Copyright infringement question

[horsenstuff]

Hello,

So you can not include them in your own Transformative Work if they 
are copyrighted?  I'm new sorry to be a dunce if I am.

I am new to this group and in reading some of the
posts questions have come to mind. 

I'm new to the idea of works written that are based
upon her characters and do not know the laws, etc.
that would govern such.  

I know there are copyright laws.  But I also know that
there are works done based on well known stories. 
Black Beauty, Wide Sargasso Sea that is the back story
of the Mad Wife in the Attic in Jane Eyre, the recent
Broadway show (still running?) about the witch in the
Wizard of Oz.  I believe the copyright is off those
now as they were written so long ago though.

So, what to do if you want to write a work that 
involves aspects of Rowling's books?  Is that possible
or is everything immediately squelched if there is a
hint of it?  Is there a website, guidelines, online
group and even a way to "vet" works with J.K.
Rowling's "people" so that they might eventually even
make their way up to her approval and possible
publication?

I'm not talking about a knock-off work - using the
same words, people, everything.  No, one that includes
it as the backdrop, some of the characters, and the
main character is not in her books.

Also someone mentioned the NC-17 rating not being
acceptable to J.K. - is that correct?  I'm not even
sure what that means - basically no sex?  No hint of
sex?  No reference to anyone having it though it's
okay to talk about babies, and parents and seeing
characters with a brood in tow years later?

I'm not talking porn here.  But a realistic (or
fascimile since it's fiction) portrayal of the
struggle a character might go through, tastefully not
explicitly done?  And no, it's not about Dumbledore.

Whew,  this has been a composition to write.  I just
think that there could or should be ways out there for
really excellent creative works that J.K. herself
might actually LIKE to be produced.  Not on a website,
where they might get plagarized and the original
connection to the creator gets lost.

I'm talking something really well done.  Plausible. 
Acceptable to the creator of its source.

Help?  Anyone? I might be asking for a drenching back 
but I have to ask.  I'm not uneducated, I have some
talents, and I've found myself drawn to a tale that
needs telling.  Whether it's just for me and my
computer to know about, maybe a few friends to laugh
over in a few years, I don't know.

But, gotta ask, please be gentle.  With a smile :)

Lynn



--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Tonks" <tonks_op at ...> wrote:
>
> > Snape's Witch wrote:
> > > 
> > > As far as the HP series trademarks, using my Chocolate Frog 
card 
> > > collection, which covers PS/SS & CoS, as reference, the 
following 
> names are trademarked: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, 
Severus 
> Snape, Rubeus Hagrid, Gildroy Lockhart, Voldemort. Why these names 
were 
> chosen and not Hooch, Pince, etc., is a puzzle! There aren't cards 
for 
> HRH, but I assume they're also trademarked.
> 
> Tonks:
> Hooch and Pince are not trademarked by WB, because someone else 
already 
> had them. Ron Weasley, Hermione, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter 
are, 
> of course. You can find trademarks here:
> 
> http://www.uspto.gov/#
> 
> Tonks_op
>