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Do you need permission to make fanfiction

2024-05-11

In the world of literature and fiction, a field has emerged that has won the hearts of many - fanfiction or fanfic. Fanfiction is a genre of writing where fans of a certain book, movie, video game, or other forms of media write their own interpretations, sequels, or spin-off stories. But does writing fanfiction require permission? How do legal and ethical dimensions evolve in this context? Here we will explore these issues in at least 8-15 aspects.

Copyright Law

The first aspect to look at is the copyright law of your own country and the country of the original creator if they're different. Generally speaking, copyright law gives the original creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license their work. However, fair use doctrine in countries like the U.S. allows for certain uses of copyrighted work without permission, such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and scholarly research.

Do you need permission to make fanfiction

In the case of fanfiction, it falls into a murky area of copyright law. While it can be argued that it's a transformative work—a kind of work permitted under fair use, its use of characters and setting from the original work may infrit copyright.

The Authors Attitude

The second aspect is the original author's attitude towards fanfiction. Some authors, like J.K. Rowling, embrace fanfiction as a form of devotion and creativity. Others, like George R.R. Martin, consider it a copyright violation and discouraging it.

This demonstrates that the need for permission can often come down to the original author's perspective and how they interpret the balance between their rights as creators and their fans' desire to interact with their worlds.

Fanfiction Websites

The third aspect is the platform where you post your fanfiction. Websites like FanFiction.net, Archive of Our Own (AO3), and Wattpad usually have guidelines for fanfiction. They prohibit fanfiction of certain properties depending on the wishes of the original creators. These platforms represent a safe harbor for fan creators, under the belief that fanfiction is a transformative work and thus fits under the umbrella of fair use.

In contrast, most platforms that monetize fanfiction need permissions from the original creator, which is why Kindle Worlds was closed due to the impossibility to take care of royalties.

Monetization

Fanfiction becomes a copyright issue when it is monetized. Monetizing fanfiction without the original creator's permission is generally considered a copyright violation and can lead to legal trouble. This is why most fanfiction is published for free on the internet, and fans are discouraged from seeking to profit from their fan-created works.

In 2013, Amazon launched Kindle Worlds, a platform that allowed fanfiction authors to sell their works. However, they needed to obtain copyright permissions from the original creators, and the platform was eventually closed due to the complexities.

Transformative Works

The concept of transformative work plays an essential role in fanfiction. A transformative work takes a piece of existing work and adds new meaning, messages or insights, and is considered different from the original. If a fanfiction is transformative enough, it might not need permission under 'fair use' law.

But there's a gray area as what counts as 'transformative' can be subjective and depend on the individual interpretation.

Permission Requests

If you still want to seek permission to write fanfiction, it's typically done by writing to the author or the author's agent, stating your plans, and asking for permission. However, you should be prepared for a refusal or no response at all. It's important to respect the author's wishes even if you disagree with them.

There's no harm in asking for permission, but be aware that this doesn't guarantee you'll receive it. Plus, from a legal perspective, this interaction could potentially put you on the radar as a copyright infringer should you choose to go ahead with your fanfiction without receiving permission.

Q&A Session

Q1: Is it legal to write fanfiction?

A1: The legality of fanfiction is a gray area. In many cases, fanfiction can be considered a transformative work and protected under fair use. However, if you are selling or monetizing your fanfiction, it's generally seen as a copyright violation.

Q2: Can I be sued for writing fanfiction?

A2: Technically, yes. If your fanfiction is seen as a violation of copyright law, the original creator may sue you for damages. However, lawsuits like this are rare, especially for works published on fanfiction websites and not created for profit.

Q3: How do I know if my fanfiction is transformative?

A3: If your fanfiction adds new meaning, messages, or insights to the original work, it can be considered transformative. However, what exactly counts as 'transformive' is subjective and can vary from case to case.

Conclusion

In general, writing fanfiction doesn't strictly require permission. However, there are various factors to consider, such as copyright law, the original creator's feelings about fanfiction, the rules of the platform, and the monetization issue. Nowadays, many fanfiction platforms and communities operate under the belief that fanfiction is a form of transformative work and is thus protected under fair use. However, it's always best to respect the wishes of original creators, and when in doubt, ask for permission.

References

1. "The Legal Conundrum of Fan Fiction." Harvard Law School. https://today.law.harvard.edu/the-legal-conundrum-of-fan-fiction/

2. "Copyright and Fair Use." Stanford University Libraries. https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/what-is-fair-use/

3. "Fanfiction, Outsider Works, And The Problem of Copyright Protection." Berkeley Technology Law Journal. https://btlj.org/data/articles2015/vol30/30_1/1769-1820%20Sag_FINAL.pdf

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