Can These Characters Names Be Used ?

Subject: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:40 pm

12/21/2009

Hi Everyone.. Very Happy

Can the two characters names be used for
for an author's name or a book character ?
or is that copy right infringment ?

Addison De Witt

Waldo Lydecker

Cheers...Joe... Very Happy

Subject: Re: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:50 am

You can trademark names, Joe, but you cannot copyright them. So the world is your oyster ... or Lydecker. Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Icon_biggrin

Subject: Re: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:47 am

12/21/2009

Shelagh..

The reason I asked is those names are
taken from famous films , I remember once in New
York a fancy restaurant opened up and they called it
" Mildred Pierce," After the film, they were sued. My
names come from :

Laura - Movie Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker

All about Eve - Movie - George Sanders as
Addison De Witt

Cheers..Joe

Subject: Re: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:17 am

Names in and of themselves cannot be copyrighted. However, they can be protected under trademark law if they are used commercially (in the selling of goods and services or as the name of a business). Trademark registration is also much more expensive than copyright registration and must be renewed every 10 years. Copyright is good for the life of the author +70 years.

Admin Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK

Hi Joe,

I lived in Bearsden, Glasgow, for twenty-six years. A menswear shop in Bearsden, Paul Smith Menswear, is named after the owner. He shares his real name with the famous owner of the chain of Paul Smith menswear. This is Paul Smith, London:

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/

This is Paul Smith, Bearsden, Glasgow:

http://www.paulsmithmenswear.co.uk/about.asp

Subject: Re: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:39 am

12/21/2009

Shelagh..

I like the character's name Addison De Witt,
because the character played by George Sanders is so
evil and controlling , thought I would create a character
similar in nature with the same name for my new murder
mystery....

Cheers..Joe

Admin Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK

Why not change it slightly to Ainsley De Witt?

Waldo Lydecker could be changed to Wayne Lineker

12/21/2009 Shelagh.. Great idea ....! Cheers..Joe

12/21/2009

Shelagh..

Great idea ....!

Cheers..Joe

Subject: Re: Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:35 am

Hi
I've no problem with my characters names.
They're mostly Welsh or Breton, some real some fictitious.
Got a great Breton name for the baddie - watch this space Can These Characters Names Be Used ? Icon_cheers

Being a historical novel some names have to be real, so most of the names are true historical characters.

» Animal characters
» Where do you get your characters?
» Relating to your characters
» Are your characters real?
» Unforgettable Characters