Copyright Infringement of Fan Fiction

[Deleted]

So I've been thinking for a long while now of creating a blog consisting of short stories based around various classes and specs in the Warcraft universe. I'm aware of a certain amount of leniency in Copyright Infringe regarding fan fiction, providing a profit is not made from that fiction.

However, what if the blog contained ads that brought in money, but the stories themselves (obviously) were free?
Would a company take issue with making profit through hosting ads/donations?

(It is worth noting, I only think of money as a mere curious afterthought. My passion for writing fiction is genuine and I'll be going ahead with the blog regardless)

[Gorgodeus]

Question would be, who is making the money off these ads? If it is the blog writer, then yes, it could be an issue.

[Calzaeth]

Blizzard are generally pretty awesome at answering tweets with questions like these, so ask them!

[Gallahadd]

I think Fanfiction is something of a grey area. IF you're giving credit to them for creating everything then it should be ok...

However the add thing is... Tricky. Tbh if you're not in it for the money and just want to write stories and share them, it's best to use one of the established FanFiction sites, like Fanfiction.net. That was as long as you flag it as WoW Fanfic there's ZERO chance of you getting into anything resembling trouble.

[Deleted]

there was an issue similar to that in germany a few years ago. it involved the authors of the webcomic shakes and fidged. they were increadibly popular and made money off it with adds (on a gamingrelated website). after some time blizz steped in and sued their asses and they stoped.
i guess blizz says its ok for small things but takes a cut if it gets too big end someone profits on their ip. and having adds on a "free" webblog is profit.

so unless you get a real breakthrough and get realy realy big you should have no issues with a fanfciblog

[Deleted]

Thanks for your replies, I think I'll pose the question on Twitter!

[Wyattbw09]

The answer is it depends.

Basically you have to ask yourself is there a reason that this would catch Blizzard's eye?

In other words, if your blog is so successful that it is catching Blizzard's attention then that is a good problem to have.

If you are catching Blizzard's eye because you are writing Warcraft porn, trashing their product, directing traffic away from legitimate Blizzard sites because of something, then that is bad.

In any event, the WORST case situation for you is that you get a cease and desist letter for Blizzard's lawyers telling you to sop using their intellectual property, and then you stop and that is that.