> This doesn't make much sense. If the stories enter public domain, they enter in their entirety.
In the USA all character names and book titles are public domain anyway - but these can still be protected under trademark (The name being public domain doesn't mean that anyone can create derivative works though - these are still protected).
For instance, the name "Mickey Mouse" is in the public domain (i.e. someone can say it without it being licensed) while stories about Mickey Mouse are still under copyright, and you cannot use 'Mickey Mouse' in your own advertising or to sell a product as it is still a trademark.
As another example, I can create the character "Dude The Donkey", own the trademark "Dude The Donkey" and also write a story about Dude The Donkey that I put into the public domain (e.g. CC0), however the fact I have written a story and put it into the public domain doesn't mean that someone else is allowed to sell "Dude The Donkey" branded merchandise - as I have a trademark on that.
In the USA all character names and book titles are public domain anyway - but these can still be protected under trademark (The name being public domain doesn't mean that anyone can create derivative works though - these are still protected).
For instance, the name "Mickey Mouse" is in the public domain (i.e. someone can say it without it being licensed) while stories about Mickey Mouse are still under copyright, and you cannot use 'Mickey Mouse' in your own advertising or to sell a product as it is still a trademark.
As another example, I can create the character "Dude The Donkey", own the trademark "Dude The Donkey" and also write a story about Dude The Donkey that I put into the public domain (e.g. CC0), however the fact I have written a story and put it into the public domain doesn't mean that someone else is allowed to sell "Dude The Donkey" branded merchandise - as I have a trademark on that.
(This is just my understanding, IANAL)