OUT OF COPYRIGHT
FAIR GAME
Titles inspired by publicdomain stories
Written by George Chrysostomou
Copyright law is a complex topic. There are numerous characters out there, and yet more crossovers that we’d love to see in a tabletop game, that may never get the chance to be spotlighted in that industry because they are owned by a specific brand. Yet, there are some heroes, villains, and worlds that have been reimagined time and again, due to their presence in the public domain. But where does the difference lie, what does that really mean, and how it has come to impact the tabletop gaming landscape?
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
There’s been a lot of talk recently about major characters entering the public domain. Icons like Winnie The Pooh or Steamboat Willie, are now getting horror makeovers due to their copyright rules shifting. This has prompted some confusion as to what other stories could suddenly become available for all to use as they will. Copyright law varies from case to case, but typically a character may enter the public domain 70 years after the creator’s death, or 95 years after the character or setting’s initial appearance.