"Boycotts and Barflies," a chick-lit, fan fiction novel featuring some famous literary characters, was never intended for publication.

Yet someone literally copied and pasted Ohio writer Victoria Michaels' work of "Twilight"-inspired fan fiction. After some minimal changes, the thief slapped his name on the cover. Michaels said it was published by an independent publishing house.

Despite the blatant plagiarism, getting the publishing house to sign back the copyright to Michaels was an ordeal because "Boycotts and Barflies" was originally "Twilight" fan fiction. In essence, Michaels was aiming to protect property stolen from her, even though that property began as a stolen idea itself.

"I think (the story) was out for purchase from this other person for nine months before someone found it and brought it to my attention," Michaels said. "So it was already out there in the world and again, it was just important to protect it as mine."          

Recent media attention has sparked the debate about copyright issues surrounding fan fiction, stories written by fans that are connected to source material, usually popular genre work. It's gone beyond the fans and creators and evolved to a broader audience.

Amazon.com recently announced it was going to sell fan fiction for at least two established entities, "The Vampire Diaries" and "Gossip Girl."


The company is actively seeking work from fan fiction writers as well.

Fan fiction stories are a subdivision of genre fan culture, connected to the source material from which they are imagined in specific and important ways. Fans on such websites as FanFiction.net, which hosts more than a million stories on the books section, post these "fanfics" or "fics."

For most fans, writing these stories is an expression of love for the work.

"Fan fiction is (about) appreciating the work that they've seen and wondering what would happen if x, y and z (occurred). I mean, it's done by fans who love the original work," said C.J. Morris, a fan fiction writer who specializes in such science fiction shows as "Star Trek" and "Doctor Who."          

Fan fiction has also become a way for aspiring writers to test their skills. It's a simple way to enter a world that has already been set up and populated with fully fleshed-out characters.

"It gives me a bit of practice," Morris said. "I like the fact that people tend to like my work. I like the comments that I get. When I receive a bunch of positive comments, it makes me happy."          

For die-hard fans, fan fiction helps fill the gap between books, movie sequels or television seasons.

Some famous writers like Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") have come to terms with fan fiction writers. Whedon asks that fan fiction writers stay respectful to the world he's created.

"As long as an author can (set boundaries), then at least they have a way to stop it if they're uncomfortable with it," Michaels said.

Not all writers agree with that line of reasoning.

Laura Resnick, who has written several fantasy and romance novels, said fan fiction is on the same level as stealing. It's easy for fans to misconstrue and misrepresent the work they are trying to honor.

"It's like if you came into my house, (told me you) really liked my couch and took it without my permission," Resnick said.

All of this leads up to the tricky case of Michaels, a fan fiction writer whose work was stolen from her.

In order to regain back copyright for her story, Michaels was forced to push for a trial against the publishing house that had printed her work.

"I felt like I needed to protect it because it had already been put out there," she said.

She urges fan fiction writers to be careful about where their work is being viewed.

"I think everyone," she said, "just kind of has to do what's right for them."