I've been toying with a few stories that involve copyrighted characters. Basically, I was creating a story, adding my family in to the original storyline. Some family members would like me to write it and distribute it to family. I'm considering writing the 2 stories and distributing them to family, but only family. Would I get in trouble? I've considered contacting the company that owns the rights to the characters, but I don't want to seem silly, or like I'm looking for a job!
2007-07-30 05:44:05 · 10 answers · asked by SnitchMO 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The copyright laws have gotten rather odd, but if you keep it for you own pleasure, there should be no problem
2007-07-30 05:49:48 · answer #1 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean "copyright infringement", and yes, it is. If you're talking about fanfiction, like somebody else here mentioned, then you can do that (although it's very iffy territory) as long as you're not doing it for money and don't try to submit it to any publisher. If you plan to use somebody else's characters, such as in the case of "Wicked" and books like that have done, you have to wait until the copyright from the original author or the author's estate has expired and the characters become part of the public domain. Which I promise you has not yet happened with the Percy Jackson stories. Interesting thing about copyrights, though - titles can't be copyrighted, so you could still use a title from the series, as long as you didn't actually use any of the characters. Which makes absolutely no sense and I wouldn't recommend it, anyway! The only time something like what you want to do is acceptable is when it's a series that's written by more than one author, such as Star Trek or Star Wars books, things like that, and then you can only submit it to the company that publishes those books, and no one else.
2016-05-17 22:38:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you would get in trouble. Reason being, copyright laws go into effect soon as money is made/exchanged or attention is brought to your product that includes the copyright characters. If its something you are going to have one of and share with your family and friends, and not release it to the public for sale then I believe you are ok.
Some people may think it as stealing but if that's the case, every time we put that little smiley face at the end of our email then we should all get out the check book and send some money to AOL because they have that copy-written and trademarked.
I think you are okay, just don't release it to the public and don't make a profit without prior consent from the owner. They will want their cut... and will get it!
2007-07-30 05:58:28 · answer #3 · answered by BlazInAZ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The possibility of the author holding the copyrighted characters allowing you free usage is extremely poor. So long as you do not attempt to publish this book I would think you'd be safe from copyright infringement.
Use your judgment. The temptation to write stories with other copyrighted characters is strong, but I always recommend using your own characters and your own created settings.
2007-07-30 05:50:46 · answer #4 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, yes you could get in trouble (money does not need to change hands in order for copyright laws to be in effect).
However, the laws aren't perfectly clear. Fanfiction (which is what your story sounds like) is an odd duck. I've never heard of a writer pressing charges, simply because it is such bad publicity. You should also be protected under fair use laws.
But if you should be worried; not really. It is unlikely the writer would ever hear of it, even more unlikely that they would care, and statistically insignifficantly improbable that anything would come of it.
2007-07-30 06:08:59 · answer #5 · answered by Thought 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theres a really good chance that the rights owners will never findout, but it is a risk, and it could be an expensive one. If you contact the owner they could change you lots, and only after approving the use of the name, but again they may say that its okay... If you insiste on using the copyrighted information, contact the copyright owner.
2007-07-30 05:50:55 · answer #6 · answered by Wanda K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is called FAN FICTION and has been around since early Star Trek days. Unless you professionally publish it with a print run of more than a hundred, the owners of the copyright will usually ignore it. What you are suggesting is not worth their effort to prosecute.
2007-07-30 05:50:25 · answer #7 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually you won't get into any trouble at all. I know a fan fiction author who used characters from her favorite television show. The creators of the show found out and they sued her. They lost because the judge said she wasn't breaking any laws since she wasn't publishing them and making money off them.
2007-07-30 06:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by Tarra Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fan fiction is all over the internet. As long as you aren't making any money from it, you're not breaking any laws.
2007-07-30 05:49:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about you come up with your own character's and story instead of stinging off other people creativity...
2007-07-30 05:47:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋