living in denial

[lagilman]

So, the results of my stance on the "fanfiction: pro or con" panel at Lunacon, and the resulting article in the NJ Star Ledger are beginning to bear fuit. Bitter fruit, at that -- have started getting hate mail.

People, get a clue. When I say that it's illegal, that's because it IS. Really. The courts have so-ruled, and it's been upheld. Argue against copyright. Push the fight to get rid of it, if you really think that's what's Right. For now, it exists. And if the copyright holder does not fight known infringment, they lose the right to claim copyright, which means that can't earn money off thier works. This is called "damaging your own livlihood."


Telling me I shouldn't be looking to make money off my work, because it's depriving you of your 'right' to create fanfic? Let's see you turn that around and hit your own paycheck, child. See how stringent you are about 'freedom' then.

Hell, I love fanfic. I wrote fanfic. I think writing fanfic is a great fannish thing. But keep it lo-key. Allow the official copyright holders to not see it. Don't trumpet yourself where they have no choice but to take note, especially the one-owner material (as opposed to media work, where there's more room to argue against the 'reasonable confusion in the market."). But remember that it's against established law, so when you're told to stop, you have to stop or face consequences. Why are you bitching at me for pointing that out?


Oh. And telling (threatening) me that you're not going to buy any of my books from now on? Hey, that's your consumer's privilege. I'm not about to cower in my shoes and stop speaking truth in public because of it.


But stop to think about what could happen, in a world where writers, and musicians, and actors don't get royalties from their work, and their income drops even closer to nil. You think you're still going to be getting these stories and shows you form fandoms around? Good luck.

Comments

[neadods.livejournal.com]

And just because they WANT doesn't mean they get to HAVE

I say this as a heavy heart because I am one of those fandom-is-a-way-of-life fans, but there is a loud and angry segment of panfandom that has a frightening sense of entitlement - and the internet gives them a louder, and more immediate voice. The ones who defend Real Person Slash and attack anyone who decries it, the ones who are protesting that JK Rowling didn't have the love affair they wanted in her latest book, etc.

There are some people in this world - and not just in fandom - who are simply not going to accept that what they can't have whatever they demand.

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

The ones who defend Real Person Slash

Ew. Ew. Ew. I'd never heard of this before, but. . .ew.

[lagilman]

oh yeah. Beyond ew and into definite legal liabiliites. But there are people who will defend unto death, and with indignant voices, their rights to write fic (and often smutty fic) about actual persons.

It's the small percentages like this, the aggressive obsessives, who give the majority of the very well-behaved, understanding, mature ficwriters a black eye among the straights. And that's a damned shame.

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

But there are people who will defend unto death, and with indignant voices, their rights to write fic (and often smutty fic) about actual persons.

In which case I dearly hope that said actual person sics their legal eagles on such types and educates them in the concept of "libel."

It's the small percentages like this, the aggressive obsessives, who give the majority of the very well-behaved, understanding, mature ficwriters a black eye among the straights. And that's a damned shame.

True.