Hello,

So I'm compiling a book.

A lot of it documents my journey with Command and Conquer, both modding, and writing fan fiction.

How does copyright work in my situation?

It seems a bit grey from all the research I've done, it seems to boil down to:

1. fair use
2. derivative

1 is ok, but 2 is not?

How do I know what's what.

It would depend on specifics. Any specific text you would copy is protected for the original author. Many unique elements and distinctive, identifiable elements are protected as derived from the earlier work.

Fair use means that it is legally protected but you have a specific exemption that allows you to use it. The law provides a short list of fair use exceptions and they are often misused. If you think a specific fair use protection applies, do some research to understand it. Fair use is also an affirmative defense; you are declaring you knew it was not allowed generally and you have a specific exception. If a judge disagrees with the exception, you can't really deny it is infringing.

Derivative works depend on a bunch of factors including some that are entirely interpreted by the court. This includes the overall interpretation of the works.

This all presupposes it is challenged. Can you afford to defend yourself in a lawsuit?

The general advice is to avoid any copying unless you have a lawyer review it and declare it is safe. If you can't afford a legal review, then you definitely can't afford a lawsuit.

GeneralJist said:
A lot of it documents my journey with Command and Conquer, both modding, and writing fan fiction. How does copyright work in my situation?

So how much of that game are you quoting verbatim in your text? (It's assumed that that's what you're asking about.)

hmm

I'm not quoting anything verbatim per say.

I'm using some of the characters and situations in new ways.

GeneralJist said:
I'm using some of the characters and situations in new ways.

In your book? You're putting fan fiction directly into your book about your journey?

I can take it out if needed.

But, it's a compendium of my life's story and work.

Fanfiction for C&C was where I started 10+ years ago.

After that, I transitioned into modding stayed there for a bit, and finally went indie.

found a tool that lets you download directly from fanfiction.net, which is where it lived for a while.

I'm copy pasting all the written work I've done together.

Some may call this vain, but I see it as tracking my journey as a writer.

Fan fiction is copyright infringement. Some authors and publishers let fans get away with it, and that's their choice. But it is still technically infringement.

If you publish fan fiction, you'll be liable for damages.

my journey as a writer.

How many people have read your story?
What was their feedback?

If you want to publish a book, you need to know your market first.
In my neighborhood they built a mall. ‘If you build it, they will come'. Let's just say that was a 2 billion write off.