I Feel Like Starting An Argument: Writing a fanfiction based on ANY story you've ever read is perfectly fine***

[MediocreAuthor]

good thing you're trying your material out of town

The number of times I've posted something that nobody except me got, or found funny, has made me completely immune to the upset responses. But what I don't do, is plug away at threads that I started trying to explain why they're funny

The thing is, plagiarism is taken much more seriously by some authors than others. You can see that from the responses. Personally I don't give a shit about my stories being plagiarised (it's happened to me on here before), but that's just me being all ultra open-source about my stuff

I don't consider writing sequels while crediting the original creator "plagiarism".

Fanfiction≠Plagiarism, regardless of how big or small the IP you're adding to is

 

[Plathfan]

I find it hard to believe that people are so passionate about the copyrights of the deceased (whose relatives likely knew nothing about their erotic fiction hobby). Since there's no money involved and the creditors are essentially paying tribute, I can't help but conclude that it's the notion of crediting---admitting you're not entirely original---that bothers them so much.

 

[AlinaX]

I'm sure I left a comment on one of my stories saying it was CC BY-NC-SA or similar, but I can't find that comment now. I found other comments telling people to write the sequels they wanted to, lol.

I'm not on Lit to make money. (Money shots, maybe.) I'm writing to soothe an obsession and to entertain others. I don't have a problem really with other people adding stories to universes I create - I'm probably more bothered by people getting physics wrong than people getting my characters wrong.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I have posted this on my profile, which should absolutely not be necessary, but whatever. I'm posting it here, too, because I'm not entirely sure anyone who would assume lack of response implies permission can be trusted to do their due diligence in seeking said permission.

To @MediocreAuthor specifically, and everyone else generally, permission is NOT given to use the characters in my stories in any of their own works, nor to create any derivative works, sequels, spin-offs, etc., involving those characters, regardless of whether or not I reply individually and/or directly to any attempts to contact me seeking an exception to my stated position regarding the rights to my copyrighted materials. This really should go without saying, but here we are.

You'll have to wait about 7.5 decades after I'm dead, although my heirs (if any) will control the copyright following my demise, and they may well not feel very proprietary about my work, so you're certainly free to contact them regarding licensing or whatever. As a courtesy, I'll try to remember to let the board know before I shuffle off.

And your wishes will be honored (by me at least).

I've written fan works based in another small-time author's universe, and I absolutely got permission first, even though I never used any of the original characters.

I am opposed to using people's IP against their will, but I'm also not going to assume that a dead author wants me to stay away from their work.

 

[Bamagan]

And your wishes will be honored (by me at least).

I've written fan works based in another small-time author's universe, and I absolutely got permission first, even though I never used any of the original characters.

I am opposed to using people's IP against their will, but I'm also not going to assume that a dead author wants me to stay away from their work.

That's a pretty feeble defense for the behavior for any author you have corresponded with and haven't discussed the matter directly (especially since the more common perspective, supported by the law, is that permission must be explicitly granted rather than implicitly assumed). It's no defense at all for an author you've never had contact with, and who therefore never had the opportunity to express their views to you. Grave goods are not abandoned property (no matter how good the classic Indiana Jones movies were).

 

[KeithD]

That's a pretty feeble defense for the behavior for any author you have corresponded with and haven't discussed the matter directly (especially since the more common perspective, supported by the law, is that permission must be explicitly granted rather than implicitly assumed). It's no defense at all for an author you've never had contact with, and who therefore never had the opportunity to express their views to you. Grave goods are not abandoned property (no matter how good the classic Indiana Jones movies were).

Yep, this. To believe otherwise is morally/ethically sleazy and self-absorbed.

I probably wouldn't notice if someone snatched onto my work like this and, considering this is a free-use site I've given stories to for free, I wouldn't bother following up on it, but it's shoddy behavior nonetheless.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Wait, I figured it out! This whole thread is just a new non-con scenario for you?!

You take our characters against our will and we fight and complain but you keep doing it to us, on and on... and then we end up liking it just a bit, and voila! The story is done.
Just make sure we end up enjoying it. That part is totally important.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Exhaustive list of people hurt when you write a fanfic based on a dead author's story which credits the original author for their work:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Asking first (like I did) is absolutely necessary, and if the author had ignored me or told me no, I would have refrained from writing.

But the idea that there's some moral high ground behind not writing because an author might have been upset is silly, IMHO.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Wait, I figured it out! This whole thread is just a new non-con scenario for you?!

You take our characters against our will and we fight and complain but you keep doing it to us, on and on... and then we end up liking it just a bit, and voila! The story is done.
Just make sure we end up enjoying it. That part is totally important.

You got me! Fuck, I'm so hot and bothered right now

I'm trying to accomplish that last part, but you guys are making it very difficult.

 

[StillStunned]

I feel that there's a story here waiting to be written. One writer murders another just to be able to write fanfic in their universe.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Yep, this. To believe otherwise is morally/ethically sleazy and self-absorbed.

I probably wouldn't notice if someone snatched onto my work like this and, considering this is a free-use site I've given stories to for free, I wouldn't bother following up on it, but it's shoddy behavior nonetheless.

Simondoom refused to address normal fanfiction of massive properties, but do you hate that too?

He draws an arbitrary line, (which I personally think is a little hypocritical, no offense). I was wondering if you do the same

 

[Bamagan]

I feel that there's a story here waiting to be written. One writer murders another just to be able to write fanfic in their universe.

But wait, there's a twist. The murdered author ghostwrites a sequel that exposes the culprit Hamlet-style.
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

 

[M_K_Babalon]

TBF, trespassing is not a criminal offence in the UK. It's a civil matter. That's why prosecutors try to look for any sort of damage or disruption to the property in an attempt to charge the trespassers.

Yes, I'm being pedantic. This has nothing to do with my opinions on fanfic, it's just a fun fact.

It can be a criminal offense here in the US, but it depends on the situation and probably varies by state.

 

[SimonDoom]

Exhaustive list of people hurt when you write a fanfic based on a dead author's story which credits the original author for their work:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Asking first (like I did) is absolutely necessary, and if the author had ignored me or told me no, I would have refrained from writing.

But the idea that there's some moral high ground behind not writing because an author might have been upset is silly, IMHO.

You can't assume this. The descendants of an esteemed author might well be deeply offended if you were to write an erotic story based on that author's work. The fact that you credit Anne Rice for the inspiration for your story "Lestat Gets DPed" won't necessarily mollify her descendants' negative feelings about your treatment of Rice's work.

The key point is you are making a ton of assumptions you have no basis for making and the responses by other authors in this thread, and elsewhere, ought to be a clue to you that many other authors think very differently on this subject, and a basic sense of courtesy toward your fellow authors ought to influence your thinking. You seem determined not to take that into account.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

You got me! Fuck, I'm so hot and bothered right now

I'm trying to accomplish that last part, but you guys are making it very difficult.

Yeah, these fuckers aren't struggling nearly enough for your standards...
I don't know, maybe pull out the big guns? Tell them how you are taking the characters to save them from their sucky writing, that they are better off with you? I mean, Simon's characters, for example, surely deserve better?

 

[MediocreAuthor]

You can't assume this. The descendants of an esteemed author might well be deeply offended if you were to write an erotic story based on that author's work. The fact that you credit Anne Rice for the inspiration for your story "Lestat Gets DPed" won't necessarily mollify her descendants' negative feelings about your treatment of Rice's work.

The key point is you are making a ton of assumptions you have no basis for making and the responses by other authors in this thread, and elsewhere, ought to be a clue to you that many other authors think very differently on this subject, and a basic sense of courtesy toward your fellow authors ought to influence your thinking. You seem determined not to take that into account.

That whole scenario sounds absurd to me

(Sorry, I accidentally bumped the post button too early)

 

[AlinaX]

Meh. Legality and commercialisation aside, why are the feelings of authors' relatives at all relevant?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Meh. Legality and commercialisation aside, why are the feelings of authors' relatives at all relevant?

Well, duh. You inherit the imagination, the creativity, and of course, the caring for the characters.

 

[KeithD]

Simondoom refused to address normal fanfiction of massive properties, but do you hate that too?

He draws an arbitrary line, (which I personally think is a little hypocritical, no offense). I was wondering if you do the same

I have no idea what the issue you raise is, nor do I really care what you think about it. The industry is quite clear on this issue--legally, morally, ethically.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

My take is - the story pool is far, far from dry. You want to write, write your own damn stuff. Don't be lazy.

That being said, I don't mind anyone spinning off my works (in fact I'm flattered) as long as (a.) I am given very clear credit upfront and its understood I didn't do this and it really doesn't have anything to do with my ultimate storyline(s.) (just because you killed off one of my characters doesn't mean I did) and (b.) any money gained is at least partially shared, no freeloading.

You want to drastically change something fine. I might read it, shake my head and chuckle.

Personally, I'm not a fan of fanfic. Much prefer original work. I only have so much time left on earth and a ridiculous amount of books to read. Don't have time for that nonsense. Same with writing; why on earth would I waste precious time writing someone else's stuff when I got plenty of my own stuff to finish?

Most fanfiction is still original work for the most part, just using anothers property to some degree. It's not nonsense, there are good and great writers who do it, it's not all 50 Shades or Twilight(both rewritten fanfiction).

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I have no idea what the issue you raise is, nor do I really care what you think about it. The industry is quite clear on this issue--legally, morally, ethically.

Because the industry sets ethical standards? Woah. Yeah, we'll just never agree on that. No sweat

 

[KeithD]

But the idea that there's some moral high ground behind not writing because an author might have been upset is silly, IMHO.

That's just because you are being willfully ignorant of both copyright law and ethics. There's nothing silly about it. It's the law/norm.

I think your fifteen minutes are up on this. Are you actually going to put this into action or just blowing smoke?

It's sort of a waste of time, I think, to continue beating this horse. I probably wouldn't catch you doing this with me in a Literotica story, but if I did and wanted to, I'll bet one message to Laurel and your story would be gone. Want to think otherwise?

 

[Bamagan]

I think your fifteen minutes are up on this. Are you actually going to put this into action or just blowing smoke?

If she steals/borrows/is loaned one of @Bazzle's characters, she can do both.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I had a weird, 'hippie' co-worker who used to trout fish on farmer's properties wearing wading boots. When the landowner, inevitably came out to tell him to leave, my co-worker would quote the Pa. law that if you're standing only in the stream, it's not trespassing. I never checked to see that was true, but the few times that farmers came out to chase us off their land(teen-age boys), he was usually carrying a shotgun. In my book, (shotgun) > (quoting obscure laws).

It is true, but it might depend on the watersource. I was watching something on tresspassing last week. A stream running through private property is not owned by the property owner and is a public thoroughfare as long as they don't step on the shore depending on the shore.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

That's just because you are being willfully ignorant of both copyright law and ethics. There's nothing silly about it. It's the law/norm.

I think your fifteen minutes are up on this. Are you actually going to put this into action or just blowing smoke?

Put it to action? I've obviously said I was kidding about making a story using other's characters.

Look, I have a question for you. Do you follow the letter of the law in everything you do? Do you ever drive even a little bit over the speed limit? Do you let the government dictate your morals and ethics?

Just curious