: Re: Using names of video game, movie, and comic book characters and group names in novel, but as tribute to them I'm planning on writing about a merc group in the not-so-far future that is named

@Merenda569

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NAMCO is now Bandai Namco Entertainment so it does exist, although finding out who has rights may be tricky. Given the last title in the series was released in 2006 it's not too long ago that you can assume you can get away with it. see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_(series) Edit: Acquiring permission from Bandai Namco is probably out of your expertise and will take time, effort and eventually lawyers fees. Write your first novel.

Copyright does not exist in names, but trademarks certainly do. They may have trademarked their character names. You can search online for trademarks. Edit: But unregistered trademarks are still legal in many jurisdictions.

Also you run the risk of being accused of passing-off their characters as yours. Even if you are calling it a tribute. You've got some wiggle room as the game characters are not near-future soldiers, so it's obvious they are not the same characters (this is not legal advice).

However you can probably forget ever getting a movie deal or merchandising deal as you won't be able to provide the needed warrantees and clean title. Edit: This shouldn't be a reason to change your story. Beginners should write first, edit second, sell last.

It is always better off to come up with an original name or else generic call signs. It is easier for one character could get away with a call sign like that rather than the whole troop.

But if it's important to your story, do what your need to, especially as a first novel.

You'd struggle to get away with Capt. Chip "Voldermort" Harrington. Warner Bros and JK Rowling's Publisher's lawyers are very expensive. Edit: ...and very aggressive. But if that was the only reference and it was because he came back from the dead and had no nose then you'd probably be fine.

A counter example is Top Gun's Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. Marvel Comics may claim a trademark on Iceman, but there is enough prior art to claim Iceman refers to ice-in-his-veins rather than a superhero ice-blaster.

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