No, JRR Tolkien’s works are not in the public domain. The term Hobbit was coined by him. It is probably not in the public domain, however, if a word becomes common enough in usage it can be public domain. However, I recommend you change the creatures and brand them for yourself.
Is hobbit a copyrighted word?
Yes. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and the places, items, characters and events depicted in those books and films represent our intellectual property. To use any of those names (trademarks) as a business name without permission is unlawful.
Is hobbit free to use?
Actually, no, as TSR found out back in the day. After Tolkien Enterprises threatened legal action, TSR was forced to amend their first edition Dungeons and Dragons rulebook and remove all copyrighted names, specifically “hobbit”, “ent” and “balrog”, which became “halfling”, “treant” and “balor” respectively.
Can I quote Tolkien in my book?
Explicit permission must be given to quote from Tolkien’s works. Requests for permission to quote from published works must go to HarperCollins publishing, and requests for permission to quote from unpublished works must go to either the Bodleian Library or Marquette University.
Are Tolkien names copyrighted?
The name TOLKIEN is a registered trademark and may not be used without permission. Unfortunately permission cannot be given for publications which use the name TOLKIEN or the Tolkien Estate’s copyright materials.
Can I use copyrighted words in my book?
As it pertains to the body of your book work, you’ll need permission to use copyright material for anything but to support your argument, period. It can entertain while supporting your argument, but it’s not just to be for entertainment. It’s also subject to that reasonable amount of reproduction test.
What words Cannot be copyrighted?
What Cannot be Copyrighted
- Information that is commonly known.
- Lists of ingredients, such as formulas and recipes.
- An idea for a novel, book, or movie.
- Business, organization, or group names.
- Domain names.
- An individual’s pseudonym, like a pen or stage name.
- Slogans, catch phrases, and mottoes.
Who owns the copyright to The Hobbit?
J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sold the film, stage and merchandising rights of those works to United Artists in 1968. They in turn sold them to The Saul Zaentz Company in 1976, which licenses them through the former Tolkien Enterprises, now named Middle-earth Enterprises.
Who owns the rights to The Hobbit book?
The company that owns the rights to JRR Tolkien’s works, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, has been bought by the Swedish gaming firm Embracer Group, which has hinted it could make spin-off films based on popular characters such as Gandalf, Aragorn and Gollum.
Why was LEGO The Hobbit removed?
Most theories conclude the games may not have had the legal rights to use the voice acting from the films.
How do I get permission to use a quote in a book?
If you’re seeking permission to quote from a book, look on the copyright page for the rights holder; it’s usually the author. However, assuming the book is currently in print and on sale, normally you contact the publisher for permission. You can also try contacting the author or the author’s literary agent or estate.
How much of a book can I quote without permission?
The American Psychological Association allows authors to cite 400 words in single- text extracts, or 800 words in a series of text extracts, without permission (American Psychological Association, 2010).
Can you publish famous quotes in a book?
As a common practice, all quotes are copyright to the author, which means that legally you should get permission from the author you hope to borrow from. This can sometimes be very difficult if the author is deceased or a public figure.
Is the name Smaug copyrighted?
Smaug is a trademark, and neither Huawei nor the OpenStack Foundation licensed it from the trademark owner, Middle-earth Enterprises, also known as The Saul Zaentz Company.
Is the name Gandalf copyrighted?
As an aside: The name ‘Gandalf’ comes from Norse Mythology, which means it is public domain. However, the Character ‘Gandalf’ as used in “Lord of the Rings” is Trademarked, as are the dolls, film character, etc. As long as YOUR character ‘Gandalf’ in no way resembles Tolkien’s character, you may have a leg to stand on.
Is the word Elvish copyrighted?
They are in the public domain. And other answers go into details on ‘Tolkien elvish”.
Can I use the word Disney in a book?
That all depends. The original fairy tale characters such as Snow White and Cinderella are in the public domain. But if you want to use Sleeping Beauty, you can’t call her Aurora, and you can’t call the evil fairy Maleficent. And none of them can be dressed like the Disney versions.
Can you be sued for what you write in a book?
Authors are not often sued for libel, but it can and does happen. While you can never be 100 percent sure you are not at risk, there are some basic dos and don’ts that can help you reduce the probability your book could result in a lawsuit.
What are the 4 fair use exceptions to copyright?
Fair use of copyrighted works, as stated in US copyright law, “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”
How do you check if a word is copyrighted?
You can search all applied-for and registered trademarks free of charge by using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS).
What are 3 things you Cannot copyright?
5 Things You Can’t Copyright
- Ideas, Methods, or Systems. Ideas, methods, and systems are not covered by copyright protection.
- Commonly Known Information. This category includes items that are considered common property and with no known authorship.
- Choreographic Works.
- Names, Titles, Short Phrases, or Expressions.
- Fashion.