Batman is copyrighted, which means thatonly the author/rights holder (in this case, DC Comics), has theright to copy, display, distribute, and create derivative works.Fan art can be considered a derivative work, therefore most fan artis an infringement of DC's copyright..
Keeping this in view, is Batman trademarked?
DC Comics has trademark rights to theBatman name, which is likely considered a famous name undertrademark dil Generally speaking, copyright law doesn'tprotect words or short phrases, but it does protect fictionalcharacters such as Batman.
Subsequently, question is, is Batman in the public domain? On January 1, 2024, we'll see the expiration of thecopyright for Steamboat Willie—and with it Disney's claim tothe film's star, Mickey Mouse. The copyrights to Superman,Batman, Disney's Snow White, and early Looney Tunescharacters will all fall into the public domain between 2031and 2035.
In respect to this, is the Batman mask copyrighted?
No one cany copyright the general outline of abat. But you CAN trademark a specific outline that resembles theBatman logo used by DC Comics. If you copied the trademarkedlogo, that would be a trademark infringement. A copyrightinfringement is when you copy a copyrighted work that ismore than just a general idea.
Is Superman copyrighted?
At that point, for the last 20 years of the Supermancopyright - the Superman copyright will be owned FULLYby Siegel and Shuster. That's the big one for them. Then they wouldlikely have NO rights to do Superman comics, movies, etc.except on a license from Siegel or Shuster.
Related Question Answers
Is Superman logo public domain?
Licensing. This image or logo only consists oftypefaces, individual words, slogans, or simple geometric shapes.These are not eligible for copyright alone because they are notoriginal enough, and thus the logo is considered to be inthe public domain.Is Krypton trademarked?
Krypton is a fictional planet appearing inAmerican comic books published by DC Comics. The planet is thenative world of Superman and is named after the elementKryptonite.Are superhero names trademarked?
Its not a character issue. While its true thatcharacters can be copyrighted, its clear that OP is notcopying the characters, only the names. The issue isthat OP can run afoul of Trademark law or the Lanham Act. OPcreated super hero characters that share a name withtrademarked marvel and DC characters.Is the Superman symbol trademarked?
DC Comics most recently filed a lawsuit forcounterfeiting and trademark and copyright infringement overa shirt substituting the word "dad" for the "S" in the iconicfive-sided diamond Superman logo. The logo firstappeared in 1938 and has remained mostly unchangedsince.Are superhero costumes copyrighted?
Hands down. Surprisingly though, the law isn't as clearon this as you might think. For one thing, while the DESIGN of acostume (and all subsequent derivative designs) may beprotected by copyright, the PHYSICAL costume itselfis not because copyright law does not protect physicalobjects.Is Mickey Mouse in the public domain?
Mickey Mouse specifically, having first appearedin 1928, will be in a public domain work in 2024 orafterward.Will Disney lose Mickey Mouse?
Disney May Lose Mickey Mouse's FirstCartoon In Five Years. The copyright for the first MickeyMouse film, Steamboat Willie, is scheduled to expire in2024, which could have major implications both for Hollywood. Thisfollowed on from the Copyright act of 1976 that extended the periodfrom 50 years.Do Disney remakes extend copyright?
Why Disney's Remakes Don't Extend ItsCopyright. Disney has been on something of aremake/sequel frenzy as of late. The remake doesn'tchange that nor does it matter if Disney rereleasesthe film or releases an updated version of the original. That termremains the same.How long until a character becomes public domain?
In general, works published after 1977will not fall into the public domain until 70 yearsafter the death of author, or, for corporate works,anonymous works, or works for hire, 95 years from the dateof publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whicheverexpires first.How long does a copyright last?
70 years
Can Marvel Copyright Thor?
Marvel only owns the copyright to theirversion of Thor, other comic book companies cancreate their own (and have), and yes you can create a Jesuscharacter if you wish and copyright thatversion.Can I use Disney characters in my business?
Permission to Use Disney Characters In order to use the characters legally,you must request permission from Disney Enterprises.Multiple corporate entities of Disney own many of theintellectual property rights of Disneycharacters. 
