I've thought about it and I'm still not sure what my views are on the subject. While I get what you're saying, I can't help thinking that some "professional" fanfic can be good if it gets readers to check out the original source material. Of course, as you say, professional writers could write such works for free, but I very much doubt that their agents or publishers would approve. *g* I do completely agree with you that fans writing fanfic for pleasure rather than profit shouldn't be given such a hard time. I can never understand it when professional writers announce that no fanfic should be written based on their works. If anything, professional writers should encourage fanfic because it could potentially lead to more readers (through simple word of mouth) and can only increase the author's popularity.

I agree with rusty_armour. IMO professional writers/producers of books, tv & movies should all encourage fanfic, because as rusty said, it increases the popularity and drives up sales of their merchandise. Those authors who ban or belittle fanfic, (or fanart for that matter) only hurt themselves in the long run.

Exactly! LOL