Names and Titles

[littlewhispers]

I've been looking around for copyright issues to do with my ideas, and may have found one. In one story idea I have, there is a group of magical girl type superheroes called the Galactic Girls. I've recently come across a comic and play named Galactic Girl and want to know of any limits this might place on me using the name in my creation? I came up with it years ago, but...

I don't intend to use Galactic Girl itself as a title, I'm just concerned over the similarities regarding it and how it might mean I might have to change the name in my publication:

http://www.teamgalacticgirl.com/

The characters dont look anything alike and while sci fi, the story and settings and very diffrent so I dont see any risk of confusion.Plus mines a manga, japanese style comic. So I dont THINK copyright is an issue.

From what I understand names or titles cant be copyrighted, only trademarked. So if its not registered or confusingly similair, shouldent be a problem if I understand correclty? I did check the uk registry and theres nothing like Galactic Girls on it, so.

[AndyJ]

Hi LW,
I don't think there are any copyright or trade mark implications about this. There is clearly some scope for confusion if your characters are called galactic girls, and there is another franchise which features someone called Galactic Girl, so conceivably the other company could claim passing off, although they would only be successful if they can show they have goodwill in their videos and/or stories.

[littlewhispers]

Should I be worried or? It doesent seem as if I should be. From what you say doesnet seem like Im doing anything wrong, I think??

[AndyJ]

HI LW,
No I don't think what you want to do is 'wrong', but I wanted to point out a possible approach the other people behind the Galactic Girl videos might use, if they felt strongly that your story could damage their 'brand'. I can't comment on the likelihood of that happening.

[littlewhispers]

Righto. Thanks for the help