Maximilian313
Loreseeker
Hello
Can I make a story on Wattpad based on Exiled Kingdoms?
Can I make a story on Wattpad based on Exiled Kingdoms?
Question for Developer of game
- Thread starter Maximilian313
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Only the Developer (and/or rights holder) can give you permission to use EK property for something that would require a license. However, fanfiction is pretty common as it fall under non-infringing fair use. Fanfiction is so common, Wattpad even has a entire tag devoted to it.
For fanfiction, you're okay so long as you credit the source, aren't selling it, and aren't interfering with official products --- those are key elements of non-infringing fair use. So a written work titled "Frogs kiss better and other strange tales from the Isle of Varannar" that discusses your fictional Main Character tackling the world of the game would be well above the legal, ethics and etiquette lines. In contrast, trying to claim the source material as your own, or engaging in piracy-veiled-as-fanfiction would not be okay.
There's been even a few fanfiction stories posted to the forum.
Lastly, it's not uncommon for Developers to avoid giving permission for fanfiction as that can be twisted into them giving licensing rights. So a common practice is to not give permission to a fanfiction author. The author doesn't need permission, the developer isn't hurt by fanfiction, and possible misunderstandings about what was permitted are skipped altogether.
See Wattpad terms and conditions for further information.
For fanfiction, you're okay so long as you credit the source, aren't selling it, and aren't interfering with official products --- those are key elements of non-infringing fair use. So a written work titled "Frogs kiss better and other strange tales from the Isle of Varannar" that discusses your fictional Main Character tackling the world of the game would be well above the legal, ethics and etiquette lines. In contrast, trying to claim the source material as your own, or engaging in piracy-veiled-as-fanfiction would not be okay.
There's been even a few fanfiction stories posted to the forum.
Lastly, it's not uncommon for Developers to avoid giving permission for fanfiction as that can be twisted into them giving licensing rights. So a common practice is to not give permission to a fanfiction author. The author doesn't need permission, the developer isn't hurt by fanfiction, and possible misunderstandings about what was permitted are skipped altogether.
See Wattpad terms and conditions for further information.
Maximilian313
Loreseeker
OK, thx!
Maximilian313
Loreseeker
And what type of copyright can I use? I mean Creative Commons Attribution or what? I am asking since I don't want to have trouble later
Anonymous Crusader
Member
Drop the link when you're done, would want to see it.
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@Maximilian313 --- You would NOT be under a Creative Commons Attribution. That would allow commercialization of your work and the source material, which is not the case. You can't give permission for people to use EK's works.
You would be writing under the doctrine of Fair Use. While copyright laws vary between countries, WattPad defers to US copyright law. That makes this the governing law. But before we get into an overly detailed discussion of copyright law, here's the short part:
Fanfiction is legal, and allowed so long as it's non-infringing, not claiming to be the creator of the source material, and not being sold. Note, David the Developer even chimed in above with that exact standard. Disney and Starwars have some curious things to say about Fanfiction but those aren't controlling case law so long as the aforementioned requirements are met.
So it's not a case of you having a copyright over EK material (you don't), so much as it's a fair use matter where you don't permission (again, so long the conditions you meet).
As for your own unique creative work, you don't need to have a formal copyright registration. All written works are protected as soon as they are written. Just image if people needed to file for a formal registration for every written work.
So best advice. Read WattPad's terms and conditions on submitting fanfiction. Those can be found here. Notice, that WattPad respect the rights of copyright holders to issue take-down notices.
So, less stress about copyright, and more stress on actually writing.
You would be writing under the doctrine of Fair Use. While copyright laws vary between countries, WattPad defers to US copyright law. That makes this the governing law. But before we get into an overly detailed discussion of copyright law, here's the short part:
Fanfiction is legal, and allowed so long as it's non-infringing, not claiming to be the creator of the source material, and not being sold. Note, David the Developer even chimed in above with that exact standard. Disney and Starwars have some curious things to say about Fanfiction but those aren't controlling case law so long as the aforementioned requirements are met.
So it's not a case of you having a copyright over EK material (you don't), so much as it's a fair use matter where you don't permission (again, so long the conditions you meet).
As for your own unique creative work, you don't need to have a formal copyright registration. All written works are protected as soon as they are written. Just image if people needed to file for a formal registration for every written work.
So best advice. Read WattPad's terms and conditions on submitting fanfiction. Those can be found here. Notice, that WattPad respect the rights of copyright holders to issue take-down notices.
So, less stress about copyright, and more stress on actually writing.
Maximilian313
Loreseeker
I meant what should I select at the copyright select window...
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That sounds like a great question for Wattpad staff.
A review of Wattpad's various content guidelines comes across this bit:
"In copyright, there is a difference between “fanfiction” and an “adaptation”. Fanfiction is the use of existing characters or settings (For example, Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood) in an original story."
Thus it ---seems-- you would post a EK fanfiction as an original work, just under the Fanfiction label with clear disclosure it's a fanfiction. Beyond that, you would have to seek Wattpad guidance on how to navigate its website.
Note, I clearly can't speak on behalf of Wattpadd, or Exiled Kingdoms, or The United Federation of Nerds. Heck, half the time I can't speak on behalf of myself.... So as always, take random statements on random forums with a grain of salt.
I'm not trying to punt your question so much as acknowledge you've drifted into questions that are best answered by a third party.
A review of Wattpad's various content guidelines comes across this bit:
"In copyright, there is a difference between “fanfiction” and an “adaptation”. Fanfiction is the use of existing characters or settings (For example, Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood) in an original story."
Thus it ---seems-- you would post a EK fanfiction as an original work, just under the Fanfiction label with clear disclosure it's a fanfiction. Beyond that, you would have to seek Wattpad guidance on how to navigate its website.
Note, I clearly can't speak on behalf of Wattpadd, or Exiled Kingdoms, or The United Federation of Nerds. Heck, half the time I can't speak on behalf of myself.... So as always, take random statements on random forums with a grain of salt.
I'm not trying to punt your question so much as acknowledge you've drifted into questions that are best answered by a third party.
Maximilian313
Loreseeker
So... I put it as "All Rights Reserved"?