Fandom and the Law: A Guide to Fan Fiction, Art, Film & Cosplay - Marc H Greenberg

Fandom and the Law: A Guide to Fan Fiction, Art, Film & Cosplay Marc H Greenberg ISBN 9781641058858

Fandom is a global cultural phenomenon embraced by millions, fueling fan conventions, online communities, and countless forms of creative expression. Fandom and the Law offers a timely and distinctive examination of fandom as a sociological and creative force, focusing on fan-created works and the legal doctrines that shape their creation and distribution. The book explores how the law affects fan fiction, fan art, fan films, and cosplay within today’s participatory culture.

Author Marc H. Greenberg, a law professor specializing in entertainment, copyright, and pop culture law, brings both academic expertise and real-world experience representing comic book creators and historians. He begins by examining the four primary forms of creative fandom—fan fiction, fan art, fan film, and cosplay—while explaining the concept of participatory culture, the role of fan creators within it, and the importance of fandom communities.

The book then turns to the legal frameworks governing fan-created works, offering an in-depth historical and doctrinal analysis of U.S. law, with particular emphasis on copyright—the legal doctrine most directly affecting fan creators. This discussion includes analysis of significant legislative developments such as the PROTECT Act and the CASE Act.

Building on this foundation, Fandom and the Law closely examines how legal principles apply to each type of fan-created work, highlighting the distinct legal challenges associated with different creative formats. It also explores the critical role of social media in fandom, addressing the legal issues that arise from the platforms through which fan content is primarily shared, displayed, and distributed.

Recognizing the inherent tension between fan creators and the original rights holders whose works inspire them, the book analyzes how the legal system has been used to manage that tension. It concludes with a forward-looking discussion of the future of fan-created content, examining how evolving legal standards and industry responses may shape fan creativity—both positively and negatively—in the years ahead.

Who should read this book?
Fandom and the Law is written primarily for attorneys who advise fan content creators and scholars studying the legal dimensions of participatory culture. At the same time, it offers accessible, practical insights for fan creators themselves and for the growing community of “acafans”—academics who research fandom and popular culture.

Fandom and the Law: A Guide to Fan Fiction, Art, Film & Cosplay Marc H Greenberg ISBN 9781641058858, 978-1641058858 & 9781641058865

Author
Marc H Greenberg