Blanket permissions ...

[wyntir_knight]

... Okay, second attempt at writing this. The first one came across as a total pity party and I am moving away from all that this year. I will stop comparing myself to other writers and stop letting comments (or lack thereof) define my self-worth as a writer.

So, onto the topic at hand: I was reading through the Snowflake Challenge replies and general comments and I came across something I had never thought of before. One of the Admins (Akamine_Chan) commented on the idea of blanket permissions in Fandom and the need for us to provide them.

See, we may find ourselves in a situation where a fellow fan will want to base a piece of art on a fanfic, or will want to create a podfic. Some may even want to play in our little corner of the sandbox. So you (as the fan in question) send an email to the creator and maybe you get an email back, maybe you don't. Maybe they say yes, then take offense that you wrote slash when they hate slash ... you get the idea. If the original creator had a blanket permission set up then you know what they will and won't allow and you don't need to worry about it.

I thought that this was generally a good idea, and then I started really thinking about it. And that's when I asked myself, 'Why?'. I write Transformers and TMNT fanfiction, but I have never once sent a letter to Bob Budianski or Kevin Eastman asking for permission. I just write the fic I want to write and post it. I play in their sandbox and don't really care that I didn't ask permission first. After all, it's not like they specifically told me I couldn't (like George R.R. Martin did). And yet, I would never consider writing a Crackalackalicious fic without Ladydragon76's permission, even through I have this vague idea for a TFs as human fic and playing in her sandbox would be easier than building my own. So why is that? Why do we show this kind of respect to our fellow transformative artists and not to the original creators?

Anyway, that was my rambling and I never came up with a proper answer. Instead I have decided that the idea of a blanket permission is a good idea and I should probably think on what I will and won't allow. ... Even though there is a small voice in the back of my mind telling me that this is presumptuous of me and that no one would ever want to do anything with any of my works. I know that that's not the case and I need to find a proper ball gag for that little voice in the back of my mind.

I'm also going to have to put together a sticky post list of my works so that they're easier to track. And while I'm at it, fix the tag system. ... Oh, also, feel free to comment on the ramblings. I'm always happy to hear other points of view and curious if any of you have (or have considered) putting together a Terms of Service/Blanket Permission and why or why not.

Comments

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Ya know... I think you hit on something here, and I think I have an answer. At least for myself.

I can write in a published author's playground without their permission because they are not my peer. They are an untouchable, unknowable source. Other fic writers, other fan artists, other fanwork creators, these people are my peers. I CAN speak to you human to human, not fan to original source. We are equals in a way that none of us will be to George R.R. Martin.

Not that he or any published author is so far above us, or better than us as living beings, or anything. They're just not our peers. Fandom exists as something of a community, and we're not terribly well respected by the outside world. Some few artists or writers are, but as a whole, with all our drama and insanity and friendships with people we'd never have found otherwise, I think it creates a natural sort of respect and boundary.

I've asked artists if it would be ok to write a story based off their art. I've asked other authors for permission to use unique elements from their stories in my own. I've credited them for that even in the couple cases where contact wasn't possible for whatever reason. I do that from respect for a fellow creator, and can't imagine say... writing bitty transformers without asking for Bibliotecaria-d's permission first. As a fellow writer, and one whose ideas I hold in high enough esteem to want to play with, I could never imagine violating that boundary without making sure Biblio would be ok with it first.

You've also brought up a reason for me to actually make a blanket statement. I've long said yes to those that DO want to draw art for any of my stories. Gods, please yes! Just link me, is my only request. PLEASE link me and let me squee over what I somehow managed to inspire you to create, you deserve it!

Guest writers, particularly in Cracka since people actually have written for that one, same thing. By all means, go for it, just link me, and in your posts, please link back to my story since it's the basis of yours.

But I actually ground to a halt when I got to the notion of podfic. All I can think of is that guy on tumblr that everyone loves (who is talented no doubt, I'm not trying to bash on him at all), but something about some of the stuff he does makes me just cringe and nope right out of there. I don't want my fics read aloud or recorded. I don't want others trying to do voices or place inflection on my stuff. I don't want someone giving voice to my creation and cementing THEIR interpretation of a line in the minds of others that may have read that line differently, that I MEANT differently. I can't explain beyond that why, so I'll need to dig into my own psyche about it, but the mere thought makes me want to horde my stories close and hiss or scream NOOOOO!! I mean there's the logical, they might read the tone wrong and change the entire story to something I didn't intend for more than just themselves, but there's something visceral and primal there clawing at my gut and the idea horrifies me.

I never considered a Blanket Statement because I never thought anyone would WANT to podfic a story of mine. But then again, I NEVER imagined people wanting to guest write in Cracka or be inspired to draw scenes from it or other stories either.

tl;dr - I'ma go make me a blanket statement.

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

Peers. Yes, that covers it beautifully. Thank you for coming up with the word that was eluding me there :)

As for the rest, I tend to feel the same way towards it all as you do, as long as I'm provided with a copy and/or linked I'm fine ... though I once had someone ask to translate a fic of mine into Chinese and the link was great save for the fact that I couldn't read a word of what was written and Google Translate back then was pretty sad. Even sadder than today.

I can honestly say though, I never put any thought into podfics or remixes until I read your post on the subject. Gotta say, remixes just strike me a bizarre. I mean, really seriously bizarre. And podfics ... I really see your point there. I have a certain "voice" in my mind when I write. I know how each of my characters sound in any given situation and it would be very easy for someone to completely change the tone of a story just by providing the wrong "voice" to a situation.

And I seriously need to consider doing a blanket statement, even if that little voice is accusing me of being a total egoist to even think that I'd need it.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Ooo! Congrats on the translation thing! That's kind of freaking cool when that happens! And it's another one I didn't even think about, but should maybe go on the Permissions. It's been a while, but I think it was The Last that was translated? And she did link back to my original post and link me as requested, but yeah, I couldn't read a lick of it in Chinese. Hehehe.

And, yeah. I definitely feel a little funny, even after discussing it all day and thinking about it. Though one of the most ridiculous things happens to the artists I know. They get this 'well I didn't know I couldn't use your art for my own reasons. why didn't you say so?!' So while as writers we don't as often face that issue, if we stick our wishes out there, no one can say we didn't tell them.

Besides, I bet you never expected someone to want to translate your story into a different language. ^_^ Someone really might want to play in your sandbox someday. Not that we owe them a post instead of making them ask or fore-go that playing, but I figure it's a handy solution for me.

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, the "I didn't know" defense. I am just blown away at how many people seem to think that because it's up on the 'Net it's public domain and fair game. Sadly that seems to be starting to be a fear among writers too. So far I haven't really heard of much fanfiction plagiarism going on, but I know that there was a big concern on the NaNoWriMo boards this year of posting original fiction and having it plagiarized.

The blanket statement really is a good idea all around. True, it isn't legally binding (at least not in Canada), but it's a start at least.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Each year with NaNo seems to bring worry about plagiarism. I'm sure it's valid, but then that's why I'd never post something original online until I had some record of proof that it's really mine.

I'm sure nothing in fanfiction is legally binding unless it comes from the license holders, but most fanwork sites do take claims of plagiarism seriously.

That 'I didn't know' defense was used twice by two different people that were posting the Twin's art last year on Tumblr. The one little shit got REALLY aggressive and defensive with me too, for reblogging her post with the links to LB82. Apparently the fact that I and LB82 were offended that she was stealing LB82's art offended her and we shouldn't have been so rude in telling her that stealing is bad.

Yeah... I DO think this Blanket Statement thing might be a really good idea. And I saw yours + Master List. Nice work! :D

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

Pity that LB82 ran into problems, and the aggressive response sadly does not surprise me. Entitlement knows no bounds.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

That* exactly.

[ultharkitty.livejournal.com]

That post got me thinking too, although I've done nothing about it because every time I start thinking about it, it rains brainweasels.

It's a really interesting point you raise. LD76's suggestion seems right to me, I wouldn't think twice about enjoying playing with characters a professional has been paid to create, but I wouldn't use a fan's OC or setting etc without asking first. That said I wouldn't expect to be asked. I've had people riff on my stuff without asking, and I was ridiculously flattered (still am, to be honest). I know not everyone would feel that way though, so I'd want to err on the side of caution before doing it myself.

Not sure about podfic. I can be weird about audio stuff, although I don't think I'd want to stop anyone if they did want to do a recording, especially if they wanted to do it for people who couldn't access text so well (not that I'm supposing there would be any interest in my stuff, but stranger things have happened). I probably wouldn't be able to listen to it myself though.

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, OCs are pretty much sacrosanct. We're borrowing everyone else, but the OCs are our babies and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't want anyone playing with the few babies I have.

Podfics ... yeah, as I said to LD76 above, I'm really not sure I'd want anyone proving their interpretive spin on my work vocally. It just has so much potential to really change everything ... though, yeah, reading it for those who can't read it? Yeah, that's different.