THE APPLICATION OF THE FAIR USE DOCTRINE IN COSPLAY ACTIVITIES AT FESTIVALS AS A MEANS OF PROMOTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37859/jeq.v11i3.12051
Abstract
Cosplay, which means costume play, is the activity of wearing and portraying fictional characters from anime, manga, or video games. This practice raises legal issues within the copyright regime because it involves the use of protected characters without the permission of the copyright holder. On the other hand, some cosplayer communities believe that this activity falls under the category of fair use because it is generally carried out as a form of creative expression, is free of charge, and is not solely aimed at economic gain. However, the development of the cosplay industry shows the existence of commercial activities, such as costume making services and organizing various festivals, making the line between non-commercial and commercial use increasingly blurred. Meanwhile, for copyright holders, cosplay activities can also provide benefits as an indirect promotional medium for their works. Therefore, a legal study is needed to analyze the position of cosplay practices from a copyright perspective, particularly regarding the application of the principle of fair use under Indonesian copyright law. This study is expected to provide legal certainty that balances copyright protection and space for expression for the cosplay community.
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