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Is it unethical to write fanfiction?
Fan fiction, also known as fanfic, refers to stories written by fans about the characters, situations, or world of existing works created by others. In other words, fanfic can be a legitimate and respected form of writing.
Is it ethical to write fanfiction about real people?
Real People Fiction, or RPF is fanfiction featuring real people, usually celebrities. This is generally considered a bit more taboo than fanfiction, and even FanFiction.net has banned it from its site, although you can find it on other fanfiction sites like Archive of Our Own.
Is it illegal to make fan fiction?
In general, the answer is no. Fan fiction is a derivative work under US copyright law and it cannot be legally published without permission of the copyright holder.
Can you write fiction about a real person?
Using real people in your fiction—whether they are correctly named or not—can be legally hazardous. If an author includes enough details that a specific fictional character is identifiable as an actual person, that person could possibly pursue legal action.
Is RPF ethical?
A consensus on the ethics of RPF is unlikely to ever be reached in fan spaces or the mainstream, but the consideration of RPF texts themselves can shed light on what it is that makes a real person into a fictionalized character.
Is it okay to read fanfic?
Fanfiction embraces the original works, and adapts them in a way that allows readers to explore other identities beyond the scope of the mainstream fiction. Reading and writing doesn’t get much more powerful than that. But fanfiction isn’t just good for readers, it’s an incredible opportunity for writers, too.
What are the legal issues for fan fiction writers?
Fan fiction writers should understand the legal issues related to their work so that they can appropriately and effectively address copyright infringement claims. Under US Copyright law, copyright owners have the right to distribute derivative works based on their original works.
Is fan fiction copyright infringement?
However, because fan fiction writers rarely get consent from authors of the original works, copyright infringement concerns arise. Fan fiction writers should understand the legal issues related to their work so that they can appropriately and effectively address copyright infringement claims.
What is fair use of fan fiction?
Fan fiction based on nonfictional (for example, biographical or historical) work is more likely to be fair use than fan fiction based on “ highly imaginative and creative ” fictional work. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.
Can you sue someone for fan fiction?
Copyright infringement lawsuits are usually triggered when fan fiction is published for commercial profit. In 2009, J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Fredrick Colting who wrote 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye under the pseudonym John David California.