A work and various authors: copyright and "fan-fictionals" in the culture of convergence

Abstract

This paper dives into the subject of Copyright law, specifically in the context of "culture of convergence", in order to analyze the genre of “fan fictionals”. Convergence is a phenomenon that is the result of growing technological advances in the areas of communication, information and the Internet’s popularization. A reflection of this era is our participatory culture, since fan fictionals are narratives created by fans and based on books, films or other pre-existing narratives that play an important role in the literacy and participation of a society’s cultural production. However, this genre has generated disputes – e.g. United States of America, where studios are banning it, under the pretext of copyright infringement. In light of this, Copyright can be seen in two ways, which varies depending on how they were conceived: through a protective lens, which represents an obstacle for participation, evidently strengthening entertainment groups or a creative lens that stimulates new creations.