I've created a board game and would like to know what the restrictions are for using, for an example, TV show trivia, movie names, rock bands and the members of the bands names in the game. Would I have to buy the rights to any of these specific media types? Where would I find the restrictions for such things?
Thanks...
Drexxell
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First, I'm not a lawyer... although I married one.
There are only two cases wherein you can use the names of any entity that exists outside of a simple individual (which would therefore apply to ALL of the examples you listed):
Fair Use: This would be something along the lines of a mention of one of those items in conversation in a novel like,
He turned slowly and studied her shaking body. She was taking this hard.
"Need a Kleenex, Rosie?"
I don't think that is your intention.
The second case is where the work is a parody of the institution or entity to be so used... Thus "WOTC" listed as a manufacturer on a game will get you sued unless it says further on that it stands for "Whip Out The Cash" and its on a game called "Tragic, the Addiction".
So yes, get a license... and understand that any work created "may" be considered derivative (and thus their copyright, not yours) depending on how the license is framed.
XXOOCC