Copyright protection is available to fixed expressions of fictional characters in literary, musical, dramatic and artistic works. Recognition of fictional characters as works eligible for copyright protection has come about in some countries with the understanding that characters can be separated from the original works they were embodied in and acquire a new life by featuring in subsequent works.
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In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: Copyright protection for fictional characters
- Copyright protection for fictional characters in the context of Fan fiction
Copyright protection for fictional characters in the context of Fan fiction
Fan fiction or fanfiction, also known as fan fic, fanfic, fic or FF, is fiction typically written in an amateur capacity by fans as a form of fan labor, unauthorized by, but based on, an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted characters, settings, or other intellectual properties from the original creator(s) as a basis for their writing and can retain the original characters and settings, add their own, or both. Fan fiction ranges in length from a few sentences to novel-length and can be based on fictional and non-fictional media, including novels, movies, comics, television shows, musical groups, cartoons, anime and manga, and video games.
Fan fiction is rarely commissioned or authorized by the original work's creator or publisher or professionally published. It may infringe on the original author's copyright, depending on the jurisdiction and on legal questions, such as whether or not it qualifies as "fair use" (see Legal issues with fan fiction). The attitudes of authors and copyright owners of original works towards fan fiction have ranged from encouragement to indifference or disapproval, and they have occasionally responded with legal action.
View the full Wikipedia page for Fan fiction