Line #33 ExiledFromContinuity/LicensingReasons


1	Elements ExiledFromContinuity for licensing reasons, that is, the owners exile stuff created by once official partners who no longer hold any rights to utilize the property.
2	----
3	[[foldercontrol]]
4
5	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
6	* Leiji Matsumoto is responsible for the artistic designs in ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' even though the franchise was owned by the late Yoshinobu Nishizaki, the show's producer. Matsumoto can have a ship called the Yamato (with the same exact design) in his own manga such as ''Manga/GalaxyExpress999'', but he can't use characters and situations from Yamato such as the Yamato crewmembers, the Gamilas, or Iscandar. Nishizaki, on the other hand, couldn't use Matsumoto's character designs (such as the trademark circular gauges or "potatohead" character designs). Nor could he use Matsumoto's ship designs.
7	[[/folder]]
8
9	[[folder:Comic Books]]
10	* ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''Series/{{Angel}}'' had this problem after the 'Angel' license was dropped by Creator/{{Dark Horse\|Comics}} and picked up by [[ComicBook/AngelIDW IDW]]. Eventually, an agreement of sorts allowed the use of a couple of characters, and in 2010, at Creator/JossWhedon's request to have everything ''Buffy'' comics under one publisher and thus avoid this trope, IDW voluntarily surrendered the ''Angel'' license to Dark Horse. Dark Horse later threw IDW a (very little) bone in 2013 by letting them do an [[CoversAlwaysLie utterly lying]] "Film/MarsAttacks Spike" variant cover for their "Mars Attacks [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 The Transformers]]" one-shot.
11	* Franchise/TheDCU:
12	** Creator/DCComics briefly published a series of titles centered around the Red Circle heroes, who were owned by Creator/ArchieComics. Archie has now regained publishing rights to the characters and has relaunched them in their own titles, meaning that DC can no longer use or mention any of the Red Circle characters, even those who interacted with other DC heroes. (The ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' CosmicRetcon helps in this regard.)
13	** 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]].
14	** 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]].
15	** While Rocket, Icon, and Static can appear in the television episodes of ''Young Justice'', Rocket and Icon have since been pulled from the tie-in comic. Rocket appeared with Zatanna for a brief scene in issue #20, but when Zatanna reappeared in following issues, Rocket had disappeared. Icon was notably shown on the solicited covers for two different issues, but by publication time, he'd been photoshopped out. When the show was UnCancelled, it was able to feature Icon and Rocket again without issue, and even brought in Hardware and the villain Holocaust.
16	** ''[[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.
17	--->([[ComicBookTime Mumble-mumble]]) years ago, the alien race known as the Scrubb forced Superman into a boxing match for the ages, against Earth’s greatest heavyweight champion, ([[YouWannaGetSued mumble-mumble]])!
18	* Creator/{{Marvel\|Comics}} has had a bunch of series over the years that were integrated into the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, only to be discarded when the licensing stopped. Typically, Marvel keeps the rights to the characters who were created specifically for the comic books; these characters sometimes appear in cameos after the main characters can no longer be used.
19	** There was ''ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight'', who was created [[MerchandiseDriven to sell toys]]. The thing is, while the comics series was a rousing success, the toy flopped. Inexplicably, Marvel has never been able to get the rights back. This has the side effect of preventing other comics in which he appeared from being collected in trades - most notably an issue of ''Heroes for Hire''. (ROM has been able to make a few cameos, unnamed, in his humanoid form.)
20	*** Interestingly, the Dire Wraiths were first mentioned in commercials for the toy, but never received figures of their own. As such, pretty much everything else about them, including their backstory and appearance, was created by Marvel for the ''ROM'' comic book. When IDW began publishing a new ''[[ComicBook/RomIDW ROM]]'' series decades later, they were allowed to use the name "Dire Wraiths," but the creatures themselves had to be completely redesigned so that they'd be visually distinct from Marvel's Dire Wraiths.
21	** ''ComicBook/{{Micronauts\|MarvelComics}}'' was another toy-based comic. In this case, one concept from it, ComicBook/CaptainUniverse, managed to escape into the greater Franchise/MarvelUniverse. The non-toy based characters have made a few appearances in Marvel under the name "Microns", and one of these, Bug, played a decent-sized role in ''Annihilation: Conquest'', later joining the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy.
22	** And much like the ''ROM'' example above, Creator/{{Hasbro}} owns the franchise now (it helps that, via Takara's ''Microman'', they're also related to ''Transformers''), so when IDW created a [[ComicBook/MicronautsIDW Micronauts]] title of their own, most of the toy based characters had to be reworked and others replaced or dropped entirely.
23	** 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.
24	*** 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.
25	*** In later comics, Godzilla ''does'' make a brief cameo appearance in his regular form, though he's never mentioned by name. This is called attention to in the Marvel Monsters Handbook, where Elsa Bloodstone is baffled that they don't have a monster profile on Godzilla.
26	*** After the end of the Millennium series of ''Godzilla'' films in Japan, Toho was willing to license out Godzilla, and Marvel took the opportunity to license ''Godzilla'' just long enough to reprint the 24 issue series as a single Essentials paperback.
27	** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' and ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'' were specifically set in {{Alternate Continuit\|y}}ies which were similar to but not quite the same as the regular Marvel Earth.
28	*** ''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.
29	*** While ComicBook/DeathsHead is unequivocally a Marvel character, replacing the character with newer versions (Death's Head II and Death's Head 3.0) does neatly avoid the original's back story involving him being taken from the ''Transformers'' universe to the Franchise/MarvelUniverse via the [[Series/DoctorWho TARDIS]]. This causes problems in reprints of the original stories, though the gaps are usually {{lampshade\|Hanging}}d as the result of "incomplete" archives. Death's Head may have had a reprieve, however -- both Panini in the UK and IDW in the US were able to reprint the Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine comic strip in which he crossed over, and he appeared in the Kieron Gillen ''S.W.O.R.D'' series.
30	*** ''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, [[ComicBook/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.
31	*** 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.
32	** ''ComicBook/NFLSuperpro'', the only character whose entire existence can be considered an AudienceAlienatingEra, 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.
33	** Likewise, in reprints of old issues of things like ''Marvel Team-Up'' or ''ComicBook/MarvelTwoInOne'', they've had to skip issues that include team-ups with Literature/DocSavage, Literature/{{Kull}}, Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian and Literature/SolomonKane. This also meant that the ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' movie had to rename Shuma-Gorath "Gargantos,"[[note]]At least on merchandise. In the film itself, the creature is never actually named.[[/note]] as the original name was actually created by Creator/RobertEHoward for one of his ''Kull'' stories.
34	** ''ComicBook/ShangChi''
35	*** ''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.
36	*** 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''.
37	*** As a result of this, the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse movie adaptation, ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'', had to [[CompositeCharacter combine Fu Manchu with]] the Mandarin, a similar villain [[RelatedInTheAdaptation unrelated to Shang-Chi]] who is [[RoguesGalleryTransplant primarily known in the comics as an enemy]] of ComicBook/IronMan. The film [[AdaptationalNameChange also changed Fah Lo Suee's name to Xialing]] for similar reasons.
38	*** Moreover, in the comics, the Si-Fan organization had to be renamed the Order of the Golden Dawn, Order of the Hai-Dai and finally the Five Weapons Society in the Creator/GeneLuenYang's ''ComicBook/ShangChi'' miniseries. Other Shang-Chi brothers appear in the miniseries, Zheng Shi-Hua/Sister Hammer appears to replace Zheng Bao Yu (who is not even mentioned). ''Legend of the Ten Rings'' instead replaced these characters with the [[Characters/MCUTenRings Ten Rings]], a preexisting organization first established in ''Film/IronMan1''.
39	** 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]], and the monoliths would subsequently be adapted in ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD''.
40	** Before Panini bought up Marvel UK, the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic strip was more-or-less part of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. While both DWM and Marvel still make occasional nods to the shared mythology invented by Creator/AlanMoore and others, they can't refer directly to each other any more. Notably, the Special Executive never mention their Gallifreyan origins.
41	** During Marvel's run of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' comics in the late-nineties, they put out two issues of a Star Trek/X-Men crossover (one issue with the TOS crew, one with the TNG crew), which also spawned a novel. Odds of Storm or Wolverine mentioning that they actually met Captain Kirk or Captain Picard? Pretty much nil.
42	** ''ComicBook/ShogunWarriors'' featured versions of mecha from ''Anime/CombattlerV'', ''[[Anime/{{Raideen}} Brave Raideen]]'', and ''Anime/PlanetRoboDanguardAce'', indirectly licensed via Creator/{{Mattel}}'s eponymous toyline. After the licence ran out and the series ended, all three machines were explicitly destroyed off-panel in an issue of ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''. As with the ''Micronauts'' example above, the non-toy characters (such the human pilots of the aforementioned robots) survived, and some have made sporadic appearances in the Marvel Universe.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Franchises]]
46	* ''Franchise/{{Whoniverse}}'':
47	** Peter Cushing's "Dr. Who" cannot make appearances in most ''Series/DoctorWho'' media, especially not visual media — he can't even appear in the show in poster format. ''Short Trips and Sidesteps'' contained a short Film/HammerHorror-esque story with his Doctor and TARDIS — or rather ''Tardis'' — crew, but due to being a book it did not use his visual likeness. The story used the companions from ''Film/DrWhoAndTheDaleks'', where they were named Ian, Barbara, and Susan (the same names as the companions from the show itself and therefore owned by the BBC), rather than from ''Film/DaleksInvasionEarth2150AD''; Louise, Tom, and Susan. However, ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' was able to do a Cushing strip in a special about the movies, perhaps related to DWM not being a BBC title. That said, it remains the character's sole original comic.
48	** The Daleks never made an on-page appearance in the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'' because the publishers couldn't afford to pay Creator/TerryNation his royalties. The video game ''Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror'' had to replace the Daleks with Controllers, and K-9 with a robotic cat named Splinx.
49	** ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' is unable to use characters originating from [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie the 1996 TV movie]] or ''Series/TorchwoodMiracleDay'' due to them being [[InternationalCoproduction International Coproductions]] with entities other than the BBC. Daphne Ashbrook and Yee Jee Tso have actually been brought back as entirely different characters than the ones they played in the TV movie as a result of this.
50	** The same went for the ''Literature/EighthDoctorAdventures''. The second EDA, ''Vampire Science'' was already well underway as being about the Doctor meeting up with Dr Grace again before the writers learned this, so they [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute renamed her as Dr Carolyn McConnell]], and added a prologue to explain how the Doctor already knew her.
51	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' is restricted from using the ''Compilation of VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' character Genesis Rhapsodos in anything other than ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' and his cameo in ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', due to him being an InkSuitActor of Music/{{Gackt}}. Despite being an antagonist of one of the most well-received ''Final Fantasy'' games of the 00s, he will never appear in any of the crossover spinoffs or even appear in the ''VII'' universe again, and so far [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes it has also restricted ability to obtain copies of, or re-release,]] ''Crisis Core'', as the game cannot be licensed for digital download. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' incorporates a throwaway line where Hojo mentions "G-type" members of SOLDIER, referring to the method of Genesis' creation, but it is unlikely that it will ever go further than this.
52	* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'':
53	** Appearances by Franchise/KingKong in entries of the series following ''Film/KingKongEscapes'' because the character license expired shortly afterwards, putting a stop to planned appearances in ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'' and a Heisei Era remake of ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'', and barring him from appearing alongside other kaiju in video games or comics. Creator/{{Toho}} feared this also extended to Mechani-Kong, who (as the name suggests) was heavily based on Kong, which resulted in movie plans where Mechani-Kong fought Godzilla never getting made (and very minimal appearances in other media since his introduction). It wouldn't be until ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' (produced by Creator/LegendaryPictures) more than half a century later, that the two were able to meet again.
54	** This was also the reason why no recognizable kaiju appear in ''WesternAnimation/TheGodzillaPowerHour'', the Creator/DarkHorseComics Godzilla series, and ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries'' except for Godzilla, and they relied entirely on CanonForeigner opponents for Godzilla to face off with, which were often {{expies}} as a result. In ''Power Hour'', even Godzilla's trademarked roar wasn't allowed to be used, hence why he only makes generic roars.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
58	* In the ''Franchise/StargateVerse'', the only ''[[Series/StargateSG1 SG-1]]'' characters to appear in the pilot episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' were Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson, even though other characters like Col. Samantha Carter would have made sense given that the new series was very tech-heavy. Producer Brad Wright noted that MGM only allowed them to use pre-existing characters from the [[Film/{{Stargate}} original movie]] for the pilot, although they were permitted to bring the other cast members in for later episodes. Things seem to have gotten straightened out later on because the pilot of ''Series/StargateUniverse'' had both Samantha Carter and Walter Harriman from SG-1 making an appearance.
59	* In the 2016 series of ''Series/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'', nothing comes from the books apart from Dirk himself. Particularly, characters like Professor Chronotis are noted for their absence. Creator/DouglasAdams {{recycled\|Script}} the story for the first novel from his script for the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial [[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E6Shada "Shada"]], which is well known for being partially recorded but aborted during a writers' strike in 1979. In 1992, Adams absentmindedly signed away the rights to the "Shada" script, allowing the BBC to spend the next few decades making various attempts at completing the serial. Because of this, however, the vast majority of the first book's plot and material can no longer be used in ''Dirk Gently'' adaptations beyond certain circumstances (such as the ''Dirk Gently'' audio adaptation)[[note]]of note is that Adams' regret towards giving the BBC the rights to "Shada" wasn't because of its effects on the ''Dirk Gently'' books, but rather because [[CreatorBacklash he disliked the script's quality]] (despite it being a favorite among ''Doctor Who'' fans) and attempted to [[BuryYourArt keep it suppressed]][[/note]].
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Pinball]]
63	* ''Pinball/ThePartyZone'' features a {{crossover}} [[TheCameo cameo]] with the party monsters of ''Pinball/ElviraAndThePartyMonsters'' -- except for [[Creator/ElviraMistressOfTheDark Elvira]], who was not licensed for the game.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
67	* ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' is a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' setting that has a habit of grabbing nasty characters from the game's other settings. As such, darklords from the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms, TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}, and TabletopGame/DarkSun settings can be found along with home-grown villains. When Wizards of the Coast licensed White Wolf to publish the setting for D&D Third Edition, the contract did not include any other settings, so the new books had to be scrubbed of all such references in favor of vague terms like "a distant land". It also spelled the end of Lord Soth, a major TabletopGame/{{Dragonlance}} villain, who was replaced with a character original to the setting.
68	* The tabletop wargame ''TabletopGame/StarFleetBattles'' (and its RPG spin-off ''Prime Directive'') is an interesting case; they're only licenced to use elements of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'', but not the actual characters. So in addition to the ''Enterprise'' crew never being directly mentioned, the game is set in an AlternateContinuity that lacks Cardassians, Borg, Ferengi, and many of the now-established races of TheFederation. On the other hand, it's also the only ''Franchise/StarTrek'' spin-off that still uses [[Literature/KnownSpace the Kzinti]].
69	** The Star Trek CCG was only able to use characters from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' onward, since a CCG based around the original series had been licensed to a different company. A loophole later emerged with the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "Trials and Tribble-ations", which made almost all of the original series characters into [=DS9=] characters, and they promptly got cards.
70	* 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\|DCComics}}'' series also had to exclude Ballistic, Cardinal Sin, Geist, Joe Public, and Razorsharp due to them debuting in ''Batman'' tie-ins.
71	* The licence for the ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRoleplayingGame'' doesn't include the young adult ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books (''Literature/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents'' and the Tiffany subseries). So there's no mention of the Chalk or Bad Blintz in the gazeteer, Tiffany and her friends don't get mentioned in the characters chapter, and more subtly, the Pictsie template doesn't include their dimension-jumping abilities, because they don't do that in ''Literature/CarpeJugulum''.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Video Games]]
75	* 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 the 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.
76	* ''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi'' featured enemies parodying such characters as Film/TheTerminator, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, ComicBook/{{Batman}} and Franchise/{{Godzilla}}. But in later years, the game was altered to remove those cameos. In particular, a boss that resembled ComicBook/SpiderMan remained unchanged until the 2009 re-releases, as Creator/{{Sega}} already had the character licensed for ''VideoGame/SpiderManVsTheKingpin''.
77	* Lord British doesn't appear in newer ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' games because Richard Garriott took the rights to his AuthorAvatar with him.
78	* Licensing issues with Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox are likely to blame for Linn Kurosawa's general lack of appearances in Creator/{{Capcom}} games or official art after ''[[VideoGame/AlienVsPredatorCapcom Alien vs. Predator]]'', despite her popularity. Capcom was able to sneak her into background cameos in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 2'' and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' as well as a blink-and-you-miss-it moment in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'' where Sylphie from ''VideoGame/ForgottenWorlds'' briefly wears Linn's outfit during her LimitBreak, but that's about it. It's even been speculated that Simone from ''VideoGame/CannonSpike'' was initially intended to be Linn, but had to be changed into an {{Expy}} / SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute when it turned out that there were legal issues. Note that Linn has at least fared better than her co-star, "Dutch" Schaefer (named and modeled after Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's character from the first ''Film/{{Predator}}'' movie), who for obvious reasons has not appeared ''at all'' since then.
79	* Capcom ran into this with the character of Samanosuke from ''Videogame/{{Onimusha}}''. As he was [[InkSuitActor physically modeled on his voice actor]], Creator/TakeshiKaneshiro, future usage of the character would mean having to pay royalties. Ryota Nitsuuma cited this as a major reason Samanosuke didn't make it into ''Videogame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' despite his popularity.
80	* The Korean MMO ''VideoGame/DragonBallOnline'' only had the rights to the original ''Manga/DragonBall'' manga and Creator/ToeiAnimation's character Bardock, not the anime adaptations. This means characters and events from the AnimeFirst SequelSeries ''Anime/DragonBallGT'' are ignored despite the game taking place centuries after the manga's ending, Yardratians have a design by series creator Creator/AkiraToriyama completely different from how they looked in the anime, Goku's childhood home is called "At the Foot of a Certain Mountain" since the name "Mount Paozu" was only in the anime, and Yahhoy is depicted as a region rather than a city.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Western Animation]]
84	* 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 in a Creator/{{Sony}} live-action film that ended up in DevelopmentHell.
85	* 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.
86	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' has Tombstone as a CompositeCharacter with the Big Man [[note]]Interestingly, the Big Man is a DecompositeCharacter, as his comics alter ego Frederick Foswell is in the show as well.[[/note]], running a criminal empire in New York, filling the role that the Kingpin usually takes. The rights to Kingpin were tied up with Daredevil, so he couldn't be used.
87	[[/folder]]

Context ExiledFromContinuity / LicensingReasons