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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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 03:38 (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 03:55 (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 15:15 (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 19:28 (UTC)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
no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 20:00 (UTC)no subject
Date: 8 Jan 2014 20:01 (UTC)