For graphic designers, tabletop RPG writers, indie game developers, and e-commerce sellers, finding a beloved story that has been in the public domain for generations is like uncovering buried treasure. And when it comes to whimsical fantasy, nostalgia, and sheer cultural recognition, few worlds compare to L. Frank Baum’s 1900 masterpiece, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Because the original book has been in the public domain for decades, creators have used it to build moody dark-fantasy RPGs, beautiful custom book prints, and endless lines of cottagecore apparel and home decor.
But if you are planning to design your own journey down the Yellow Brick Road, you are stepping onto a multi-million-dollar copyright landmine.
While Baum’s 1900 world belongs to the public, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s legendary 1939 musical movie does not. Warner Bros. actively and aggressively defends the copyrights and trademarks associated with the film. If you confuse the book with the movie, you will face swift legal consequences.
Here is exactly why Dorothy cannot wear red shoes in your commercial designs, and how to source the original 1900 Oz safely.
The Technicolor Trap: How Silver Became Ruby
When MGM filmed the movie in 1939, they utilized the newly invented 3-strip Technicolor process. To make the movie pop on screen, the studio changed several key visual elements that were never in Baum’s original book. Because the 1939 film is strictly copyrighted, copying these movie-specific changes constitutes copyright infringement.
1. The Ruby Slippers (No Red Shoes!)
This is the single most famous copyright trap in the entire Oz universe.
- The Reality: In Baum’s 1900 book, Dorothy’s magic shoes are silver. To show off their expensive new Technicolor technology, MGM’s filmmakers changed them to glittering ruby red so they would stand out against the yellow bricks.
- The Rule: If your Dorothy wears glittering red slippers, you are infringing on Warner Bros.’ copyright. Keep her slippers silver!
2. The Green-Skinned Wicked Witch
When we picture the Wicked Witch of the West, we instantly picture green skin, a pointed black hat, a cackling voice, and a broomstick.
- The Reality: In the 1900 book, the Wicked Witch is never described as having green skin. She actually had only one eye (which was as powerful as a telescope), carried a yellow umbrella instead of a broomstick, and wore her hair in three pigtails. The iconic bright green skin was a Technicolor makeup choice by MGM.
- The Rule: Your public domain witch must have a normal or completely non-green skin tone (like pale gray, blue, or realistic tones).
3. “Over the Rainbow” and Movie Songs
If you are designing a music box, printing lyrics on t-shirts, or building a video game soundtrack, you might want to reference the movie’s music.
- The Reality: Songs like “Over the Rainbow,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” and “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” were written specifically for the 1939 musical and remain heavily protected by copyright.
- The Rule: You must stick strictly to the poems and songs featured in the text of the original 1900 book.
Creator Blueprint: What You Can and Can’t Do
To protect your business from aggressive cease-and-desist letters, use this strict boundary guide when designing your next project:
What You Can Do:
- Give Dorothy silver shoes: You can depict Dorothy wearing her original silver slippers. This is a massive badge of authenticity that vintage book lovers will immediately appreciate.
- Use W.W. Denslow’s original illustrations: The iconic, whimsical, and slightly unsettling Art Nouveau illustrations from the original 1900 printing are completely public domain. You can legally trace, vector, and print his original sketches of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion.
- Republish or adapt the original text: You are legally free to print your own annotated editions of the 1900 book, record an audiobook, write direct sequels, or build a gothic horror game using Baum’s original narrative.
- Depict the Golden Cap: In the book, the Wicked Witch controls the Winged Monkeys using a magic Golden Cap—an awesome visual item completely ignored by the MGM movie that you can freely design.
What You Cannot Do:
- Use the movie’s character likenesses: Do not draw Dorothy to look like Judy Garland, the Tin Man with a clock-heart on his chest, or the Scarecrow with the movie’s specific makeup textures.
- Quote movie-exclusive lines: Iconic dialogue like “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” or “There’s no place like home” were written specifically for the 1939 screenplay. Stick to the book’s dialogue.
- Use the trademarked “Wizard of Oz” logo: While the title of the book is public domain, Warner Bros. holds active trademarks on specific commercial logos for merchandise. Keep your branding independent and descriptive.
Are you heading down the Yellow Brick Road?
The real, original world of Oz is far more surreal, gothic, and magical than the Hollywood version. Are you planning to write a dark retelling of the Emerald City, or are you designing a line of vintage silver-slipper merchandise?