Question about using public domain character – Sherlock Holmes

[User_f9a5872b]

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User_f9a5872b
PARTICIPANT
February 2, 2025 at 11:14 am

I’m working on a T-shirt design for my employer and want to use Sherlock Holmes. I’ve settled on the version from Capcom’s 2021 game *The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles*. I read that the creators chose this version because Sherlock Holmes had entered the public domain in Japan at the time.

Since Sherlock Holmes is also in the public domain in India, can I legally use Capcom’s specific design commercially?

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[Fiercehero3009]

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Fiercehero3009
PARTICIPANT
February 2, 2025 at 1:26 pm

Lawyer.

Iirc you would not be able to. Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle’s work, has entered the public domain. However Capcom’s expression of this character will still have copyright applicable to it. You can create your own design for the character & that would not be an issue

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