[Helianthus16]

when you accept that the LOTR movies are just fanfics we've spent millions on, you'll understand why we need more fanfics.

[griftah]

Do we really need to blur difference between art and fanfics even more then?

[gwern]

Yes. Fanfiction is an artificial term imposed on us by our current IP regime. It is not a natural kind and simply refers to normal literary practices that run afoul of current laws. Why isn't Shakespeare's _Othello_ fanfiction of Cinthio's short story? Because there was no copyright to run afoul of, and so it was 'only' a retelling or adaptation.