Still fuzzy on Buck Rogers.

Hello. I'm new here, and somewhat still new to researching public domain properties. I keep searching and digging for info on Buck/Anthony Rogers and I'm not getting everything I need. So if anyone can help, I appreciate it.

HERE IS WHAT I THINK IS TRUE:
The two original stories (Armageddon, Airships) are PD. I can use anything in them, any character, etc. I can re-use, modify, or expand on any content in those stories. The only limitation is that I cannot use the name "Buck."

I also can't draw from any source that uses the name "Buck."

HERE IS WHAT IS FUZZY:
Is there PD material out there that uses both Buck and Anthony in the same story, or "Anthony" on the inside and "Buck" on the cover? Where is the line exactly, in reference to published works?

'Coz I don't quite understand this from wikia:

"Only the pulp version of Anthony Rogers is public domain all subsequent versions including nickname the "Buck" and the Buck Rogers comic strips, books, movies, and serials are NOT.

"Also, only the original materials found in the Golden Age Comics starring Anthony "Buck" Rogers are public domain. Re-prints of the original comic strips or other material that originated from other media would still be under copyright."

The first sentence clearly says subsequent comic books are not PD. But the second sentence says some comics are PD.


Can anybody clear this up?

Hi,

I was interested in using him for a while, and that PD issue caught me too. I think what its saying is yes the original stuff is PD, but anything after that, like reprints, including spinoff material from those is off-limits.

These are usable - Armageddon 2419 A.D. -Amazing Stories (August 1928)
The Airlords of Han - Amazing Stories (March 1929)

Everything after those two is not, meaning everything that calls him 'Buck', is what I got when I went back and read it a few more times.

Might want to ask these questions on the related talk pages on the wiki.

Quote :

is what I got when I went back and read it a few more times.

That is what I got out of it, too.