Copyright status of The Wizard of Oz and related works in the United States file rival trademarks. Disney filed a trademark on "Oz the Great and Powerful." One week later, WB filed its own trademark for "The Great and Powerful Oz." The US Patent and Trademark Office suspended WB's attempt at a trademark because Disney had filed basically the same one a week earlier. The Wicked Witch of the West is one of the most iconic villains of modern times. However, the iconic version of the Wicked Witch is Margaret Hamilton's portrayal in the 1939 movie, which is copyrighted. The character of the Wicked Witch from the book is in public domain, but that
Copyright status of The Wizard of Oz and related works in the United States copyright was never renewed on either of these, so they entered the public domain in 1974 and 1977, respectively. They are the last two Oz books that entered the public domain. "The Hidden Valley of Oz" was published by Rachel Cosgrove in 1951, had the copyright renewed, and therefore will enter public domain in 2047. Cosgrove also wrote "The Wicked Witch of Oz" in 1954. However, it was not published until 1993. Since it was published after 1977, it will remain copyrighted for seventy years after the author's death. Cosgrove died in 1998, so "The Wicked Witch of Oz" will