History ExiledFromContinuity / LicensingReasons

** ComicBook/MachineMan originated in Creator/JackKirby's comic book adaptation of ''Film/TwoThousandAndOneASpaceOdyssey'', with his origin story involving one of the alien monoliths from the movie. This aspect of the character's background was phased out in subsequent stories after Marvel lost the ''2001'' license. The miniseries ''X-51'' revealed that in the Marvel Universe, [[TheMonolith the monoliths]] were created by [[ComicBook/TheEternals the Celestials.]]

* When Skybox got the license to make trading cards based on Creator/DCComics, they were unable to use anything related to ComicBook/{{Batman}} due to DC licensing that particular IP out to Topps for cards based on ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''. They ''were'' allowed to use ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, though (meaning they had to refer to Batman as vaguely as possible when describing Dick's backstory). When they made a series based on ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'', they had to alter any artwork featuring Batman and ComicBook/{{Robin}} to replace them with [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] and [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Beast Boy]] (or just outright remove them when convenient). The ''ComicBook/{{Bloodlines}}'' series also had to exclude Ballistic, Cardinal Sin, Geist, Joe Public, and Razorsharp due to them debuting in ''Batman'' tie-ins.

* The ''Game & Watch Gallery'' series of Platform/GameAndWatch ports for Platform/GameBoy and Platform/GameBoyAdvance were unable to port ''Mickey Mouse'', ''Mickey and Donald'' and ''VideoGame/{{Popeye}}'' to the series due to Creator/{{Disney}} and King Features Syndicate, respectively, refusing to license the characters to Nintendo. They weren't able to reissue to originals through the Nintendo Mini Classics line, either. ''Snoopy Tennis'', based on ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', was rereleased as a Mini Classic in 2000 thanks to negotiations with United Media, but that game was reissued by Creator/TakeTwoInteractive instead of Nintendo.

* The ''Game & Watch Gallery'' series of UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch ports for UsefulNotes/GameBoy and UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance were unable to port ''Mickey Mouse'', ''Mickey and Donald'' and ''VideoGame/{{Popeye}}'' to the series due to Creator/{{Disney}} and King Features Syndicate, respectively, refusing to license the characters to Nintendo. They weren't able to reissue to originals through the Nintendo Mini Classics line, either. ''Snoopy Tennis'', based on ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', was rereleased as a Mini Classic in 2000 thanks to negotiations with United Media, but that game was reissued by Creator/TakeTwoInteractive instead of Nintendo.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff that were created by once official partners who no longer hold any rights to utilize the property.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff created by partners who no longer hold rights to use their property.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff created by now unofficial partners who have lost or gve up on their rights to use the properties.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff created by now unofficial partners.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff created from now unofficial partners.

* When Skybox got the license to make trading cards based on Creator/DCComics, they were unable to use anything related to Franchise/{{Batman}} due to DC licensing that particular IP out to Topps for cards based on ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns''. They ''were'' allowed to use ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, though (meaning they had to refer to Batman as vaguely as possible when describing Dick's backstory). When they made a series based on ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'', they had to alter any artwork featuring Batman and ComicBook/{{Robin}} to replace them with [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] and [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Beast Boy]] (or just outright remove them when convenient). The ''ComicBook/{{Bloodlines}}'' series also had to exclude Ballistic, Cardinal Sin, Geist, Joe Public, and Razorsharp due to them debuting in ''Batman'' tie-ins.

* ''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi'' featured enemies parodying such characters as Film/TheTerminator, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, Franchise/{{Batman}} and Franchise/{{Godzilla}}. But in later years, the game was altered to remove those cameos. In particular, a boss that resembled Franchise/SpiderMan remained unchanged until the 2009 re-releases, as Creator/{{Sega}} already had the character licensed for ''VideoGame/SpiderManVsTheKingpin''.

** During the 1980's, there were several anti-drug [=PSA=]s starring the ''Comicbook/TeenTitans''. The [=PSA=]s were sponsored by cookie manufacturer Keebler, but because Nabisco was already using Comicbook/{{Robin}} for its cookie packs, he had to be omitted and replaced with a CanonForeigner named the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Protector]].
** The [[Creator/MilestoneComics Milestone heroes]] were barred from appearing in DC's ''Comicbook/BlackestNight'' crossover so the company could avoid possible issues with future reprints. The 2011 DC relaunch had Comicbook/{{Static}} moving to New York, presumably as a way for DC to avoid using the rest of the Dakota-based Milestone heroes. Despite this, Static appeared in ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]''[[note]]Albeit as the older ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''-era version encountered on [[WesternAnimation/StaticShock Static's own show]] rather than the teenaged present day version.[[/note]] without much issue, and both Rocket and Icon appeared in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' [[note]]The tie-in comics eventually dropped the two, but by the time Young Justice was UnCancelled, they were able to make appearances again[[/note]].

** ''[[Comicbook/HarleyQuinn Harley's Little Black Book]]'' #5 is a sequel to the infamous ''ComicBook/SupermanVsMuhammadAli'' crossover from the 1970's. Because of the licensing problems involved, Ali isn't mentioned by name. This is even jokingly referenced in the solicitation for the issue.

** Franchise/{{Godzilla}} had a [[ComicBook/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters1977 24-issue series]] in which he fought S.H.I.E.L.D., the Comicbook/FantasticFour, Comicbook/TheAvengers, and countless other Marvel heroes. He then disappeared. Marvel has been able to "cheat" a bit here, though, by having the villain from the series later capture the big G (offscreen) and send him in a mutated mind-controlled form (practically a CaptainErsatz) against Comicbook/IronMan. Red Ronin, a HumongousMecha from the series, has made semi-periodic appearances since the series.
*** The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier that was used to hunt Godzilla later appeared in ''Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules''. Like all Helicarriers, it fell from the sky.

*** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' was initially set on the regular Marvel Earth, with ComicBook/SpiderMan guest-starring in the third issue, although it was quickly shifted to an alternate continuity as the series went from a four-issue limited series to an ongoing title. Likely in reference to how unlikely this was to stick, Nick Fury appeared in one panel and [[LampshadeHanging demanded not to have to fight the giant radioactive lizard again]]. This meant that Creator/{{IDW|Publishing}}'s first reprint TPB series couldn't reprint said issue (a text synopsis was used instead) nor could they reprint any Marvel UK stories involving Comicbook/DeathsHead (another Marvel character that appeared in ''Transformers UK''). In the second reprint TPB series, they could reprint said issues below thanks to IDW negotiating with Marvel.

*** ''G.I. Joe'' also crossed over with the main Marvel universe on a couple of occasions, but these were tiny cameo appearances. In one issue of G.I. Joe, [[Franchise/SpiderMan J. Jonah Jameson]] happened to ask from a newspaper seller if they carried the Daily Bugle, though the actual character was not referred to by name. One issue of Spider-Man featured soldiers in a couple of panels who bore a striking resemblance to the Joes, though again, names were not mentioned. A very rare explicit crossover occurred in issue #17 of the UK-exclusive ''Action Force'' series, which revealed that G.I. Joe member Quick Kick had learned from Comicbook/ShangChi in the past.
*** Of course, since Circuit Breaker's motivation is that she ''hates Transformers,'' Marvel has no use whatsoever for her, unlike Comicbook/DeathsHead. It seems pretty unlikely that we'll ever see her again ''anywhere'' at this point. The only reason Marvel even has the rights to her is that she debuted in her heroic alias in ''ComicBook/SecretWarsII'', as Hasbro ended up owning the rights to ''The Transformers''' original characters.

** ''Comicbook/ShangChi''
*** ''Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu'' was a contemporary continuation of the ''Literature/FuManchu'' stories, with the title character being the rebellious son of the villain. While Marvel can still use Shang-Chi himself, the expired license means the original series is very rarely in print (though Sax Rohmer's estate did eventually allow Marvel to reprint the original ''Shang-Chi'' stories in four omnibuses), and that Shang-Chi's father can no longer be referred to by his original name.[[note]]For a time, Marvel simply got around this by just calling him things like "Shang-Chi's father," before ''Comicbook/SecretAvengers'' flat-out rechristened the character Zheng Zu.[[/note]] The fact that Fu himself has, since the publication of the original Shang-Chi comics, acquired a reputation for ''[[TropeCodifier THE]]'' YellowPeril villain likely hasn't helped matters.
*** This also extended to some of Shang-Chi's supporting cast as well, as the character's origin story involved him having a HeelRealization after his father seemingly tricked him into murdering Dr. Petrie, one of the protagonists of the original novels. Likewise, throughout the subsequent series, Shang-Chi was aided by a retired British operative named Sir Denis Nayland Smith, and also encountered Fah Lo Suee, Fu Manchu's daughter, both of whom also originated in the books. The expiration of the license means that subsequent stories were unable to reference Petrie or Smith by name, and that Fah Lo Suee had to be rechristened "Cursed Lotus" when she reappeared years later during a ''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery'' storyline and finally Zheng Bao Yu in ''ComicBook/FearlessDefenders''.

** Comicbook/MachineMan originated in Creator/JackKirby's comic book adaptation of ''Film/TwoThousandAndOneASpaceOdyssey'', with his origin story involving one of the alien monoliths from the movie. This aspect of the character's background was phased out in subsequent stories after Marvel lost the ''2001'' license. The miniseries ''X-51'' revealed that in the Marvel Universe, [[TheMonolith the monoliths]] were created by [[Comicbook/TheEternals the Celestials.]]

* There was a long-standing [[PopCultureUrbanLegends urban legend]] that the Comicbook/HumanTorch wasn't allowed to appear in ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'' out of fear that kids would set themselves on fire in emulation of The Torch. '''This is not the case'''. Marvel had licensed out the Torch's rights separately to Universal for a feature film that ultimately didn't get made and so he was not available for the series.

** ''[[Comicbook/HarleyQuinn Harley's Little Black Book]]'' #5 is a sequel to the infamous ''Comicbook/{{Superman}} vs. UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli'' crossover from the 1970's. Because of the licensing problems involved, Ali isn't mentioned by name. This is even jokingly referenced in the solicitation for the issue.

** ''ComicBook/NFLSuperpro'', the only character whose entire existence can be considered a DorkAge, was only stopped because the UsefulNotes/{{N|ationalFootballLeague}}FL pulled its license. He is still in continuity, and was mentioned in an issue of ''Marvel Team-up'' (as just Superpro) awhile back. Robert Kirkman, writer of ''Marvel Team-Up'', wanted to actually use Superpro in a story, but wasn't allowed to.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, i.e. the IP owner exiles stuff created from now unofficial partners.

Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons.

* In 2011, while Creator/{{Universal}} gained ownership of the ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' franchise from Creator/{{Mattel}}, the latter still had first rights/options for anything regarding the ''He-Man'' side of the brand until 2023. This resulted in the ''He-Man'' characters being unavailable to appear in Creator/DreamWorksAnimation's 2018 ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' animated series, due to Mattel attempting to make use of them at the time with a Creator/{{Sony}} live-action film that got stuck in DevelopmentHell (though Eternia would still be alluded to as part of the titular character's backstory).

* Due to [[https://t.co/uhYucV6gL5?amp=1 licencing issues]] revolving around the ContinuityReboot of the ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' [[Film/MastersOfTheUniverse film]] (which are under Creator/SonyPictures, even though Creator/{{Mattel}} owns both franchises and lingered in DevelopmentHell until preproduction began in early 2019 for a March 2021 release), He-Man and his titular team were not available to appear in ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' as a result, though Eternia did get mentioned in the animated series as a MythologyGag ShoutOut to the [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse Eighties original]], which the [[WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower original]] ''She-Ra'' series was a spin-off to.
** In August 2019, the situation got more complicated. Netflix released an anime-esque sequel series to the original ''[[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]'' cartoon, helmed by Creator/KevinSmith, titled ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverseRevelation''. The animation was handled by the studio that did ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania|2017}}'', rather than Creator/DreamWorksAnimation, which produces ''She-Ra'' and owns both of the '80s cartoons.