I'd also like to make a slight modification to collage - that using public domain or open-source settings, items, and characters also falls under collage.
This would have to be minor uses of characters - just because Dracula is public domain, doesn't mean you can write a story starring Mina, Van Helsing, and Jonathan Harker. But you could do something like Roger Rabbit or Wreck-it Ralph (I think - I haven't seen it) and have a bunch of characters show up.
The possible exception would be open-source characters, like Jenny Everywhere, which aren't owned by anyone and never were.
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This would have to be minor uses of characters - just because Dracula is public domain, doesn't mean you can write a story starring Mina, Van Helsing, and Jonathan Harker. But you could do something like Roger Rabbit or Wreck-it Ralph (I think - I haven't seen it) and have a bunch of characters show up.
The possible exception would be open-source characters, like Jenny Everywhere, which aren't owned by anyone and never were.
Some relevant links:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Website/TheFreeUniverse
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PublicDomainCharacter - especially Other public domain characters in media Web Original
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PublicDomainCanonWelding
What are people's thoughts? Would this be welcome or too confusing?