: Re: When can characters be reused? Can one legally include a reference to, or an appearance of, a character from an existing work of fiction? How much of that character can be used? What makes

@Candy753

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Don’t do it. Characters are protected and the use of another author’s creation will have consequences.

The general idea of a character is one thing, but specific traits quite another.

If you create a character from a poor planet and he is essentially a niave country boy, you are on safe territory. This is pretty vague and having someone grow up helping on the farm is hardly radical. If you add in that his father is some mysterious person no one really wants to talk about, readers might start connecting dots. If you add traits well known to describe a character, readers might start wondering if your character is just a rip off of Luke Skywalker.

Have as many differences as you can between your character and the one that inspired it.

Aside from bringing down legal fire and brimstone, the use of another’s character will just make you seem less imaginative.

Don’t make yourself look like an uninspired hack because you like a character. Take what you like about that character and add enough of your own to make him your own.

Imagine you write a wonderful novel with compelling characters and you start seeing others writing weak imitations of your characters - damaging your brand and reputation. You would not just send a nice letter telling them to stop - your lawyers might start there.

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