"What's Yours is now Ours – Or Is It?” The Do's and Don'ts of Using IPs in the Public Domain

As we see classic literary characters (such as Winnie the Pooh, Steamboat Willie, and more recently Popeye) entering the public domain, opportunities arise for creatives to use established characters in weird and wonderful ways - something we've already seen in film and games!

That being said, just because copyright has expired on a particular work doesn't mean it's a total free-for-all, and it is possible for companies who have interests in public domain characters to protect their rights in different ways.

This talk is for anyone interested in the public domain, and what the do's and don'ts are when using such works in your game. We will cover what the laws are surrounding the public domain, when and how something enters the public domain, as well as how you (and others) can protect something you've made which uses public domain aspects.

The presentation will be interactive, with audience members encouraged to ask questions and provide their own examples throughout. Examples from existing games and films, as well as case studies will be presented.