If you are creating unique characters and you want to retain rights for licensing and merchandising, but you don't know where to start, these links may help as a starting point (and help with your vocabulary when pursuing these interests).
From Script to Screen: What Role for Intellectual Property?: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/stories/ip_and_film.html
In the first paragraph is a colored PDF square, click on it to access the below document....
FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN: THE IMPORTANCE OF COPYRIGHT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FILMS
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/copyright/950/wipo_pub_950.pdf
Trademark Finder: https://trademarks.justia.com/
If you're writing, for example, a space opera and you want to use the word droid or android to describe certain characters, you can search these two words in the trademark finder and see they are both trademarked. You'll need permission from the trademark holders to use them.
From Script to Screen: What Role for Intellectual Property?: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/stories/ip_and_film.html
In the first paragraph is a colored PDF square, click on it to access the below document....
FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN: THE IMPORTANCE OF COPYRIGHT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FILMS
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/copyright/950/wipo_pub_950.pdf
Trademark Finder: https://trademarks.justia.com/
If you're writing, for example, a space opera and you want to use the word droid or android to describe certain characters, you can search these two words in the trademark finder and see they are both trademarked. You'll need permission from the trademark holders to use them.