Can you use copyrighted characters in a book?

Writers may only use copyright and/or trademark protected characters without permission under limited circumstances like when the use is considered fair or de minimis, or if the characters have entered the public domain.

How do I get permission to use a copyrighted character?

In general, the permissions process involves a simple five-step procedure:

1. Determine if permission is needed.
2. Identify the owner.
3. Identify the rights needed.
4. Contact the owner and negotiate whether payment is required.
5. Get your permission agreement in writing.

Can I draw a copyrighted character?

Any commercial use of a copyrighted cartoon character without permission of the copyright holder is a violation of law. This includes the sale of any drawings or art works, either by themselves or in some other form such as on a T-shirt, team logo, advertisement, billboard, or promotional design.

What characters can I use without copyright?

8 Characters in the Public Domain that Crafters Can Use

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
• The Little Mermaid.
• Rapunzel, Snow White, and Cinderella.
• Aladdin, Sinbad, and the Hunchback.
• Ebeneezer Scrooge.
• Classic Monsters.
• Sherlock Holmes.

Is Malfoy copyrighted?

For example, the character of Harry Potter is legally trademarked by Time Warner Entertainment, so that no other works of published literature can use the name Harry Potter or the character associated with it. Nor can you use Draco Malfoy, or a few others.

Can I mention Disney characters in my book?

The copyrights give Disney the exclusive right to use the characters. For example, Disney can prevent others from using Elsa, a character from “Frozen,” in other movies, TV shows, or books. Not only does Disney hold substantial intellectual property rights in its characters, it strictly enforces those rights.

Is Robin Hood copyrighted?

Robin Hood is in the public domain. However, specific depictions of Robin Hood are copyrighted. If you want, for example, to write a novelization or a comic book adaptation of the Errol Flynn movie, you’d need the permission of Warner Brothers, or whoever owns the copyright on the film.