Public Domain Super Heroes is a research, commentary, and publishing project built around characters, stories, and cultural artifacts that are, to the best of our knowledge, in the public domain. Every effort is made to confirm the status of each work and character before inclusion.
Copyright
All original content on this site — including new stories, essays, artwork, logos, and layouts — is © Public Domain Super Heroes, 2025. These works may not be reproduced, redistributed, or sold without permission.
Trademarks
As of October 2025, trademark filings have been made on Spy Smasher™ and Hop Harrigan™. These marks are owned and maintained by Public Domain Super Heroes.
Additional marks may be filed in the future. Use of any registered marks without authorization is prohibited.
Public Domain Disclaimer
Characters and works identified as “public domain” are used under the belief that their copyright protections have expired in the United States and Canada. International copyright terms may differ. Readers and creators should verify the public domain status of any work before using it outside this project.
Third-Party Rights
Some characters, names, or properties mentioned in essays, reviews, or blog posts may still be protected by active trademarks or copyrights held by third parties. Such references are made under fair use for purposes of commentary, scholarship, and critique. Public Domain Super Heroes makes no claim of ownership over such marks.
Good Faith Contact
If you believe that any material on this site infringes on your copyright or trademark, please contact us at: legal@publicdomainsuperheroes.com. Please include trademark serial numbers or copyright registration details in your subject line where applicable.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN AND HOW DOES IT ALL WORK??
Copyright protects creative expression — the words, art, music, or film that someone makes. It lasts for a set term (in most countries, the life of the author plus 70 years). Once that term ends, the work passes into the public domain. That means anyone can use, adapt, reprint, or remix it — without asking permission or paying royalties.
Public domain is where a lot of our favorite Golden Age characters live today or will very soon. The public domain characters and stories themselves are free to use, but it’s important to understand that not every drawing, logo, or later version is. We work carefully to make sure the material we use is truly free for anyone.
Trademark is different. It doesn’t protect stories or art, but brands. A name, logo, or slogan can be trademarked so that it points to a specific publisher or product in the marketplace. That’s why you’ll see us file marks for the characters and brands we’re building — it’s about clarity and identity, not ownership of the underlying stories.
How We Use It Public Domain Super Heroes exists to celebrate and revive characters who have slipped into the public domain, by building new stories, books, and merchandise around them. We respect copyright law, steer clear of anything still protected, and file our own trademarks where it makes sense to define our brand.Our goal is to make it crystal clear: when you see a Public Domain Super Heroes release, you know it’s ours — but the characters themselves remain free for everyone to enjoy, adapt, and imagine.