Does fan fiction violate copyright?

Fanfiction in its current form is an infringement of copyright. Fanfiction is defined by the use of characters and expression from an original creative work and the creation of derivative works, all of which is illegal under current copyright law (McCardle, 2003).

Can you get sued for writing fanfic?

In the case where a copyright owner chooses to exercise their exclusive right to prepare derivative works against a work of fanfiction, they can sue the fanfiction writer for copyright infringement. Fanfiction will not be held liable for copyright infringement if it falls under the fair use defense.

Do people publish fanfiction?

yes, you can “publish” a Star Wars fan fiction. As long as you do not profit from it and make it known that it’s not a real authorized work of Star Wars. This is done all the time and there are communities on the internet that are dedicated to publishing fan fiction.

Is it okay to write fanfiction?

Writing fan fiction can help you become a better writer by providing a fun means to experiment with characters, genres and ideas. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your craft, take a break from your current manuscript, or find inspiration in something new, fan fiction might just have the answer.

What is the legal situation for fan fiction writers?

This is a detailed legal situation, however for fan fiction writers, the chief concern is with derivative works. Copyright gives the author the sole right to create derivative works, basically works which use protected elements of the source material.

Can you use copyrighted characters in fan fiction?

Copyright gives the author the sole right to create derivative works, basically works which use protected elements of the source material. This is a pretty cut-and-dry situation, stating that you cannot legally use their characters or settings for fan fiction.

How to publish fan fiction professionally?

Publishing fan fiction professionally. As described above this is tricky, but there are two easy paths available. One is Amazon’s ‘Kindle Worlds’. This service allows fan fiction to be professionally published so long as it is from one of the ‘worlds’ which has volunteered to be part of the service.

Are we normal people immune to fan fiction?

Let it be known, “normal people”: we are not immune to your mockery, and it sucks. Fan fiction, for many people, is just a gateway drug to all other fiction writing. We obviously have the chops to commit ourselves to long pieces of works, and the imagination to go wild with somebody else’s characters.