Reference Week
I love sharing great references. This week, here are two worth checking out. 1. The Model Book Contract Fellow writer and lawyer, Jennifer Klepper, recently posted an excellent link on the Women’s Fiction Writers...
Legal Protection For Fictional Characters – What can writers protect and what can others use?
The Short Answer Copyright laws protect fictional characters provided the characters are sufficiently unique and distinctive. Legal protection for fictional characters is separate from the legal protection extended to the...
The Curious Copyright Infringement Case of Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes
The Netflix movie Enola Holmes is based on a series of young adult novels by Nancy Springer, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, published between 2006-2010 by Penguin Random House. The series centers on Sherlock’s teenage sister Enola,...
Parody, Satire, and Fan Fiction: What’s the difference?
Parody, satire, and fan fiction are terms often confused and misused in the writing spheres. But when it comes to copyright law, these three forms of creative expression are treated quite differently. Understanding the...
The World of Fan Fiction — Where Creative Expression and Copyright Collide
Popular books, movies, or cable shows often inspire devoted fans to write their own fictional stories about beloved characters, settings, or plots. Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Captain Kirk and Spock, Harry Potter, Edward and...