CharacterGuard
Guide · Name vs. face

The name and the face are protected differently.

The name can be a trademark. An AI-made face usually isn’t covered by copyright. Here’s what to do about each.

Run the free check →See the 4 steps
The name

A trademark can cover it.

  • Class 41Entertainment services, like a YouTube or TikTok channel.
  • Your channel profileThe profile showing the name is the proof of use (the specimen).
  • Check it firstOur free check is a limited screen, not clearance.
Run the free check →
The face

Copyright usually won’t.

The U.S. Copyright Office says AI-generated material without enough human authorship isn’t protected by copyright. Source: USCO, Jan. 2025

  • Not a trademark eitherA trademark covers a name or logo used in commerce, not the face itself.
  • Watch for copiesPromptPatrol face watch, if you turn it on.
  • Keep dated recordsA first-use log of where and when it went public.
  • Report impersonationUse the platform’s own report tools. No takedown is guaranteed.
See face watch →
What to do

4 steps, in order.

  1. 01Check the nameFreeRun the free check →
  2. 02Log first useFreeOpen the logger →
  3. 03Get the Lock kit$249 onceSee the kit →
  4. 04Watch name + face$39/monthSee PromptPatrol →
Paid, optional

The kit and the watch.

For the name

Lock kit

$249once

  • 01Channel materials, mark files, and first‑use notes
  • 02For your records or an attorney’s review

Not a filing. It does not clear the name or establish trademark rights.

See the Lock kit →
For the name + face

PromptPatrol

$39a month

  • 01Watches new USPTO filings for the name
  • 02Opt-in face watch on YouTube and TikTok profile images

A lookalike isn’t proof of copying. You file any reports yourself.

See PromptPatrol →

Questions

Can I trademark my AI character’s name?
A trademark can cover a character name used for entertainment services (Class 41), with the channel profile as the specimen. The free check is a limited screen, not clearance. CharacterGuard isn’t a law firm and doesn’t file.
Is my AI character’s face protected by copyright?
The U.S. Copyright Office has said AI-generated material without enough human authorship isn’t protected by copyright. Questions about your own human-made work are for a lawyer.
Can a trademark protect the face?
A trademark protects a name or logo used in commerce, not the face itself. For lookalikes, you can watch for copies, keep dated records, and use the platform’s impersonation report tools. Nobody can promise a takedown.

Source: U.S. Copyright Office, Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 2: Copyrightability (January 2025). More: Can you copyright AI art?

Next step

Check your character’s name.

Free. About a minute. A starting point, not clearance.

Run the free name check →Browse all guides

CharacterGuard is not a law firm and does not file trademarks. Nothing here is legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. Updated November 12, 2026.