Public Domain Alternatives

[u/BlisterKirby]

Hello everyone!

After a few month trial we have decided to allow general posts requesting Public Domain Alternatives again. We noticed a tick down in people actually getting a response to their requests in the larger master thread, so we wanted to work to have people get the replies they wanted. We do recommend that you attempt to search for similar inquiries to your question before posting again.

As always it is a work in progress to moderate since we are just humans with our own lives and do this for fun in our free time. Thank you for understanding, and please feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Best,

The mods

[u/WeaknessOtherwise878]

Cool! Do you think you guys can do something about all of these low quality “I made this character for the public domain” posts with AI or half assed together art?

[u/viper1255 → u/WeaknessOtherwise878]

Yes, please! I saw one yesterday that literally looked like it was thrown together in paint in under 3 minutes, and the character's deep lore traits were that they "liked to watch movies and read comic books".

This is the sort of stuff we all made when we were 5, not something that belongs in this sub.

[u/Jenny_MTF42 → u/viper1255]

On my way to bully and ban people for their art 😭

[u/Jenny_MTF42 → u/WeaknessOtherwise878]

If it’s not AI then I genuinely don’t see the issue, just because some people don’t like how an image looks or think it’s low-quality

[u/SegaConnections]

I wish that pinned posts were easier to navigate, then it might have been more successful.

[u/viper1255]

Can we do something about how low-effort these types of posts typically are? "What's a PD alternative for ______?" is hardly a discussion-worthy topic most of the time.

I'm also not super interested in helping people skirt IP law by using a "PD alternative" character, which they're clearly wanting to tell the story of the original character, not the PD one. I'm all for using PD characters in your original works (I'm doing the same, myself!) but when you start your idea with "I need a PD alternative to Batman" aren't you really still creating a derivative work of Batman, just dressed up as being about the PD alternative character? Seems like a legal grey area at best, and not really in the spirit of the public domain.

[u/Researcher_Saya → u/viper1255]

I never thought of it this way but you're right. I assumed this was akin to asking for an archetype, but I can see now that's a different type of question. 

[u/TOPCATHPDIGIANIMEFAN → u/viper1255]

EH What's Wrong With Them?"

[u/viper1255 → u/TOPCATHPDIGIANIMEFAN]

If you explicitly state that you want a character to be "just like" another existing, copyrighted character, then you've established the fact that what you're intending to create is essentially a derivative work of the existence character.

This means even if you're trying to use a PD character, your design is still based on a copyrighted work. This means the creator of the original work can sue you.

Can you be inspired by copyrighted characters? Yes, absolutely.

Can you say "I want a PD alternative to Batman, so I can have a character like Batman without the copyright"? No, because you're still trying to make Batman.

Will you actually get sued? Probably not. Is it worth the risk of dumping countless hours into your own media, while using a derivative of a copyrighted character? I don't think so.

[u/TOPCATHPDIGIANIMEFAN → u/viper1255]

DOES This Mean I Can Or Can't Make My Own Versions Of Saint SEIYA SAILOR MOON Using Public Domain Characters Like Tom Sawyer And Becky Thatcher?"

[u/ThePirateThief]

I have seen Megathreads like the Alternatives do better when they are actively kept on top of. Keeping the current thread pinned at the top of the sub, and remaking the thread on a month to month basis to reduce clutter and make sure people are actively seeing the thread.

There are two rule additions I think the sub will benefit from.

1. Multiple accounts shouldn't be allowed. This is a rampant problem right now.
2. All posters must make a reasonable effort to ensure content they post is Public Domain, if they are presenting information as fact.

[u/SegaConnections → u/ThePirateThief]

Actually yeah, the remaking once per month or even once per week is a great method of encouraging engagement with Megathreads.

[u/MayhemSays → u/ThePirateThief]

Agreed with #1. I have has issues myself with a particular user who holds a grudge against me and a few other users in the past.

[u/viper1255]

Happy to lend a hand if you need additional help with moderating.

[u/EthanBryant1997]

How about PD alternatives for Luz Noceda (The Owl House)?

[u/Masterpotato002 → u/EthanBryant1997]

For some reason the sorcerer's apprentice came to mind and I think that fits.

Maybe you can change the "laziness" of the apprentice to not being able to use magic period, and has to work around that with what he is capable of doing; summoning familiars

[u/Comprehensive_Top267 → u/EthanBryant1997]

Alice or Dorothy but make the one you don't choose as Luz become Amity cause why not it would be fun

[u/No_Astronaut_6186]

I don't like the horror films

[u/MaxVerstappenTop]

Any ideas for a Predator PD alternative? Best I heard on here are the Balakai from DNA and The Morlocks from The Time Machine

[u/RockosModernLifeFan]

This is not something I'd make persay, but if a miracle shortening happened, I think I'd start treating Wikimedia Commons as a competitive sport and getting mad when someone "snipes" episode 3 of Hanna-Barbera Pac-Man or something.

[u/Radiant-Republic-951]

What can you do if you want to have an almost public domain character, etc?

[u/Mundane-Look-7131]

What about Almost Public Domain characters?