Are fictional place names copyrighted?

A fictional character, similar to a graphic character, cannot obtain trademark protection for its own protection, but may only be protected when the trademark indicates a particular source of goods and services.

Can you use city names in books?

Towns/City Names: You can use the names of real towns and cities without any problems. I tend to use real large cities and make up the names of smaller towns. It’s easier to “create” a town to your story’s specifications and needs. You can take liberties with real places by making up the names of streets or businesses.

Can you name a game after a city?

Public things like: country names, state names, county names, city names, street names, etc., are not trademarked or copyright protected. There are no licensing agreements required to use them.

Is the name Draco 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.

Is the name Rambo copyrighted?

Famous franchise movie characters, like Rambo, Snake Plisskin, and RoboCop, are protected by copyright law because of the copyright in the film and script, but only to the extent of the creative expression by the author. So just mentioning the name of a character won’t be copyright infringement without more.

Can I use real names in my novel?

Using real people in your fiction—whether they are correctly named or not—can be legally hazardous. If an author includes enough details that a specific fictional character is identifiable as an actual person, that person could possibly pursue legal action.

Can you use real companies in books?

Editors are frequently asked whether it’s permissible for writers to mention product or business names in books. The short answer is yes. By the nature of doing business, companies put their brands into the public forum and in fact usually appreciate publicity.

Can I use real places in my game?

It’s legal to use locations but not specific buildings. Specific buildings often need permissions much as actors do. So you can set your game in the city of manchester, but you may not have legal rights to use the building.

How many cities are in England?

51
There are currently a total of 69 such cities in the United Kingdom: 51 in England, seven in Scotland, six in Wales, and five in Northern Ireland.

Are Harry Potter names copyrighted?

Everything Harry Potter is well protected with multiple trademarks that are owned by Warner Brothers Entertainment. Everything from the names of the books and movies, to house names, and the term ‘Muggle’ are trademarked.

Is the name of a character copyrighted?

IANAL disclaimer but generally character names themselves cannot be copyrighted. They may be trademarked but only if the literary work/movie/or a related product were named after the character. So, trademark would only come into play for secondary characters in widely merchandised works.

Is it legal to 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.

Is it okay to use fictional cities in real US states?

King did it. I’d say there’s no problem with using fictional cities/towns set in what’s supposed to be the real world. However, it’s probably easier on suspension of disbelief small towns or the like rather than metropolises.

Do you have to name Places in a story?

The only places you need to name are the ones important to your story. Let’s use one of my maps as an example: The only bits I named are those important to the story itself, either because my MC Rachael went there or because their importance was mentioned.

Can a character be in the public domain?

A public domain character–Dracula for instance–already has an audience, many readers love Bram Stoker’s story of horror so you have a build in audience. Which, incidentally, is also a reason not to use a public domain character. All those fans have high expectations.

Are there any books in the public domain?

All copyrightable works published in the United States before 1923 are in the public domain; works created before 1978 but not published until recently may be protected until 2047.

Are fictional place names copyrighted?