9 Answers
I’ll be upfront: the safe path is to assume you don’t automatically have the right to use someone else’s title or characters in your stories. Platforms like Archive of Our Own or FanFiction.net have community rules and often remove works if a rights holder files a DMCA or complaint. Using the phrase 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' as a title probably isn’t an issue by itself, but if that phrase ties directly to copyrighted dialogue or a unique story world, then you’re back in derivative territory.
Also watch out for real people: writing fanfiction about living celebrities can trigger right-of-publicity or defamation concerns. If your goal is to share and play with a fandom, keep it non-commercial, clearly label fan-created content, and don’t lift chunks of original prose or lyrics. That keeps the likelihood of trouble low and lets you focus on the fun parts of storytelling.
Short version: it's complicated. If 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' is a copyrighted work, using it directly in fanfiction without permission can be a copyright violation. However, if your work is deeply transformative — changing the purpose, adding new meaning, and not harming the market for the original — you might be leaning toward fair use, at least in U.S. law. Avoid wholesale copying of text, especially lyrics or unique character dialogue, and be careful about monetizing fanfiction. I usually play it safe and treat fanfic as a gift to the community, not a way to profit.
Think of this like borrowing someone’s recipe: you can tweak it and make it your own, but copying their cookbook line-for-line and selling cupcakes with their brand is risky. If 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' is a protected work, fanfiction that simply explores new scenes, ships characters differently, or adds original backstory is commonly tolerated. Straight transcription, large quotations, or republishing the original text is not.
A few practical tactics I use: label the work clearly as fan-created, add a disclaimer that you don’t own the original IP, avoid direct quotes over a few lines (song lyrics are especially sensitive), and steer clear of commercial uses. If you’re ever planning to make money off the story, that’s when you should contact the rights holder or pivot to wholly original material or public-domain sources. In my experience, respecting those boundaries keeps the community space friendly and less likely to attract legal heat.
I like to break this down step-by-step in my head: identify the source material, determine what you want to use, check the rights situation, and consider the platform. If the piece 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' is by an indie author who said ‘‘do what you want,’’ then it's straightforward. If it belongs to a large publisher or music label, then you're in formal copyright territory. Lyrics and musical compositions are particularly protected; quoting them often requires permission.
Beyond legalities, there's etiquette: tagging spoilers, crediting the original, and noting whether the work is an original spin or a direct sequel. If I plan to publish publicly, I read platform terms and sometimes reach out to the rights holder if I'm unsure. That extra step is annoying but sometimes opens doors — I've once gotten a courteous 'fine with fanworks' reply and it made my day. Overall, I lean toward respectful creativity rather than risky appropriation.
Short and useful: you can usually write fanfiction inspired by something like 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' without immediate legal consequences if it stays non-commercial and transformative. Problems crop up if you copy the original text, use trademarked branding to sell, or write about real people without consent.
Community archives often take down stories after a claim, so be mindful of platform rules and avoid inserting long excerpts or full songs. If you want zero risk, create your own world with elements that echo the original — that’s what I do when I want freedom to publish or even print little zines for friends.
I get why this question trips people up — copyright law and fandom etiquette are both messy and emotional. If 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' is an actual published story, song, game, or show, then technically it's protected by copyright and you don't automatically have the legal right to republish, adapt, or monetize it. In practice, many fan communities rely on fair use-like arguments: if you transform the original significantly, add original voice or plot, and don't sell the work, you reduce the risk. That said, fair use is a case-by-case defense, not a right, and only courts can decide it.
If it's just a line or premise, short phrases often aren't copyrighted, but lyrics, unique characters, and detailed plots can be. Platforms like Archive of Our Own or FanFiction.net have their own rules and will remove content if rights holders complain. My personal rule of thumb is to credit the original, avoid reproducing large chunks of text or music, and never try to sell a fanfic without explicit permission. Doing that keeps the community thriving and keeps me sleeping well at night.
I get asked this a lot on fan forums, and here’s how I usually explain it in plain terms.
Fanfiction lives in a weird legal gray area. If you’re writing a piece that uses characters, settings, or a title like 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' (assuming that's a copyrighted work), technically you’re creating a derivative work — and only the copyright holder has an exclusive right to create or authorize derivatives. In practice, most creators and companies tolerate non-commercial fanfiction so long as it doesn’t copy the original text verbatim, monetize the story, or harm the IP’s reputation. That tolerance can evaporate fast if a rights holder issues a cease-and-desist.
So my practical rule: keep it transformative, avoid long quotes or song lyrics, don’t sell it, and respect platform rules. If you want to publish commercially, get permission or create original characters inspired by the universe instead. Personally, I prefer fanfiction that reimagines scenes or explores untold corners of a story — it feels safer legally and way more creative.
Sometimes I treat questions like this like a checklist while scribbling in the margins of my notebook: what exactly am I using from 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here'? Is it a character, a song lyric, or just an inspired premise? If I'm borrowing a character or quoting more than a couple lines, I know I'm in risky territory without permission. If it's only the vibe or a very short quote, many creators tolerate it, especially if my story is clearly transformative and non-commercial.
I've also learned to scan the rights-holder's online statements — some creators are super chill and explicitly encourage fanworks, while others explicitly forbid them. If a company owns the IP, they can issue a takedown under DMCA rules, so hosting on sites that respect takedowns is safer. Personally, I try to be respectful: disclaim the original, avoid reproducing long lyrics or scenes, and never try to sell the piece. Keeps the fans happy and the creators respected, which feels right to me.
If I'm feeling more playful and less technical, I'd say: riffing off 'You're Not Supposed to Be Here' in a fanfic is fine when you make it yours — remix, twist, add new perspectives — but not when you just copy whole scenes or sell it. Community norms matter: some creators love fanfic, others don't, so I check their stance. Transformation is the golden ticket: change the point of view, swap genres, or explore an untold corner of the world.
I also avoid using precise lyrics or verbatim long passages, because those tend to draw copyright heat faster than original scenes. At the end of the day, I write because I love the characters and the universe, and I try to keep my work respectful and fun for others to read, which feels like the right balance.