Star Trek enters the public domain in 2062. Will you be publishing your fanfic?

[Paul Weaver]

A decade after world war three?

I'm not convinced the new united nations will be too concerned about copyright on a century old property

 

[mkstewartesq]

You can't extend a copyright, but Star Trek isn't a copyright, it's a trademark. And those don't expire.

In fact, family members of the famous child care specialist and psychologist, Dr. Spock, have run into trouble using their own family name because the name Spock is trademarked. Even though Dr. Spock published his famous book in the 50's, long before the vulcan character of the same name appeared on television.

Correct (except that trademarks can and do expire, but only if the owner stops using them for an extended period of time as a brand name to sell goods or services (who knows whether CBS/P wills till be making Star Trek books or movies in 2062?) or they become generic (100% not going to happen here).

But the trademark "Star Trek" only protects the words "Star Trek" as a brand name for science-fiction offerings - it doesn't per se protect any of the characters, fictional technology, plot points, story elements, etc., especially once those fall into the public domain.

Mickey Mouse is an active trademark owned by Disney. Steamboat Willie is in the public domain. You can use the (formerly) copyrightable elements of that cartoon, such as the visual appearance of the mouse or his characteristics, or what happens in the story, to make your own cartoon or book and sell it. When you can't do is use the name "Mickey Mouse". This is why you now have multiple entirely-legal (probably also entirely-awful) horror movies such as "Screamboat" and "The Mouse Trap" that use elements of Steamboat Willie (including the design of the mouse) but do not use the term "Mickey Mouse".

Mike

 

[Extrocomp]

You can't extend a copyright, but Star Trek isn't a copyright, it's a trademark. And those don't expire.

In fact, family members of the famous child care specialist and psychologist, Dr. Spock, have run into trouble using their own family name because the name Spock is trademarked. Even though Dr. Spock published his famous book in the 50's, long before the vulcan character of the same name appeared on television.

That just means you can't have Spock's name on the cover or in advertisements for your book. When Mickey Mouse became public domain, Erik Larsen included him as a character in his Savage Dragon comic book. He was able to call him Mickey Mouse in the story, but in solicitations he was only referred to as the "Rascally Rodent".

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

That just means you can't have Spock's name on the cover or in advertisements for your book.

Which caused a problem when Dr. Spock's family tried to publish a biography of the famous childcare specialist.