History ExiledFromContinuity / CommercialAndCorporateReasons

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'' only includes characters created by the main Disney animation studio and thus does not feature any characters from {{Creator/Pixar}}, Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios, {{Creator/Lucasfilm}} and Creator/MarvelComics. Because of this, [[{{WesternAnimation/Brave}} Merida]] is the only official Franchise/DisneyPrincess to not make any appearance in the short, as she was created by Pixar despite the franchise featuring mostly Princess characters from the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'' only includes characters created by the main Disney animation studio and thus does not feature any characters from {{Creator/Pixar}}, Creator/20thCenturyStudios, {{Creator/Lucasfilm}} and Creator/MarvelComics. Because of this, [[{{WesternAnimation/Brave}} Merida]] is the only official Franchise/DisneyPrincess to not make any appearance in the short, as she was created by Pixar despite the franchise featuring mostly Princess characters from the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'' only includes characters created by the main Disney animation studio and thus does not feature any characters from {{Creator/Pixar}}, Creator/20thCenturyStudios, {{Creator/Lucasfilm} and Creator/MarvelComics. Because of this, [[{{WesternAnimation/Brave}} Merida]] is the only official Franchise/DisneyPrincess to not make any appearance in the short, as she was created by Pixar despite the franchise featuring mostly Princess characters from the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.

* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponaStudio'' only includes characters created by the main Disney animation studio and thus does not feature any {{Creator/Pixar}} characters such as ''Toy Story'' characters. Because of this, [[{{WesternAnimation/Brave}} Merida]] is the only official Franchise/DisneyPrincess to not make any appearance in the short, as she was created by Pixar despite the franchise featuring mostly Princess characters from the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.

** While ComicBook/TheIlluminati appear in the opening scene of ''WesternAnimation/PlanetHulk'', Mister Fantastic is shown only in shadow, with his face and chest logo deliberately obscured for legal reasons. While ComicBook/ProfessorX and [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor]] had certain rights issues at the time, they wouldn't have appeared anyway because the original ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' story didn't involve them in the plan to send Hulk into space, the former was absent from the Illuminati's meeting to discuss Hulk and the latter opposed the plan and chose not to participate in it.
* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponaStudio'' only includes characters created by the main Disney animation studio and thus does not feature any {{Creator/Pixar}} characters. Because of this, [[{{WesternAnimation/Brave}} Merida]] is the only official Franchise/DisneyPrincess to not make any appearance in the short, as she was created by Pixar despite the franchise featuring mostly Princess characters from the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon.

* Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog: 'Classic' era supporting characters who debuted before ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' (such as [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bean, Bark, and Honey]]) aren't allowed to appear in works set in the current "Modern" era of Sonic (aka, ''Adventure'' and onwards), which includes the main IDW comics. This is largely due to branding, as the classic era is currently treated as a spin-off franchise separated from the core ''Sonic'' franchise. Likewise, characters who debuted in the Dreamcast-Modern era are also barred from appearing in Classic Sonic-branded media, which oddly enough, includes Team Chaotix, who are 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.

** Creator/GeorgeLucas placed an ExecutiveVeto on new Wookiee or Hutt Jedi in ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends''. Lowbacca, an existing Wookiee Jedi, was effectively PutOnABus because of this, and Obsidian had to scrap the plans for making Hanharr a Dark Jedi in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords''. The ban on Wookiee Jedi would be relaxed later, as we see a Wookiee Padawan in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', though it is mentioned that Wookiee Jedi are a rarity.

** The cameo of the ComicBook/{{Justice League|Of America}} in the first season finale of ''Series/{{Peacemaker}}'' featured the entire team except for Batman and ComicBook/{{Cyborg}}. [[FakeShemp Stand-ins for Batman and Cyborg]] actually were present when the scene was filmed, but the uncertain futures of both characters at the time[[note]]Creator/BenAffleck had publicly stated his intention to retire from the role in ''Film/TheFlash2023'', with it being rumored that Creator/MichaelKeaton would take over as the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] Batman, while Creator/RayFisher refused to work for Warner Brothers unless DC Studios head Walter Hamada was fired (Hamada ''was'' fired later on long after the finalized cameo was produced, but his replacements immediately rebooting the franchise seemingly rendered the Fisher situation moot).[[/note]] led to their removal.

*** The Skrulls were thought to be off-limits to MCU, which is why the alien invasion force in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' used the Chitauri instead. However, it was later revealed that only specific characters (such as the Super-Skrull) belonged to Fox, and the Skrulls featured prominently in the ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'' movie, with the most prominent Skrull there being Talos, a lesser Skrull compared to Super-Skrull. Notably, the ''Series/{{Runaways|2017}}'' series was able to use Xavin (a young Super-Skrull in the comics), but had to change the character to a Xartan rather than a Skrull, as well as [[AdaptationalSuperpowerChange revamp her powers]] so that she no longer had the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four. ''Series/{{Secret Invasion|2023}}'', which was produced after the Fox buyout, was finally able to use the concept of a Super-Skrull (thanks to its [[ComicBook/SecretInvasion source material]] introducing several more of them), but without the Fantastic Four around, the individual powers were reworked from other MCU concepts superficially similar to the four's powers, and original character Gravik was the one who had these powers instead of the comics character Kl'rt.

** 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/{{Iron Man|1}}'' 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 Skrulls were thought to be off-limits to MCU, which is why the alien invasion force in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' used the Chitauri instead. However, it was later revealed that only specific characters (such as the Super-Skrull) belonged to Fox, and the Skrulls featured prominently in the ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'' movie, with the most prominent Skrull there being Talos, a lesser Skrull compared to Super-Skrull. Notably, the ''Series/{{Runaways|2017}}'' series was able to use Xavin (a young Super-Skrull in the comics), but had to change the character to a Xartan rather than a Skrull, as well as [[AdaptationalSuperpowerChange revamp her powers]] so that she no longer had the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four. ''Series/SecretInvasion2023'', which was produced after the Fox buyout, was finally able to use the concept of a Super-Skrull (thanks to its [[ComicBook/SecretInvasion source material]] introducing several more of them), but without the Fantastic Four around, the individual powers were reworked from other MCU concepts superficially similar to the four's powers, and original character Gravik was the one who had these powers instead of the comics character Kl'rt.

** 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/{{Iron Man|1}}'' 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/MsMarvel'' (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).

** ''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=]). 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").

* As of the release of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' and ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', SEGA has functionally split the 'classic' and 'modern' ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games into their own continuities, with certain characters that are limited to one or the other, functionally exiling them from the continuity they weren't assigned to, with the only notable characters who can appear in both seemingly being Sonic himself, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Eggman and Metal Sonic. This same rule applies to the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW IDW comics as well,]] despite the Archie comics having used characters from all across Sonic's timeline. This particular decision comes off as baffling to fans who are already baffled by SEGA's ExecutiveMeddling on what can or cannot be done with the series and its characters - to them, this comes off as a hare-brained and nonsensical attempt at brand management that only limits the possibilities of what can be done with the material available (especially now that it's doubtful that ''Mania'' will ever get a sequel, nevermind another 'classic' game anytime soon). It doesn't help that this came right off the mass legal exiling of an entire collection of comics characters thanks to the Ken Penders fiasco. A particularly odd wrinkle to all of this is the fact that for the purposes of this mandate, Team Chaotix are considered Modern Sonic characters in spite of debuting in a Sega 32X game.

* The ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse was a joint crossover project between Creator/DCComics and Creator/MarvelComics, and so neither company can use elements of it without the permission of the other. This means that Marvel couldn't use "Spider-Boy" characters (Franchise/SpiderMan[=/=]ComicBook/{{Superboy}} mashups) in ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' and DC couldn't use any Amalgam character in ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}''. In fact, crossover events between intellectual properties under different ownership in general tend to fall under this trope, since any later {{Continuity Nod}}s that might be made to the crossover will have to be vague by necessity. This is also presumably why Access, a character joint-owned by Marvel and DC, never appears anymore.

** Similarly, one of the alleged reasons that the Franchise/WonderWoman prequel series ''Amazon'' never made it to air is that it was in production right around the time WB finally started serious pre-production on a ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' live-action movie.

** ''Series/{{Titans|2018}}'' itself was hit with several character restrictions. Though Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon were allowed to appear in plainclothes, they were not shown in costume as Batman or Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}, likely due to their planned live-action film projects at the time.[[note]]Batman did appear in a LotusEaterMachine Dick experienced at the end of Season 1, but was deliberately only shown in glimpses.[[/note]] Similarly, while Comicbook/TheJoker's murder of Jason Todd was adapted in the Season 3 premier, the Joker himself was never shown in full ''and'' was killed offscreen by the end of the episode, seemingly to avoid any perceived conflict with the Creator/JoaquinPhoenix ''Film/{{Joker|2019}}'' movie or Creator/MattReeves' usage of the character in ''Film/{{The Batman|2022}}''. Lastly, Comicbook/{{Superboy}}'s creator Comicbook/LexLuthor was finally allowed to appear in Season 4 (after previously [[TheGhost having only been mentioned in prior seasons]]), [[spoiler:but the writers were forced to kill him off in the premier, with showrunner Greg Walker later confirming that DC only allowed them to use Lex for a single episode]].

** Initially, the writers of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' wanted to do a similar series about [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]] rather than Clark Kent. They got vetoed because [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy another Batman movie was in the works]]. This also prevented them from doing a storyline where Bruce Wayne comes to Metropolis, leading to the recurring 3rd season character Adam Knight (name being a play on [[Series/Batman1966 Adam West]] and the Dark Knight nickname) who was a CaptainErsatz of Batman before he was turned evil and ComicBook/GreenArrow becoming a recurring character in seasons 6 and 7 and gaining main character status in season 8. As with ''JLU'', other minor DCU characters have gotten the ''Smallville'' treatment and thus have been better highlighted. Interestingly, there's a reference to Oliver Queen as early as the very first episode, implying that they'd seen this coming from the start.
** Franchise/WonderWoman was also not allowed to appear on ''Smallville'', leading to nearly four seasons where all non-original superheroes who appeared on the show were men. Then ComicBook/BlackCanary came on board. The final season featured a scene where Chloe Sullivan implied that she had met both Batman and Wonder Woman during her globe-trotting adventures, with the implication that they would end up meeting Clark sometime after the show's final episode.

** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' enforced a policy nicknamed by fans as the "Bat-Embargo" that made it so that any prominent Franchise/{{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=]). 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/TheBatman'' itself wasn't allowed to use either Two-Face, Scarecrow, or Franchise/WonderWoman. Its first version of Clayface appears to be a CaptainErsatz for the first of these, being cured by the time a second Clayface based on the more traditional Basil Karlo incarnation debuted, the second was almost reversed but fell through (with Hugo Strange, ironically having made fear toxins like those of Scarecrow long before his debut, having to take the role instead), and the last ended up coming off especially egregious because no attempt was made to have a different heroine take Wonder Woman's place on the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. Likewise, ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' was denied use of Superman and Wonder Woman during its first two seasons.

** On the subject of licensing embargoes in Batman cartoons, Creator/PaulDini had an idea for a ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode that would've seen Comicbook/PoisonIvy seduce Comicbook/SwampThing. He abandoned the plot after it turned out that Swamp Thing's animation rights belonged to another party (presumably Creator/DicEntertainment, who produced the short-lived ''WesternAnimation/SwampThing'' cartoon) at the time.

** The cameo of the Comicbook/{{Justice League|Of America}} in the first season finale of ''Series/{{Peacemaker}}'' featured the entire team except for Batman and Comicbook/{{Cyborg}}. [[FakeShemp Stand-ins for Batman and Cyborg]] actually were present when the scene was filmed, but the uncertain futures of both characters at the time[[note]]Creator/BenAffleck had publicly stated his intention to retire from the role in ''Film/TheFlash2023'', with it being rumored that Creator/MichaelKeaton would take over as the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] Batman, while Creator/RayFisher refused to work for Warner Brothers unless DC Studios head Walter Hamada was fired (Hamada ''was'' fired later on long after the finalized cameo was produced, but his replacements immediately rebooting the franchise seemingly rendered the Fisher situation moot).[[/note]] led to their removal.
** ''Film/{{Black Adam|2022}}'' had to write Stargirl out of its version of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica due to the ''Series/{{Stargirl|2020}}'' TV series, leading to her being replaced with Cyclone (who even gained her implied romantic interest in Atom Smasher). Creator/DwayneJohnson also confirmed that Hawkgirl was deemed off-limits due to certain unspecified restrictions. Lastly, DC Studios head Walter Hamada initially vetoed a planned appearance from Superman[[note]]Superman had been in limbo on film since 2017 due to contractual disputes, with it being heavily rumored that ''Film/TheFlash2023'' was originally going to outright [[RetGone wipe the character from continuity]] and replace him with Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}.[[/note]], but Hamada's removal from power following the Warner Brothers-Discovery merger allowed the filmmakers to shoot a last minute cameo from Creator/HenryCavill as the character just before release.
** Due to a long-stalled film project, the John Stewart version of Comicbook/GreenLantern was barred from appearing in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', with a previously-filmed cameo of the character [[DeletedRole being deleted]] and replaced with a similar appearance from Comicbook/MartianManhunter. The same restrictions also initially kept John and his predecessor Hal Jordan from being used in the Creator/HBOMax ''Green Lantern'' series, with the writers instead having to focus on other [=GL=]s like Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz and Alan Scott. However, after a massive executive shakeup at Creator/DCStudios following the 2022 purchase of WB by Discovery, Stewart and Jordan were ultimately allowed to be used as the series' main protagonists.

** The ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' storyline ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' promised to show off "Every. Spider-Man. Ever.", but there are a few that couldn't be used. Eight were mentioned, but seven were confirmed - the Creator/TobeyMaguire Spider-Man from the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'', the Creator/AndrewGarfield Spider-Man from ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries'', the Spider-Man from ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries'', the Spider-Man from ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' and Spider-Boy/Spider-Boy 2099 from the above-mentioned ''ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse''. The Live-Action and Cartoon ones are owned by Sony and the Amalgam characters co-owned by Creator/DCComics as Spider-Boy is one-half Spider-Man, one half ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. However, in ''Spider-Verse'' #2, the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield Spider-Men were indirectly mentioned as being part of the army of Spider-Men (one Spider-Man mentioned a version of Spidey who "looked just like the guy in ''Film/{{Seabiscuit}}''" while the Spider-Man he was talking to said he thought he "saw the guy from ''Film/TheSocialNetwork''"). In addition, Spider-Boy makes a ([[LawyerFriendlyCameo mostly obscured]]) cameo appearance in the group shot at the issue's end.

*** The first season of ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' heavily featured the Fantastic Four villain ComicBook/DoctorDoom as a recurring adversary. The embargo went into effect prior to Season 2, resulting in Doom being unceremoniously dropped from the show and never even being mentioned again. The same goes for the FF characters ComicBook/TheThing and Impossible Man, as well as the X-Men villain Mojo, who all ceased appearing after Season 1. This was particularly notable when ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'' was adapted in Season 3, which, despite the heavy emphasis on a SuperheroRegistrationAct that caused turmoil in the superhuman community, never once mentioned the existence of mutants or the Fantastic Four. Additionally, while the show's cast was chosen to reflect what was going on in the MCU at the time, neither ComicBook/ScarletWitch nor ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} (who, as explained below, were in an odd situation where both Fox and Marvel Studios shared their film rights) ever made any sort of appearance, even when Comicbook/TheVision joined the team in Season 4.

* This extends to ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie'' and its sequel/spinoffs, despite Marvel having a successful line of LEGO tie-ins. The movie was made by Creator/WarnerBros, which is why DC characters such as Franchise/{{Batman}}, Franchise/WonderWoman, and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}} make major appearances, but Marvel properties like Iron Man or the Avengers are only mentioned, usually in the form of a TakeThat.

** Particular oddballs in the licensing issues are ComicBook/ScarletWitch and ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} who, being equally known in comics as mutants and as Avengers, [[https://moviepilot.com/p/avengers-2-what-s-the-deal-with-the-mutants/395144 had their film rights licensed to BOTH Marvel Studios and Fox]]; the catch was that Marvel Studios could not refer to them as mutants or mention their father [[Characters/MarvelComicsMagneto Magneto]], and Fox could not reference the Avengers through them. In ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' it's explained that they got their powers due to being experimented on with Loki's scepter (which contained the Mind Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones) by Comicbook/{{HYDRA}} rather than being mutants, with the term "enhanced" used to describe them instead. While Scarlet Witch never actually appeared in any films made by Fox, Quicksilver was featured in the later ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies (specifically ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', ''Film/DarkPhoenix'' and a cameo in ''Film/Deadpool2'') in addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Creator/EvanPeters portraying him in the former franchise and Creator/AaronJohnson doing so in the latter. It’s been speculated that the death of the MCU Quicksilver at the end of ''Age of Ultron'' was at least partially due to worries about audiences being confused by two separate versions of the character being used at the same time. After Disney bought Fox, ''Series/WandaVision'' hinted that Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver instead already had powers from a young age, which were amplified by their experimentation, possibly an attempt to retcon their story to bring mutants into canon.
** 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/{{Iron Man|1}}'' 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/MsMarvel'' (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 ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' script by Creator/JamesGunn prominently featured Ego the Living Planet because he didn't realize at first that the character's rights were owned by Fox. How Fox got the rights to Ego is unclear, seeing as he's primarily part of Thor's RoguesGallery; it may have something to do with Ego also being a frequent opponent of the Comicbook/SilverSurfer. This a rare case in which ExecutiveMeddling actually turned out to be a good thing, as Marvel was able to receive the character rights from Fox in exchange for letting them change the powers of Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' movie.

** The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver issues seemed to extend to the video games as well. Neither character was initially present in ''VideoGame/AvengersAcademy'', with Scarlet Witch having her role in the game's ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' tie-in taken by Comicbook/LadySif. They were also absent from ''VideoGame/DisneyInfinity'', despite ''3.0'' having a heavy ''Civil War'' emphasis, making Scarlet Witch the only superhero from that movie who doesn't appear in the game in any form. When asked about the absence of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, John Vignocchi implied that there are legal issues preventing the two from appearing in certain games. This seems to vary from title to title though, as both characters ''are'' playable in ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelsAvengers''. In 2018, following a gradual thawing of relations between Disney and Fox due to the potential buyout, Scarlet Witch was finally allowed to appear in ''Avengers Academy'' as part of the ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' tie-in.

* ''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. executive 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.

** Ike Perlmutter eventually instituted an extremely controversial embargo on characters whose movie rights were owned by other studios, preventing them from appearing in other adaptations. X-Men and Fantastic Four characters were barred from appearing in the later seasons of the cartoons that made up the shared WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse continuity. As a result, ComicBook/TheInhumans, who Perlmutter pushed as X-Men substitutes, were more heavily incorporated into those shows in their place.[[note]]Those shows, much like the comics, used the Terrigen Wave that spread worldwide to activate various Inhumans, but without the X-Men appearing. The retcon that the Terrigen Mists cause M-Pox (an affliction lethal to mutants) is not acknowledged, taking a lot of the controversial baggage from the Inhumans' newfound prominence off of them.[[/note]]

*** The first season of ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' heavily featured the Fantastic Four villain ComicBook/DoctorDoom as a recurring adversary. The embargo went into effect prior to Season 2, resulting in Doom being unceremoniously dropped from the show and never even being mentioned again. The same goes for the FF characters ComicBook/TheThing and Impossible Man, as well as the X-Men villain Mojo, who all ceased appearing after Season 1. This was particularly notable when ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' was adapted in Season 3, which, despite the heavy emphasis on a SuperheroRegistrationAct that caused turmoil in the superhuman community, never once mentioned the existence of mutants or the Fantastic Four. Additionally, while the show's cast was chosen to reflect what was going on in the MCU at the time, neither ComicBook/ScarletWitch nor ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} (who, as explained below, were in an odd situation where both Fox and Marvel Studios shared their film rights) ever made any sort of appearance, even when Comicbook/TheVision joined the team in Season 4.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Eggman Nega]] [[https://bumbleking.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=38228#p38228 was declared off-limits]] to the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie comic]] for unknown reasons. The character was acknowledged as existing and had been referenced a handful of times, but had to be called ''Doctor'' Nega. According to writer Creator/IanFlynn, it took a lot of effort just to get permission to use that much. For similarly unknown reasons, [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Black Doom]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]] [[https://bumbleking.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7165&p=370440#p370440 were also off-limits]]. This is why Black Doom only appears in flashbacks and is established as already being defeated by Shadow, and is replaced with SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Black Death as the leader of the Black Arms. Ian's attempt to bring back Mephiles was vetoed.

*** The Watchers were also revealed to be another shared case. The Watchers themselves could be used by both studios, but the most famous one, Uatu, was off-limits to Marvel. This allowed a generic group of Watchers to appear in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2''. The merger later ended the ban, with Uatu becoming the narrator for Marvel's animated ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf'' anthology series.

*** An additional consequence of this is that Creator/TomHolland was unable to reprise his role as Spider-Man for the ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf'' animated series, with producer Brad Winderbaum saying that he believes Holland's contract with Sony prevented him from appearing. This is also presumably why the Spider-Man costume used in the show is ''not'' any of the ones seen in the modern Sony/MCU productions, but rather the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute similar]] [[LawyerFriendlyCameo but distinct]] design created for the Avengers Campus attraction at Disney California Adventure.

** One of the main characters of ''WesternAnimation/NextAvengersHeroesOfTomorrow'' is Azari, the son of ComicBook/BlackPanther and ComicBook/{{Storm}}. Storm is only seen from behind in a flashback sequence and never gets identified by name, with the opening narration from Iron Man instead calling her T'Challa's "queen." Additionally, while Azari is implicitly a mutant (having inherited superpowers from both parents), that term never gets used to describe him.

** Ike Perlmutter eventually instituted an extremely controversial embargo on characters whose movie rights were owned by other studios, preventing them from appearing in games like ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelsAvengers'', ''VideoGame/DisneyInfinity'', ''VideoGame/AvengersAcademy'', and ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelSuperHeroes2''. Even ''VideoGame/MarvelHeroes'', which already had Fantastic Four characters, was forced to stop selling them in 2017. Especially notable was the complete absence of any X-Men or FF characters in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', despite characters like ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, ComicBook/{{Storm}} and ComicBook/DoctorDoom having been longtime fan favorites in the previous ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games. The embargo eventually ended around the time the Fox merger was winding down; the X-Men started appearing in mobile games in 2018 and the Fantastic Four were added to them in a promotional push in early 2019.

*** The Skrulls were thought to be off-limits to MCU, which is why the alien invasion force in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' used the Chitauri instead. However, it was later revealed that only specific characters (such as the Super-Skrull) belonged to Fox, and the Skrulls featured prominently in the ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'' movie, with the most prominent Skrull there being Talos, a lesser Skrull compared to Super-Skrull. Notably, the ''Series/{{Runaways|2017}}'' series was able to use Xavin (a young Super-Skrull in the comics), but had to change the character to a Xartan rather than a Skrull, as well as [[AdaptationalSuperpowerChange revamp her powers]] so that she no longer had the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four.

* The now defunct ''DC Universe'' streaming service was supposed to include almost every media adaptation of works by Creator/DCComics. Unfortunately, the serial films ''Film/{{The Batman|Serial}}'' (not to be confused with [[Film/TheBatman2022 the 2022 film]]) and ''Film/{{Batman and Robin|Serial}}'' (not to be confused with [[Film/BatmanAndRobin another film from 1997]]) and the ''Series/Batman1966'' TV series (as well as its [[Film/BatmanTheMovie tie-in movie]]) are unlikely to be included in the service as all three adaptations are under different ownership (Sony for the first two; Disney/Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox for the third, with WB only being licensed to handle home video distribution for that one). It was because of these ownership issues that caused them to be left out of the service's free access event for ''Batman''-related media during an 80th anniversary franchise celebration. Also affected are the ''Red'' movies, ''Film/Red2010'' and ''Film/Red2'', all of which are owned by Creator/{{Lionsgate}}[=/=]Creator/SummitEntertainment, ''Film/RoadToPerdition'', co-owned between Creator/DreamWorks[=/=]Creator/{{Paramount}} and Disney/Fox, and ''WesternAnimation/WildCATS1994'', owned by Creator/{{Nelvana}}. The biggest loser from this, though, is ComicBook/SwampThing, as ''all'' of his movies and shows are under different ownership[[note]]To clarify, Creator/StudioCanal and MGM own the first film, the sequel ''Return of Swamp Thing'' is owned by Lightyear Entertainment, the live-action series is owned by Creator/{{Universal}}, and the animated series is owned by Creator/WildBrain[[/note]], which may explain why WB opted to produce an original show for him on the service.

** After months of being asked about it by fans, the makers of the 2018 ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' game (which already included the suit from ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'') added the Spidey costume from Creator/SamRaimi's ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' trilogy as a free DLC skin.

* 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 their]] [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc 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.

** Similar to the Bat-Embargo, ComicBook/HarleyQuinn was barred from appearing in Season 3 of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' because of her role in the ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'' movie. She had been given a brief {{Cameo}} in Season 2 (shown only from behind), but future planned appearances were axed once the movie was officially given the go-ahead from WB. ComicBook/{{Deadshot}} and Amanda Waller were killed off in Seasons 3 & 4 respectively for the same reason (though Captain Boomerang, another character who had appeared in ''Arrow'' and in the Suicide Squad film, was instead a ''former'' member of the Squad whom served as the main villain for the ''Arrow'' portion of the crossover between ''Arrow'' and ''The Flash'', and was locked up in the same prison as Deathstroke mentioned below, though ultimately being let out and killed off in the season 5 finale around the same time Deathstroke was freed). [[ComicBook/BlueBeetle Ted Kord]] was intended to have a recurring role in Season 3 (building off mentions to his company Kord Industries); before the season started filming, DC Executives pulled an embargo due to having unspecified plans for Blue Beetle in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse (rumoured to be a team-up/buddy flick with ComicBook/BoosterGold), and the character was rewritten to be [[ComicBook/TheAtom Ray Palmer]]. The writers also got around the Deadshot embargo by having his Earth-2 counterpart (ironically, a ''terrible'' shot, who can't hit a target from six feet away) show up in Season 2 of ''Series/TheFlash2014''. Season 7 of ''Arrow'' briefly resurrected the Suicide Squad under another LawyerFriendlyCameo as the Ghost Initiative.

** 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/{{Iron Man|1}}'' 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}}'', 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/MsMarvel'' (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 Skrulls were thought to be off-limits to MCU, which is why the alien invasion force in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' used the Chitauri instead. However, it was later revealed that only specific characters (such as the Super-Skrull) belonged to Fox, and the Skrulls featured prominently in the ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'' movie, with the most prominent Skrull there being Talos, a lesser Skrull compared to Super-Skrull. Notably, the ''Series/{{Runaways}}'' series was able to use Xavin (a young Super-Skrull in the comics), but had to change the character to a Xartan rather than a Skrull, as well as [[AdaptationalSuperpowerChange revamp her powers]] so that she no longer had the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four.

** ComicBook/CaptainAmerica's rights were originally licensed to Cannon Films, which eventually went bankrupt. Aftertwards, the rights were transferred to 21st Century Film Corporation, resulting in [[Film/CaptainAmerica1990 the 1990 film]]. The rights eventually reverted to Marvel. Along with ComicBook/IronMan, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, ComicBook/TheMightyThor, ComicBook/NickFury and ComicBook/BlackWidow, he was prominent in the MCU since Phase 1, culminating in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.

*** Sony eventually still chose to proceed with solo movies focused on Spider-Man's supporting cast in addition to the co-produced MCU Spider-Man films. ''Film/{{Venom|2018}}'' was the first solo movie to be announced, followed by movies dedicated to Film/{{Morbius|2022}}, ComicBook/SilverSable, and ComicBook/BlackCat. Despite the initial suggestion from Amy Pascale that these films would also be set in the MCU, this proved not to be the case, with TheStinger of ''Film/VenomLetThereBeCarnage'' confirming that they take place in an alternate universe. Likewise, ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'''s mid-credits sequence [[spoiler:ended with part of the Venom symbiote being left behind in the MCU after Eddie was briefly teleported there, indicating that if Marvel does introduce Venom in the future, their version will not be connected to the one seen in Sony's solo films]].