Purpose: The purpose of this work is to describe the nature of copyright can be applied in the context of cosplay activities and the challenges and obstacles faced by cosplayers in understanding and respecting copyright and brands in cosplay practice.
Theoretical framework: Cosplay is an adaptation of creation, where the process of making cosplay costumes and accessories is carried out by changing the form of a sketch design/drawing of a costume or character design into a costume that can be used in real life. Copyright regulates provisions regarding legal protection for adaptations of works.
Design/methodology/data analysis: The research methods used in this article are analytical and descriptive approaches. Data is collected through literature studies that include articles, journals, books, and other reliable sources. The data is then analysed and interpreted to identify challenges and barriers in understanding copyright in cosplay, as well as to conduct legal comparisons between different countries.
Findings: Copyright protection is important in cosplay, with the potential for infringement if using character and brand works without permission. Cosplayers need to understand boundaries and communicate with the original owner to avoid violations. Cosplayers face challenges in understanding and respecting copyright and brands, including limited legal understanding and difficulty obtaining official permission. It is important for them to continue to deepen understanding and communicate with the original owner to avoid violations.
Originality/value: This article focuses on character copyright protection in Cosplay, where it is necessary to clearly regulate whether cosplay violates copyright or does not violate copyright.
Practical implications: Cosplay creators need to understand well the copyright regulations in a country, to know whether their actions violate copyright or not. Law enforcers need to understand and re-examine whether the act of cosplay violates the economic rights of the creator or not.