Ano ...

So, if we have to get a ficwriter's permission to use them in a filk, do we
have to get their permission to use them in a spam?  What about if they have
self-inserted into an anime fic?  Do we have to get their permission in order
to use them as a charcter in that same anime universe?  After all, now they're
a character instead of simply a persona.  What?  We have to get permission in
order to continue a ficwriter's scenario in any way?  We have to ask if it's
okay before doing sequels or side-stories to a ficwriter's personally created
scenario?  Then why don't we have to get permission from Japanese manga artists
in order to write fanfiction to begin with?  Oh!  You mean we *do* have to get
permission from them in order to use their charcters or persona in our
stories?  Why *don't* we then?  Oh, we only need to get original authors' or
artists' permission if we plan to make *money* from anything related to their
work?  Then, why don't we have to get permission from other ficwriters to use
them or their characters *only* if we plan to make *money* off of their
creations or persona?  That's different, you say?  How?  If I take a picture of
you, will it *really* steal your soul?  If I depict you as a murdering rapist
in one of my fics, can it be submitted in court to convict you of crimes that
happened in the story?  How about if I draw a picture of you in charcoal?  Have
I violated your person or property somehow?  Or am I merely practicing my
craft?  What if I use watercolors instead of charcoal?  Acrylics?  Crayon?
Ink?  ASCII?  Where *is* the beef, anyway?  How many licks does it take to get
to the center of an oversensitive thread?  If I want to use Inu-Yasha in my
next Ranma fic, do I have to get his permission?  What about if I include Ranma
in my next Inu-Yasha fic?  I know of more than one Ranma fic that has included
the current Japanese Emperer in the cast.  Did he give his consent to allow his
persona be used in such a way?  If not, can he sue the authors of those fics?
If anyone uses me without my permission, can I sue them?  For how much?  Will I
win?  Will a jury really care?  Why don't we all write Takahashi-sama and ask
her what she thinks?  Is it possible to take fanfiction too far?  If I die in a
self-insertion, am I really crying out for help?  If I kill in a
self-insertion, am I a danger to society?  If I have sex with Nabiki in a
self-insertion, am I a slobbering fanboy?  Okay, I already know the answer to
that last one...  Can my little brother disown me someday for using his Plan in
my fic without his permission?  If I change the names of people involved in
real life incidents, and depict those incidents as fictitious events for a
story of mine, can the real people, anonymous up until that point, suddenly
"come out" and sue me for defamation of character?  Is it possible that...

Hey, here's an idea!

Is it just maybe possible ...

just maybe, now ...

that ...

that ...

... THAT IT'S ALL JUST FANFICTION AFTER ALL!?

Tonbo
--
"Remember, sound is a wave, just like light.
 Which means we can focus it with parabolic mirrors!"