Fanfiction

[lo_amo87]

But you haven’t read the link, I know it wasn’t available but now it’s working and it’s here.Everything is clearly explained with quotations from the Cathechism. I believe this priest is right about the sinfulness of fanfiction, and about the fact that we should avoid all sin even if it is not mortal one. Take a look at this article

Yes, if the author has a problem with people playing with his/her characters, then that is sinful. But if authors give express permission to use their world, then there is no sin commited.

 

[ladysherlockian]

The way I understand the text of the answer I got, we as Catholics are obligated to obey just laws, that is laws which are not contrary to Christian ethics, morality etc. If the law forbids writing fanfic, then we should not write it. You are, I guess, not right that it is sinful to write fanfic only if the author disapproves of fanfiction. The priest emphasises that all fanfic is sinful, becuse it breaks the law, and Catholic should not break just laws; it doesn’t really matter if the author has nothing against fanfic; even if he does not persecute fanficcers, it doesn’t mean that it’s ok to write fanfic for that author; it is still theft.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

The priest emphasises that all fanfic is sinful, becuse it breaks the law, and Catholic should not break just laws; it doesn’t really matter if the author has nothing against fanfic; even if he does not persecute fanficcers, it doesn’t mean that it’s ok to write fanfic for that author; it is still theft.

I’m not going to check that link just now for PC security reasons. However, just discerning from your posts, this priest of yours doesn’t seem an expert on copyright law.

A simple internet research on the relationship between copyright law and fanfiction will generally tell you that the former is only protecting the financial and intellectual rights of creators. In other words, so long as the one doing the fan work acknowledges the characters (and other related media) aren’t their property, there is no violation.

Please note that just because you quote a priest on a subject, doesn’t mean you win the debate hands down. I notice a lot CAF posters make that mistake. It’s a fallacy of appealing to authority.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Okay, I’ve thoroughly read the response and I must correct you that the person who answered you is NOT a priest. Furthermore, while he may have cited a good deal of copyright law, he is in fact very ignorant about its relationship with fanfiction.

No, citing authors opposed to the practice does not make it illegal. Secondly, any author who encourages, tolerates, or even ignores fanfiction of their work is, by default, granting permission for fan work. As a writer myself, I have no opposition if people like my characters and want to play around with them so as long as they acknowledge that they’re of my creation. The credit for creating them first is good enough for me.

Additionally, not all fanfiction fall under derivative works as defined by your country’s copyright laws (which if I may add, can differ from the laws of other nations like Japan). The significant changes required is very difficult to attain for a piece of fanfiction.

 

[CesarAugustus]

Sin?

Not at all, unless you’re writing bad stuff.

Blessings!

 

[Hanna_C]

I know this is an old thread, but I think it’s a debate worth reviving.

You are, I guess, not right that it is sinful to write fanfic only if the author disapproves of fanfiction. The priest emphasises that all fanfic is sinful, becuse it breaks the law, and Catholic should not break just laws; it doesn’t really matter if the author has nothing against fanfic; even if he does not persecute fanficcers, it doesn’t mean that it’s ok to write fanfic for that author; it is still theft.

I’ve seen a few people say something along the lines of “the author might look the other way, but it’s technically still illegal.” But if the original owner of the work gives you permission to use it, then how is that illegal. Do you mean that the work is subject to copyright law independently of the author and the author’s wishes? I’m not entirely sure I follow.
(Unless you mean that the author has surrendered control of the work to the publisher, in which case, can the publisher grant permission?)

But I think another question we need to ask if that if we accept that stealing is stealing even if the law allows it, what about public domain works? Just because the law no longer protects the author’s work, that doesn’t make it ours. If it’s public domain now, but the author was opposed to fanfiction, would it be immoral to write it? (And that’s very possible; contrary to popular belief, fanfic is not a recent phenomenon.)
Then of course, the majority of public domain authors have never made a statement on fanfiction. Does that mean we should try to figure out case-by-case whether they would have been all right with it?