Fiction and Fanfiction. Big Difference? I don't think so!

Disclaimer: Again, this is just a personal opinion from someone who has linger too much in www.fanfiction.net (mindless advertising)

This has been a number of discussion, really. Can fanfictions be considered similairly to a fiction? In reality, both do have authors with abundant imagination to spare and both work are a form of literature. But what is, exactly, the difference between fiction and fanfiction? (Yeah, random ramblings)

Lets try to define 'fiction' first. What is fiction? A fiction is a story invented through the imagination of mankind about reality, or a totally different universe. Then what is 'fanfiction'? Fanfiction is a story invented through the imagination of mandkind about reality, or a totally different universe in an existing work of literature. Sounds similair? Familiar? Re-read it again and see.
Writters out there, there is almost no difference between a 'fiction' and a 'fanfiction'! Sure, fanfiction could be illegal at some point, but SOME fanfiction (specifically Star Wars and its Expanded Universe) were legal. The difference between the two work of literature falls to its originality, where a fanfiction is based on an existing work, group, or event.

For example, a fanfiction about America's 911 is even possible (such controversies...there's bounds of ideas to be harvested by our hungry mind from that scoop)! Or, a different ending for Harry Potter where in the end, Harry DIES and Hermione-not Ginny-Hermione marries Harry and went mad after knowing Harry's death and eventually attempted suicide-and succeeds. Wouldn't that be nice? The not the oh-so-lovey-dovey endings we get from mainstray fictions!
How about soccer players? Oh, that's possible too! A friend of mine (now abroad) used to wrote fanfictions about soccer players and their...'activities' beyong 'games'. Interested? Don't ask me of the details...

A fiction, came from the pure mind of an author. Settings from scratch, characters from scratch, and-not to forget, plot from scratch. What about fanfiction? Fanfiction came from the pure mind of a fan-turned author. Settings 'borrowed' from an existing fictional/reality universe, characters 'borrowed' from an existing fictional/reality universe and/or add some of his/her own originals, and plot could follow up from the original story line.

So, not pleased with the grand ending of a book? Unpleased with the lack of plot development to a character? Felt like there's a crevace between the action and the conclusion? You think you know how to fill that gap? Then do so! Their story, their characters, YOUR plot. Fanfictions-unleash your imagination! (Quoted from Fanfiction.net)