Is putting the names of well-known characters/games/titles into your lyrics OK in terms of copyright?

If I want to mention a well-known video game (like Galaga), characters (like Mario/Luigi) or other such titles into the lyrics I’m making for a song, is this legal and allowed? Or am I breaching copyright?
I’m only going so far as to making reference to these things (e.g., “As a kid, I spent hours playing Galaga” or something of that sort).

I believe that just mentioning them is okay and would fall under the provision of fair use.

DC Games’07 Evento 5/Event 5: Dunk Tank 1

The Games Bible $15.99 Introducing the Games Bible, an extraordinary collection of more than 300 Scripture-based games. There are games for two and games for a group, parlor games and party games, indoor games and outdoor games, quick games to break the ice and afternoon-long games for a group gathering, guessing games, card games, trivia games and strategy games! You’ll find games for math geeks and games for word freaks, games for left-brainers and games for right-brainers – even silly games where it’s best to shut off the brain altogether! Softcover, 390 pages.

Family Games $4.99 A collection of classic pen and paper games.

Wee Sing Games, Games, Games $9.99 “Arranged by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp. For Children’s Voices. This edition: Paperback. Classroom/Pre-School; Games; General Music and Classroom Publications; Other Classroom; Sing-Along. Wee Sing. 25 musical games, 38 additional group games in book. Children’s. Book & CD. 64 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing”

Plants: 2400 Copyright-Free Illustrations Plants: 2400 Copyright-Free Illustrations $22.45 Plants: 2400 Copyright-Free Illustrations of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Vegetables is a magnificent compendium of finely detailed plant images from the Victorian era ? all identified with Latin and common names and arranged alphabetically by family.Hundreds of plant species ? from lilies, lichens, poppies and palms to mushrooms, mosses, marigolds and maples ? are supplemented by specialized appendices on edible plants, medicinal herbs, and plants used in decoration and in graphic design.The book is an indispensable source of inspiration and royalty-free graphics for designers and artists as well as a captivating compendium for botanists, gardeners, and collectors of old engravings.Book specifications: paperback, 384 pgs., 9 3/8 in. x 12 1/4 in.Publisher: Dover, 1998.

Comments are closed