trademark branding
Naming products after fictional objects or characters
<p>We are a small company developing a product we want to name after a character named "Arwen" from "Lord of the rings".</p>

<p>The product itself has no connection whatsoever with the actual character, we're just "fans" and think it sounds nice. Our second product is a piece of software we want to name after a combat spaceship from the video game called "Star Fox", due the same previous reasons and the fact than they kind of sound alike.</p>

<p>Can we get into trouble because of this? I've been reading there should be no problems if it isn't a "derivative work" and the characters are not main ones so the original work is branded after them (such as "Harry Potter").</p>

<p>Is this true?</p>

<p>Copyright is not an issue; trademark is. Arwen is quite likely a trademark of Tolkien Enterprises, registered or not.</p>

<p>Your proposed use which is to specifically involve the allure of the brand would breach the trademark.</p>
