The Rise of Fan Activities and the Tension with Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment

Abstract

As this research is aimed at solving the problem of fan creations in China, it is necessary to first have a deeper understanding of fans and their behavior in the digital era, the opportunities and challenges thereof. For that purpose, the historical and functional aspects of the fan movement and the interconnections between them, and the major changes to the legal system brought by the Internet and digital technologies are examined. Studying these topics allows us to have a clear understanding of the true cause behind the copyright problems of fan creations.