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Can characters be in the public domain and if so what are they?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Characters can absolutely be in the public domain and hundreds of them are. In most cases, when an original work enters the public domain so do the characters. L. Frank Baum's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is public domain, and so Dorothy Gale, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion are in the public domain by extension. There are examples where this is not the case - Captain Marvel's appearance in "Whiz Comics #2" is public domain, but the character is owned by DC Comics - so you should seek your own legal advice if you have a particular character in mind. Another thing to consider is trademark. Trademark is completely separate from copyright. The character of Thor from Norse mythology is 100% public domain, but Marvel Comics has trademark on the name Thor for their comic book super hero, so no one else can create a comic titled "Thor," even though they could use a character named Thor inside their comic. Here is a partial list of comic book characters in the public domain: 13 & Jinx (Lev Gleason)
Airboy (Hillman)
Airmale & Stampy (Prize)
Airman (Centaur)
Amazing Man & Tommy (Centaur)
The American Crusader (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The American Eagle & Eaglet (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The Arrow (Centaur)
Atomic Man (Prize)
The Avenger
Black Owl [1] (Prize)
Black Owl [2] (Prize)
Black Terror & Tim (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Black Venus (Aviation Press)
Blackout (Lev Gleason)
Blue Beetle [Dan Garret I] & Sparky (Fox)
Blue Bolt (Novelty)
Blue Streak (Prize)
Bombshell, Son of War (Lev Gleason)
Boy King & Giant (Hillman)
The Bronze Terror (Lev Gleason)
Captain Battle & Hale Battle (Lev Gleason)
Captain Battle Jr. (Lev Gleason)
Captain Courageous (Ace Magazines)
Captain Flash (Sterling)
Captain Future (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Cat-Man & Kitten (Holyoke)
The Cavalier (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The Chameleon (Novelty)
The Claw (Lev Gleason)
The Clock (Centaur, Quality)
The Clown (Ace Magazines)
The Cobra (Ace Magazines)
Crimebuster (Lev Gleason)
Cyclone (Nita)
Daredevil (Lev Gleason)
The Dart & Ace (Fox)
Doc Strange & Mike (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Dr. Frost (Prize)
Dr. Nemesis (Ace Magazines)
Dynamic Man & Dynamic Boy (Harry 'A' Chesler)
The Eagle & Buddy (Fox)
Emperor Seng I (Prize)
The Face (Columbia)
Fantom of the Fair (Centaur)
Fantomah (Fiction House)
Fearless Flint (Eastern Color)
Fighting Yank (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The Flag (Ace Magazines)
The Flame & Flame Girl (Fox)
Fly-Man (Harvey)
Flying Fist & Bingo (Prize)
The Ghost (Lev Gleason)
The Ghost (Nedor)
Ghost Rider (Magazine Enterprises)
The Great Question (Centaur)
The Great Voodini (Prize)
The Green Dragon (Lev Gleason)
Green Giant (Pelican Press)
Green Lama (Prize, Spark)
Green Mask & Domino (Fox)
Green Sorceress (Novelty)
Grim Reaper (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The Hood (Holyoke)
The Human Meteor [Duke O'Dowd] (Harvey)
Hydroman (Eastern Color)
Iron Jaw (Lev Gleason)
Jupiter, the Master Magician (Prize)
Kangaa (Fiction House)
Lady Satan (Fox)
Lance Lewis, Space Detective (Lev Gleason)
Lancer (Ace Magazines)
Lash Lightning & Lightning Girl (Ace Magazines)
The Liberator (Standard/Better/Nedor)
The Little Wise Guys (Lev Gleason)
The Magnet (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Magno & Davey (Ace Magazines)
Major Victory (Harry 'A' Chesler)
Man o' Metal (Eastern Color)
Man of War (Centaur)
Martan the Marvel Man & Vana (Dell)
Marvelo (Columbia)
Masked Marvel (Centaur)
Merlin [Moe Lynn] (Ace Magazines)
Mighty Man (Centaur)
Miss Masque (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Mister Midnite (Lev Gleason)
Mr. X (Standard Better/Nedor)
Mystico (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Nightro (Lev Gleason)
Octobriana
The Owl (Dell)
Pat Patriot (Lev Gleason)
Phantasmo (Dell)
Power Nelson (Prize)
Prince Ra (Prize)
Princess Pantha (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Professor Supermind & Son (Dell)
Pyroman (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Radior (Dell)
Rainboy Boy (Eastern Color)
The Raven (Ace Periodicals)
The Red Seal (Novelty)
Rocketman & Rocketgirl (Harry 'A' Chesler)
Samson & David (Fox)
The Scarab (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Sergeant Spook (Novelty)
Silver Streak & Meteor (Lev Gleason)
Sky Wizard, Master of Space (Hillman)
The Sky Wolf (Lev Gleason)
Skyman (Columbia)
Spacehawk (Novelty)
Sparkman (United Features)
Spider Queen (Fox)
Spirit Man (Lev Gleason)
Stardust, the Super Wizard (Fox)
Strongman (Holyoke)
Sub Zero Man (Novelty)
The Super-American (Fiction House)
The Sword (Ace Magazines)
The Target & The Targeteers (Novelty)
Thor (Fox)
Thun-Dhor (Lev Gleason)
The Twister (Novelty)
U.S. Jones (Fox)
Unknown Soldier (Ace Magazines)
V-Man (Fox)
Volton (Holyoke)
Vulcan (Ace Magazines)
The White Streak (Novelty)
The Woman in Red (Standard/Better/Nedor)
Wonder Man (Fox)
Wonderman [Brad Spencer] (Nedor)
Yank & Doodle (Prize)
Yellowjacket (Frank Communale)
Young Robin Hood (Lev Gleason)
Zippo (Hillman)
Zongar the Miracle Man (Lev Gleason)
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∙ 15y ago
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Is Alice in Wonderland characters public domain?
Yes, the story and characters are public domain. The original book was written in 1865, and anything published before 1923 is public domain. Also, the author Lewis Carroll died in 1898. Works go public 75 years after the author's death.
Are Quality Comic characters public domain?
With the exception of Plastic Man, Blackhawks, and the Spirit, all Quality Comics characters, as originally depicted, have fallen into the public domain. The new versions of those characters ("retcons") are property of their respective companies.
Are Amos 'n' Andy in the public domain?
The characters and basic premise are in the public domain, as is the radio show, but the television show and all materials created after 1948 are controlled by CBS.
Is brahms lullaby public domain?
Brahms died more than 100 years ago, so everything he ever wrote is now public domain.
Is Ashokan Farewell public domain?
No, "Ashokan Farewell" is not in the public domain. The piece was composed by Jay Ungar in 1982, so it is still under copyright protection.
Is the book Animal Farm by George Orwell in public domain?
Yes, Animal Farm by George Orwell is in the public domain. It was published in 1945, so the copyright has expired.
Are H. P. Lovecraft's works and characters public domain in America?
Yes, the works of H. P. Lovecraft are in the public domain in the United States as he passed away in 1937, more than 70 years ago. This means that his characters and stories can be freely used by anyone without needing permission or facing copyright issues.
When was Union for the Public Domain created?
Union for the Public Domain was created in 1996.
.Is Shenandoah folk song public domain?
Yes, Shenandoah is public domain.
When was Center for the Public Domain created?
Center for the Public Domain was created in 1999.
Where can one find pictures of puppies that are considered to be public domain?
One can find pictures of puppies that are considered to be in the public domain on public domain picture collection websites. These are a few of those: Wikimedia, PublicPhoto, Pixabay, PD photo, Photos Public Domain, Picdrome, Alegri Photos, Free Photo Gallery, Public-Domain-Photos, 4Free Photos, Free Stock Image Site, Public Domain Files,Public Domain Depot, Open Galleries, Free Images Collection, Free Digital Photos, Public Domain Photo, Project Public Domain Pictures.
Is Besame mucho in public domain?
No, "Besame Mucho" is not in the public domain. The song was composed by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez in 1940, so it is still under copyright protection.
