9 Characters Free From Intellectual Property Rights

|By- Gayatri Tilgulkar|

You thought about a great concept, you pulled your sleeves up, but just before writing anything your characters gave you cold feet or you saw a movie and loved the character so much so that you knew you could build a better world for it or maybe your character is great but someone already thought about it a hundred years back and now you don’t want to prove the court that you are in fact the incarnation of the author on the basis of identical thoughts.

In that case, let me be the prophet of a boon to introduce before you the public domain. Any creative work which isn’t secured by intellectual property laws is unrestricted to use without permission and is not entitled by any individual

Intellectual property laws consist of trademark, patent and copyright.

Material falls into Public domain when the copyright has expired, or the owner hasn’t followed the renewal rules or simply because the copyright was non-existent when the material was created.

It is important to take note that a character like Sherlock Holmes might be in the public domain but you are permitted to only use him not its adaptations done along the years. Examples? I have nine.

1. Aladdin

Many movies and plays have tried to use this character to portray a quick-witted person who throws caution to the wind. But now we need a retelling of Aladdin for its personification never seen in movies before. Jasmine is owned by Disney so it can’t be put into appearance.

However, Aladdin an underdog who navigates his way is always a treat to watch. further, stop at nothing to maybe show Aladdin as an antagonist for some of his problematic attributes.

2. Hercules

There are arguments of Hercules owned by Marvel. The arguments aren’t barking up the wrong tree. However, Hercules, a Roman hero is signified by mythology even before copyright existed. It is still free to use with the only care that it doesn’t have similar aspects to one already portrayed by many books, movies, comics and video games. Hercules is a demi-god and these days with an increase in interest of Greek mythology, you can go the distance to make a zero to hero character.

3. Grim Reaper

The hardworking reaper who collects the soul needs a movie where he has portrayed something different than what it is conventionally believed. There are countless variations to this character but none of which fuels the soul. Again marvel comics have used this character yet it belongs to the folklore and is free to use provided no similarities are with marvel comics and other revisions.

4. Pied the Piper

The flute man who takes revenge when the mayor refuses to pay him for driving away from the rats from the town. The character and the story need a modern representation for its underlying themes and genres of magic realism and retaliation.

Did you know Teen Drama Society (2019-present) is based on pied the piper story?

5. Robin Hood

A Skilled archer who made philanthropy cool is an identity we can’t get enough of. There have been stories with the same pattern of a heist or diverting a calamity. Yet audience needs a variation and its bestowed upon your hands to give this character the unexplored themes of temper and staying in power.

6. King Arthur

Sincere and gifted was this king of Britain. He showed courage in the face of adversity and had a quest for the holy grain. This character needs a revamp for modern storytelling which will reintroduce the Matter of Britain, medieval literature.

7. Sinbad

The explorer of the Indian ocean who offered enchanted adventures could be retold many times and yet have listeners to know where the next adventure heads. Sinbad’s turn of mind has always intrigued viewers and if someone turns the tide to write Sinbad in a dystopian world.it will be a lap of luxury.

8. Huckleberry Finn

For hundred years Huckleberry Finn has waited for you to write something beyond its wits and measure. Huckleberry Finn’s dark substance which wasn’t conveyed from his perspective needs full disclosure, rather spectators need a closer look at Huckleberry Finn.

9. Rapunzel

The princess who was imprisoned on a tower by a witch and was recused by a prince. This old tale is improved several times and is accessible to use. perchance Flynn rider can’t be used as redesigned by Disney but how about giving a facelift to this character in showing how she on her own escaped the place of confinement. Or showing the psychological aftermath of staying in an enclosed place for so long. Anything can be done, you name it.

Other honourable mentions -Alice, Cheshire cat and Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Dracula and Cinderella.

The characters listed above are free to use but its adaptations into modern cinema and novels aren’t. So take these characters and create an original compelling plot, maybe use all of them together and devise a cast.

Before writing about the characters conduct research on what dialogues you can use, origin story and what element falls under patent laws. For what is worth, your work won’t be under fan fiction but an actual piece in use for commercial gain.