Fanfiction is a topic that the Pitt News Opinion Desk has covered many times. We’ve explained how fan fiction works as “.expansion” About existing stories and their details erotic fan fiction — is a very popular form of this genre. We also touched on the aptitude for this type of work and its necessity. deemed worthy of verification and quality Just like any other art form.
As a casual fan of Marvel and “Supernatural” fanfiction for almost a decade, I tend to be a very professional fanfiction fan myself. I have to admit that some of the best works of literature I’ve ever read were ones where Bucky Barnes or Dean Winchester took me on a fancy date or saved the world. yeah. Because of course. It’s fan fiction!
For decades, fan fiction has fought for its right to be a good and legitimate form of media. Countless authors post original stories using pre-established story characters and worlds on various platforms every day. For some it’s a hobby. For others, it’s a way to hone their writing skills before entering the big, bad publishing world. Many traditionally published authors, many of whom rank high on the New York Times bestseller list, have begun writing fan fiction for a mass audience. The infamous “Fifty Shades of Gray” series was originally a “Twilight” fanfiction, and Ali Hazlewood’s debut novel “The Love Hypothesis” was originally about Rey and Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” universe. The infamous “After” movie was originally a Wattpad story written about Harry Styles. Dante’s Divine Comedy – yes, it’s from the 14th century – is widely thought to be: self insert fan fiction About the Bible. No one will deny that “The Divine Comedy” is a legitimate “y/n” fanfiction – its influence is Organized Religion Affected 10 times. And while not all fan fiction writers become published authors, and not all gather the kind of impact that Dante was able to achieve, fiction writers do Even if you don’t own any physical property, you are still a writer in your own right.
Fan fiction operates in this nebulous gray area of copyright law. Is it legal? yes.But it is it’s not very easy.
Many factors come into play when determining the legality of fan fiction and whether the intellectual property owner has standing to sue.If the material used by the fiction writer falls into the public domain, or if the story written falls under any of the following: Fair use provision, the author is usually obvious. Similarly, if the owner of the IP explicitly grants approval for derivative fanfiction, then the subsequent fanfiction will generally be considered legal as well. But without these definitive guidelines, many writers may circumvent the line between legal and illegal and potentially violate copyright law.
copyright law is a legal tool used to protect the interests of artists, authors, and other IP owners, giving them near complete control over their intellectual and creative property. will do so.according to Part-time job careAccording to the digital security company , copyright law allows owners to “control the use, distribution, and reproduction of their creations and ensure that they receive recognition and financial compensation for their intellectual property.” Therefore, copyright law not only serves as a mechanism to encourage creators by granting them exclusive or exclusive rights to their works, but also establishes a framework for resolving disputes through legal means, and protect the integrity and value of intellectual property.
Many people, including myself, believe that fanfiction is a legitimate form of creativity and literature, but fundamentally fanfiction violates the principles of ownership and uses the intellectual property of many creators. I am. But fortunately for us consumers, most fan fiction works under the fair use doctrine, as long as it is proven to be “transformative.” According to the meaning Organizing transformative workThe company, which operates the popular fan fiction site AO3, said fiction writers “added new content with new meaning and value to their works.” Typically, these standards protect material if its purpose is criticism, comedy, or parody.
But perhaps the most important element that keeps our beloved fan fiction legal is that fiction writers don’t generate money from it, meaning it’s nonprofit. This means that authors of fiction cannot make money from their works while they are operating legally under copyright law. It’s either. In most cases, when a fiction author monetizes a story, it is immediately illegal and violates copyright law.
In recent weeks, upward trend On TikTok, individuals download, format, and bind copies of their favorite fanfiction to own and gift. Most people would agree that owning and reading a physical book is far preferable to a digital copy, especially when reading on a mobile phone or laptop. This trend was widely loved and replicated across platforms, with fanfiction authors particularly interested in seeing their books in a personal way. Many creators have dedicated their channels to teaching others how to bind books, as well as demonstrating how to properly format fan fiction into standard book sizes.
Unfortunately, in a capitalist society, everything that’s fun has to be monetized, so some small businesses are taking advantage of this trend and using their skills to threaten the entire fanfiction community.
On Etsy and across the internet, people with complex bookbinding skills are tie and sell Fan fiction popular with avid fans. The Harry Potter fandom has been particularly hard hit, and includes popular Dramione (Draco + Hermione) fanfiction such as: “I was handcuffed.” and “Breath Mint/Battle Scars” They are tied up and sold many times.
If you don’t understand what I’m trying to do after this incredibly long-winded introduction to copyright law, I’ll explain in detail, but it’s highly illegal.
Selling fan fiction is a direct violation of copyright law, instantly turning a previously non-commercial creation into a commercial product for profit. However, note that the individuals profiting from these constrained forms of fan fiction are often small businesses and artists looking to make a quick buck from their community of fans. It is very important to do so. Not the original author himself. As a result, many fiction writers must be removed They want to obtain their beloved works from the Internet and avoid the risk of legal repercussions resulting from the actions of bookmakers.
“Manacled” and “Breath Mints/Battle Scars” have both been removed from their home sites, and many fans are predicting their favorite authors will remove their stories as well. JK Rowling is notorious for litigation issuesand once the bound book reaches the Disney-owned fandom, it much more dire situationnot only the artists who create these bound books, but also early writers who are not involved in monetizing their work.
If artists who seek to profit through fanfiction binding continue to market and promote these stories, fanfiction as we know it may be irrevocably altered by the legal system . Fan fiction is already on the verge of that, but this could be the catalyst that pushes it into illegal territory. Such actions not only change the nature of fanfiction, but also jeopardize the delicate balance between creative expression and copyright law, and threaten long-standing traditions of legally operated fan engagement, such as the creation of fanfiction. may be damaged. Who would take the risk of creating and sharing fanfiction if the threat of a lawsuit was real? Previously, fiction writers could operate peacefully, but fanfiction in physical form There is a huge threat to artists who create and sell .
Clearly, fan fiction has changed our media landscape for centuries and continues to function effectively in modern legal systems to this day. Many authors start with fanfiction because fan communities are often welcoming and there is no need for world-building or character-building. Although being a fiction writer is not a prerequisite for becoming a traditionally published novelist, it is certainly a popular stepping stone for many to succeed in their careers.
If fan fiction ceases to exist, who’s to say what will happen not only to aspiring writers, but to the principle of fair use in general? As much as I would like to get money from Disney, Transphobic JK Rowling, if copyright law is going to protect little children, it should protect real children as well. Therefore, if their intellectual property is infringed, which is clear in the case of bound versions of fan fiction, they have the right to sue.
Avid fans use Etsy to Report these listings. Many people have taken to the Internet to report young fans and warn them not to purchase such copies. People with functioning brain cells can recognize the illegality of monetizing bound fanfiction and are committed to protecting not only their favorite fanfiction, but also its authors and other fan communities. . I hope their efforts are effective. If not, it could change forever as we know it.
Livia Lamarca is a deputy editor at the Opinion Desk, but she’s not good at using Oxford commas. She primarily writes about American political discourse, American pop culture, and social movements.She writes to her at the following address [email protected] To share your opinion!