History ExiledFromContinuity / CommercialAndCorporateReasons

** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' enforced a policy nicknamed by fans as the "Bat-Embargo" that made it so that any prominent ComicBook/{{Batman}} character besides the Caped Crusader himself, a few appearances from ComicBook/{{Huntress}}, and cameos from Creeper, couldn't appear in the series (with the series instead having to make due with lesser-known Batman characters such as Blockbuster and [=KGBeast=], Deadshot only appearing in an episode emphasizing his better known appearances as a ComicBook/SuicideSquad member, and Professor Achilles Milo only having a minor appearance in an episode centered around Doomsday). This was because ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' was airing at the same time, and executives were under the impression of [[ViewersAreMorons audiences being unable to grasp the concept of different continuities]]. A similar restriction was in place for ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'', although this one was mutual and prevented Robin from showing up on ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' until the fourth season (which gave us ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} [[AdaptationalEarlyAppearance appearing first]])[[note]]It's assumed the restriction also affected minor Batman rogue (and original Batgirl foe) Killer Moth, as he was made a RoguesGalleryTransplant in ''Teen Titans'' and didn't show up on ''The Batman'' until season 4 either when he joined a LegionOfDoom consisting of Penguin, Killer Croc, Rag Doll, and Firefly[[/note]]. Later, when ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} received the failed live-action pilot for the CW, Aquaman and his supporting cast could not appear on JLU either (leading to the creation of "Devil Ray", and, likely, the replacement of Wonder Woman for Aquaman in the plot of "To Another Shore").

** ''WesternAnimation/ClassOf3000'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'' had no legal barriers and were planned to have references in the episode. According to the show's creator their scenes were just cut for time.

* Supposedly, this is the reason that Marvel, Star Wars, and Fox content have yet to appear in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. Evidently, it was apparently difficult getting approval from Disney to use the [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 more]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}} modern]] [[WesternAnimation/BigHero6 properties]] in the game, but it was even more so to get approval from Pixar to use [[Franchise/ToyStory some]] of [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc their]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}} properties]]. Thus, it was claimed that, because Disney didn't originally create these properties, as well as the difficulties they experienced in getting the approvals they got, it was not likely to be added into the series anytime soon. That being said, there is an interest in doing so, so they may try again in the future.

** On a related note, Fox having the ''X-Men'' license meant that the very concept of mutants couldn't be used in the first three phases of the MCU. In addition to the AdaptationSpeciesChange mentioned for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, a line where Nick Fury explicitly referenced mutants was cut from the first ''Film/IronMan1'' movie, along with a similar allusion to Spider-Man. On the TV side of things, ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' initially used the catch-all term "gifted" to refer to characters with superpowers, before introducing [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Inhumans]] in the second season and essentially having them fill the same role traditionally held by mutants in the comics (right down to a storyline involving a cure for Inhuman powers). ''Series/{{Runaways|2017}}'', meanwhile, was still able use Molly Hayes (a mutant child in the comics), but with the character reimagined as a normal human girl who got superpowers from [[GreenRocks extraterrestrial rocks]] that were being studied by her scientist parents. In 2022, the concept of mutants would formally be introduced into the franchise in both ''[[Series/MsMarvel2022 Ms. Marvel]]'' (by having Ms. Marvel be a mutant [[WhatCouldHaveBeen as originally planned in the comics]] rather than an Inhuman, ironic since former Marvel exec Isaac Perlmutter had been promoting Inhumans as a substitute for mutants) and ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'' (with the debut of Namor).

** The second season of ''WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}}'' adapted [[Comicbook/{{Invincible}} the comic]]'s {{Multiverse}} plot, which included an issue of ''Comicbook/MarvelTeamUp'' where Mark met Spider-Man. Because Spider-Man's televised animation rights are still controlled by Marvel, the show had to replace him with a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstituted named Agent Spider, who was voiced by Creator/JoshKeaton from ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''.

* Despite (and because of) being the most popular character in Creator/ChaosComics' stable, the rights to ComicBook/LadyDeath remained with creator Brian Pulido while the other Chaos! properties were sold. Lady Death is currently being published in her own series by Boundless Comics, while the other Chaos! characters were kept together through several revivals, the latest (as of this writing) by Creator/DynamiteComics. Given how pivotal Lady Death was to the original Chaos! Comics universe, this has led to some in-universe weirdness, like Lady Demon, who started out as Lady Death's [[EnemyWithout split personality]], appearing in her own series by Dynamite, and vague references to Evil Ernie's obsession with Lady Death when he appeared in ''ComicBook/HackSlash.'' In the Dynamite revival, Lady Death has been replaced by [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Lady Hel]]. All this was actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the "Malevolent Decimation" story arc from Lady Death's latest publisher, Coffin Comics, where Lady Death [[FaceHeelTurn temporarily returns to her early Chaos! Comics personality and motivations]] due to an enemy's supernatural manipulations. Evil Ernie and events from the Chaos! continuity are broadly hinted at.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Velma}}'': Scooby-Doo is absent from the series -- making it only one of [[Film/DaphneAndVelma only two]] incarnations in the entire franchise to lack the dog -- largely due to Warner Bros. executives not wanting the character to appear in the series, though the writing crew admitted that they didn't know how to work him in anyway.

* Despite (and because of) being the most popular character in Creator/ChaosComics' stable, the rights to ComicBook/LadyDeath remained with creator Brian Pulido while the other Chaos! properties were sold. Lady Death is currently being published in her own series by Boundless Comics, while the other Chaos! characters were kept together through several revivals, the latest (as of this writing) by Creator/DynamiteComics. Given how pivotal Lady Death was to the original Chaos! Comics universe, this has led to some in-universe weirdness, like Lady Demon, who started out as Lady Death's [[EnemyWithout split personality]], appearing in her own series by Dynamite, and vague references to Evil Ernie's obsession with Lady Death when he appeared in ''ComicBook/HackSlash.'' In the Dynamite revival, Lady Death has been replaced by [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Lady Hel]].

** Ian Flynn has also mentioned that using Cosmo, the Metarex or any other element from ''Anime/SonicX" for the IDW comic was entirely out of question, citing high managerial reasons that are way beyond his power.

** The [[Creator/IDWPublishing IDW]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW Sonic adaptation]] has similar mandates regarding video game characters who are known to be dead within the mainline continuity (the games), which would exclude any appearances from Tikal, Chaos, Mephiles, etc.
** Ian Flynn has also mentioned that using Cosmo, the Metarex or any other element from ''Anime/SonicX" for the IDW comic was entirely out of question, citing high managerial reasons that are way beyond his influence.

* Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog: Until 2023, 'Classic' era supporting characters who debuted before ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' (such as [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bean, Bark, and Honey]]) weren't allowed to appear in works set in the current "Modern" era of Sonic (aka, ''Adventure'' and onwards), which included the main IDW comics. This was largely due to branding, as the classic era was currently treated as a spin-off franchise separated from the core ''Sonic'' franchise. Likewise, characters who debuted in the Dreamcast-Modern era were also barred from appearing in Classic Sonic-branded media, which oddly enough, included Team Chaotix, who were considered to be "Modern" Sonic characters despite debuting in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix a Sega 32X game]]. Despite this, they can still be referenced, as WebAnimation/TailsTube mentions several classic-era characters in episode 5, which lead to many thinking that Sega was slowly breaking the mandate.

*** Likewise, Disney later published a book called ''Marvel: Powers of a Girl'', which highlighted the women of the Marvel Universe. While the book featured a wide range of Marvel heroines like [[Characters/MarvelComicsCarolDanvers Captain Marvel]], ComicBook/SpiderGwen, ComicBook/{{Shuri}}, ComicBook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}, [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Gamora]], [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Mantis]], the [[ComicBook/TheUnstoppableWasp Wasp]], ComicBook/MonicaRambeau and [[Characters/MarvelComicsKamalaKhan Ms. Marvel]], all of the female X-Men were absent, even the incredibly popular ones like Storm and ComicBook/JeanGrey.

*** Likewise, Disney later published a book called ''Marvel: Powers of a Girl'', which highlighted the women of the Marvel Universe. While the book featured a wide range of Marvel heroines like [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]], ComicBook/SpiderGwen, ComicBook/{{Shuri}}, ComicBook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/{{Gamora}}, [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Mantis]], the [[ComicBook/TheUnstoppableWasp Wasp]], ComicBook/MonicaRambeau and [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]], all of the female X-Men were absent, even the incredibly popular ones like Storm and ComicBook/JeanGrey.

* Chapel from ''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' did not appear in the ''Film/{{Spawn|1997}}'' movie despite his pivotal role in the comics (he was the one who killed the title character in the first place), since his film rights belonged to Creator/RobLiefeld. The character Jessica Priest was created [[{{Expy}} in his place]].

* Chapel from ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' did not appear in the ''Film/{{Spawn|1997}}'' movie despite his pivotal role in the comics (he was the one who killed the title character in the first place), since his film rights belonged to Creator/RobLiefeld. The character Jessica Priest was created [[{{Expy}} in his place]].

** By the final stages of ''The Infinity Saga'', the only prominent characters that still weren't back under Marvel's domain were the ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' and ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 The Fantastic]] [[Film/FantasticFour2015 Four]]'', both licensed to Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox. This prevented [[Film/XMenFilmSeries Wolverine]] from tangling with the Hulk, and Thor being able to fight the Thing. Finally, in December 2017, Disney outright offered to buy 20th Century Fox for $52 billion. After going through regulations to alleviate antitrust concerns, the deal was eventually finalized on March 20, 2019, meaning that Disney now had full rights to Marvel's characters and franchises, despite a breakdown with the deal with Sony that led directly to Spider-Man being exiled again for about a month before a new deal was reached. It would eventually turn out that 2022's ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' would be the first MCU film to officially utilize the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, with multiversal Variants of ComicBook/ProfessorX and ComicBook/MisterFantastic appearing as part of the Illuminati. Despite this, Marvel/Disney was ''still'' bound by certain Fox-era contracts regarding casting, which is why Creator/PatrickStewart reprises his role as (a multiversal Variant of) Professor X (granted, they probably would have cast him anyway, given the Fanservice-y nature of the scene.)