Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the Batman franchise in 1989 and since then has owned the exclusive rights to use the character in movies, TV shows, video games, comics and other media. The licensing rights for Batman are granted by Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Is Batman still copyrighted?

Over the next several years, several prominent DC characters are going to become public domain. Superman becomes public domain in 2034 followed by Batman in 2035 and then Wonder Womanin 2036. Many JSA and other golden age characters will become PD over the next few years as well, some earlier than Superman.

Who owns the rights to the Batman logo?

DC Comics retains trademark rights for Batman logo in European Court battle. In a recent legal battle over the iconic Batman logo, DC Comics emerged victorious, securing its trademark rights in the European market.

Does Disney own the TV rights to Batman?

While Warner Brothers owns every other DC character, including Bruce Wayne, Disney bought the rights to Fox and now owns the rights to live-action Batman in costume on the smaller screen. This means that while an animated series with the character is free game, live-action series are off the table.

Why is Batman not allowed on TV?

For a long time, the reason for Batman's weird TV status came down to brand maintenance. As the only truly successful superhero franchise in Hollywood, Warner Bros. executives did not want to dilute the Bat-Brand, especially in an era when TV was considered inferior to film.

What Happens When BATMAN Enters Public Domain?

Who owns the rights to Superman?

In a contract dated 1 March 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave away the copyright to Superman to their employer, DC Comics (then known as Detective Comics, Inc.) prior to Superman's first publication in April.

Is Batman protected by copyright?

Batman as a fictional character, and the comics he appears in, are protected under Copyright law. The copyrights for Batman will remain owned by DC Comics (and the Finger estate as a partial stake owner) until 2034 when the copyrighted material from the no. 27 comic will be released into the public domain.

Can I use Batman logo for my business?

If you're selling a shirt with a Batman print, it could keep people from buying original merchandise, which would likely not be considered fair use.

Does Batman still own Wayne Enterprises?

Today, Wayne Enterprises is led by Lucius Fox, appointed by playboy billionaire heir Bruce Wayne, whose estate owns a majority stake through various trusts and charities.

Will Batman ever be public domain?

Copyright law in the United States dictates that works published after the 95th year of publication will no longer be affected by copyright. This means that characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, Captain America, and Batman will be entering the public domain within the next 15 years.

Is Bugs Bunny in the public domain?

Mickey Mouse, Batman, Superman and Bugs Bunny all become public domain in the next 10 years. The Hundred Acre Wood has seen some pretty unsettling things over the years.

Why is Superman not public domain?

For one thing, the character can only be used as it existed 95 years earlier. Let's take Superman, for example, who first appeared in DC's Action Comics #1 in 1938 and enters the public domain in 2033.

Is Batman's logo copyrighted?

Ultimately the court confirmed that the Batman insignia is associated with DC Comics by the relevant public. This means that DC Comics can continue to avail of trade mark protection when the Batman insignia falls out of copyright.

Who is the CEO of Batman?

Wayne Enterprises is owned by billionaire Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house.

How do you avoid copyright infringement on t shirts?

The best way to avoid infringement with copyright for t-shirt design is not to use any artwork you find on search engines or social media. The image you find is likely just a screenshot or a variation of a copyrighted image. This will come back to bite you if you print the design and sell it to someone.

Can I use Batman in my book?

Obviously, you're not allowed to use trademarked characters like Superman or Batman in your published works.

Can I sell a painting of Batman?

In most countries, it is copyright infringement for you to reproduce, distribute, display or perform, or to make derivative works from, protected literary, musical and artistic works (including comic and cartoon characters) without permission, whether the works are well-known or not, whether you sell them or not.

Is The Joker in the public domain?

Batman was created in 1939, which means, under current law, the character enters the public domain in 2034. The Joker was created in 1940 and enters the public domain in 2035.

Does Batman have a trademark?

In fact, the popularity of Batman as a fictional character strengthens the origin function of the Batman logo, and consumers recognise the origin function of the trademark and rely on it for their commercial decisions.

Is the Joker trademarked?

Joker, the likeness of the DC character, is also a registered trademark of DC and is protected.

Did DC lose the rights to Superman?

Siegel never applied for termination, but his heirs did after his death. On April 3, 1997, Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson served DC Comics a termination notice for Superman which became effective on April 16, 1999. The Siegel heirs now owned 50% of Superman, the other half remaining with DC Comics. Warner Bros.

Does Jon Peters still own the rights to Superman?

Jon Peters is a longtime Hollywood movie producer with a bad reputation of interfering with movies and sexual assault. He bought the rights to the Superman movie franchise from Warner Bros. in the early 90s, and it has paid off in his later years.

Who is the oldest superhero?