Fanfiction isn't as protected as many people think it is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issue

Fanfiction isn't as protected as many people think it is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction Fanfiction and fan art also tend to run afoul of the infrequently (but occasionally) litigated part of copyright - copyright of fictional characters. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_protection_for_fictional_characters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_protection_for_ficti... I came across this with the Eleanor lawsuits - https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42233053/shelby-estate-wins-eleanor-ford-mustang-copyright-lawsuit/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42233053/shelby-estate-wi... - and while I believe that that instance Eleanor falls on the "this shouldn't have been copyrightable" (took a bit to get there), the question is "what protects the representation of Darth Vader?" In general it tends to be ignored and tacitly encouraged... but it isn't protected.