Copyright Aid

Thanks for the lengthy response as usual!

Many sites, including the wikipedia article you cited, show Price's The House on Haunted Hill, and The Last Man on Earth as being in public domain. Though it's really tough to find a definitive "Yes this movie is definitely in the public domain and safe to ...

I'm looking at creating a horror comicbook based on an original idea of my own. What I'd like to do, is use Vincent Price (for example) as the main character and effectively trace his face onto the character in the pages.

From what Ive read in other similar threads here, is as long as I use an old ...

Thanks for all your help thus far - I have a follow up question on the comment "and don't defame any living person"

Where do I stand on using actual stars of yesteryear as characters in a novel? To be clear - they would all be dead by now, no living stars - say, Bernard Manning, Ken Dodd, Spike ...

That's great, thanks!

You are correct, I did not intend to use any existing actual scenes or dialogue from any show, but create new scenes in fictitious episodes, so to speak. I admit Columbo was a bit of a stretch, but your answer is very helpful. Cheers.

Hello again!
Speculative question here regarding recreating existing tv shows as part of a fictional story.
I am working on a fiction novel. In the story, the main character has appeared on tv shows and movies over his lifetime. My question: can I write scenes in a fictional episode of say Wogan ...

I think I shall rework the scene entirely!
Thanks again.

Hello again!

Where do I stand with this? I am writing a fictional novel. A scene in the novel is almost identical to a scene in an existing novel and movie - same geographical location, similar bleak near future, events unfold identically and then a masked protagonist intervenes dressed and ...

Thanks as always!

Apologies for the tardy reply - was having all manner of login issues!

Having no desire to be sent to the Tower, I shall reframe my Queens speech in the style of hers, not a copy.
I like the idea of asking Royal permission but as the story is not too kind to monarchies in ...

Hi again.

I am writing a novel in which a British ruling monarch gives a national speech live to the nation. Now I was looking at taking an existing Queen's speech - the recent coronavirus speech , for example, but tweaking it here and there to adjust its meaning in the context of my story. It ...

Thanks!

Hi again. I have a further question to my old post, this time regarding the use of song titles in a novel. Not lyrics, you understand.

Am I able to use song titles as chapter headings? The titles used would only have a loose connection to the story content.
For example,

2. MATERIAL GIRL
...where ...

Once again, thanks for your prompt reply, Andy!

I am genuinely surprised at your answers, I really thought it would swing the other way. Taking the Star Trek example further, would that mean a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy packed with drugs would equally be as safe to use? It's hard for my tiny brain to ...

I have a similar question, but based around usage in a novel - so no visual aspects, just written descriptions.

The novel – a work of fiction – has a character who loves science fiction movies and tv shows. I figure it is okay to reference specific shows in his conversations. Now for example, lets ...

Ah I kind of came to the same conclusion as I was typing the question, to be honest. I think for the purposes of social media I will stick to something like a generic photo of a vhs tape with a hand scrawled 'Open All Hours' scribbled on the label. Can't see that being controversial.
Thanks for your ...

On a related note regarding this question and social media, or more specifically Instagram.

I would like to promote a new novel - a work of satirical fiction. In this fictional future, various TV shows and songs have been banned by the government - and the story refers to old (real life) tv shows ...