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I'm writing a fantasy based screenplay and would like to use ORCS, (The pig faced humanoids from D$D), as the main evil force. Am I going to have legal problems with this? Should I contact TSR and see if ORCS is Public Domain? I just don't know what to do. I don't want to have orcs with a different name, like NEORES, or something like that because they'd still be orcs and I still might run into that same problem. Please help.

Weren't there orcs in Tolkien's books? The Hobbit was first published back in the 30's. I don't know if orcs are public domain but I've seen them in a number of places. I'm not a lawyer but I wouldn't worry about it. A studio can always change the name later.

Allen Glazier Director of the Slamdance Screenplay Competition

I think that D&D drew heavily on medieval European mythology...so do a little research -- I that race is based on a legend somewhere in Europe.

You should also check some bio information on Tolkein - there may be a clue as to where he came up with that race.

Just a side note - the SHADOWRUN RPG also has Orcs...but they changed the spelling to Orks.