Can I sell Winnie-the-Pooh?

For instance, characters from a popular novel can inspire writers to pen their own stories featuring those characters in novel settings or scenarios. This not only enriches the cultural landscape but also showcases the boundless potential of human creativity.

The concept of public ownership of creative works is a fundamental principle in the realm of intellectual property. It asserts that the work, rather than its creator, holds ultimate ownership, empowering individuals to utilize the work as they please.

This paradigm shift from creator-centric to public-centric ownership fosters a creative ecosystem where individuals are free to build upon existing works. They can repurpose, reinterpret, and reimagine these works to create something new and unique.

Moreover, the idea of public ownership encourages the adaptation of these works into various mediums. Filmmakers can bring these characters to life on the big screen, while artists can immortalize them through paintings and illustrations.

The commercialization of these derivative works is also permissible under this framework. Creators can sell merchandise featuring these characters, furthering the reach and impact of the original work.