fanotifymark

Fanotifymark is a neologism used in online fan culture to denote a distinguishing badge or tag applied to fan-made content to signal its unofficial status and to aid attribution. The term blends elements of “fan” with notions of notification and marking, and it originated in online fan communities in the 2010s, where creators sought a concise way to identify non-official works.

In practice, a fanotifymark can take several forms: a small graphic badge, a text overlay, or a metadata tag included in captions, descriptions, or the file’s header. It is used to mark content as fan-made and to credit the creator, helping audiences distinguish it from official material.

Adoption varies by platform and community. Some artists embed a watermark or badge on images, others place a visible label in titles or descriptions. The approach is informal and governed by community norms rather than a universal standard, with practitioners often tailoring usage to fit the specific fan project or platform.

Relation to licensing and policy: labeling does not change copyright status or licensing terms. It is intended to reduce confusion with official material and to acknowledge contribution, while discussions continue about best practices and platform policies. Fanotifymarks exemplify how labeling practices evolve within fan ecosystems to balance attribution, discoverability, and rights considerations. See also: fan art, watermarking, content labeling, fan fiction.