


This is the copyrighted Dorothy that you cannot use.


The original public domain little mermaid is named Marina. Disney's Little Mermaid is named Ariel. You can use Marina but not Ariel.

[mrki444]

So I can make Dorothy as astronaut and space warrior? For me it is just draw new similar girl, give her different name and new skills.

[Netherrealmer]

Public domain characters are easier sale over nameless writers, that's the reason to use them. New characters are harder since you have to build them from scratch.

[JASPREET]

This is wonderful, I was not aware that these are public domains and can be used in a way to get an advantage but we shouldn't copy any other business

[Mikelo]

So you mean those public domain's characters can be adopted to a movies without any buzz ? Very nice.

[Treborika]

I simply not agreeing with this cause it can turn out as trying to fake something which is not originally yours. I don't like it.

[Netherrealmer]

I simply not agreeing with this cause it can turn out as trying to fake something which is not originally yours. I don't like it.

They are public domain characters. Their authors are dead for more than 70 years and they have no heir. Everyone are legally allow to take advantage of them. Thats why disney made money from Snow White,Cinderella and Rapunzel because no one owns them.

[augusta]

I'm a YouTuber maybe I could try them on my channel. I hope there will be no problem with the rules there.

[Netherrealmer]

They are Public domain and their authors and heirs are dead for 70 years. Here are some successful people who got success from using Public domain characters.

Someone made a novel of Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Wendy from Peter Pan and Dorothy from Wizard of Oz met and had adventures together. It became a movie.


The writer becomes rich using these public domain characters.

Some one wrote novels that Sherlock Holmes have a younger sister and she is a detective too. It became a successful movie in Netflix, it got a sequel.


Someone made a Superhero team compose of classic literature characters like Captain Nemo, Ali Baba,Tom Sawyer, Invisible man and Dr. Jekyll. Its called League of Extra-Ordinary Gentleman and the books are success... The movie is flop though.



The advantage of Public domain characters is they are already established, You are just giving them new adventures.

[mrki444]

Some one wrote novels that Sherlock Holmes have a younger sister and she is a detective too.

Is Sherlock Holmes public domain character? If he is not, can somebody make any his relative free public character and mention him without violenting rules?

Example: I make game where main character is Lady Mary, crazy duck killer, and I say she is Sherlocks aunt.

Just mention of him could bring me some free ads, even he is not main character in story or even secondary.

[Netherrealmer]

He is Public domain so you can make a Sherlock Holmes icecream store and you wont get sued.

[monster_masterpiece]

I simply not agreeing with this cause it can turn out as trying to fake something which is not originally yours. I don't like it.

They are public domain characters. Their authors are dead for more than 70 years and they have no heir. Everyone are legally allow to take advantage of them. Thats why disney made money from Snow White,Cinderella and Rapunzel because no one owns them.

I appreciate the concept because, since the public domain advertisement is not plagiarized, people will remember it and the substance of your advertisement if you use it in your product.