I'd like some comments on this fic please.
You want comments? Okay, here's one that's gonna hurt.
But you REALLY need to know it.
Mercedes Lackey has gone on record saying that she will
allow NO fanfics based on her world of Valdemar, and if any are
discovered, she will sue and sue until the author has nothing
left for her to take.
Bob Schroek, a fellow member of this list, killed a
perfectly good fanfic he'd begun, because of Ms. Lackey's
stance on Valdemar fanfic.
Ed, please allow me a slight correction.
There *are* circumstances under which Valdemar fanfics are allowed.
I have seen (and include, slightly abridged, below) a FAQ entry which
mentions getting a release form for fanfiction. Second-hand information
in my possession suggests that Valdemar fanfiction must explicitly take
place in a version of Valdemar where Herald Kris survived the events at
the end of the Arrows trilogy; in the case of this fic, which is at least
partly set in Vanyel's era, this may be problematic... Also attached
find an FFML message from 1997 on this very subject.
Naldoza, your best bet is to contact Lackey's online presence(s) and get
the straight dope right from her/them -- and to put this fic on hold
until you do.
-- Bob
>From the FAQ from alt.books.m-lackey FAQ
5. Why won't she let us have a MUSH or write FanFic?
Russell Galen is Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixson's agent. He has made
the following statements in a general post to
alt.books.m-lackey, dated in October 1994.
"Any use of works by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixson in fan fiction
or a role playing game is strictly prohibited. The reasons are as follows:
A. It is copyright infringement. Any unauthorized use of intellectual
property, whether or not for profit, is copyright infringement.
B. The authors are against it. Knowing that strangers are making use
of one's world, one's characters, one's creations, is usually
a very unpleasant feeling, one of violation and intrusion.
C. There's been a great deal of discussion here as to whether a MUSH
or MUD would help or hurt the salability of commercial
game rights. The fact is, we don't know. It might have no effect, or a
ruinous effect. There is ample evidence for both from other
media, and I don't know the answer. Given that uncertainty, we have to
err on the side of caution and protection.
D. All of us on this side have discussed this and are resolved to take
no chances with these valuable copyrights, and will
vigorously pursue all legal means at our disposal. Also, any action we
might take would not be limited to individuals but to the
universities and other organizations that permit their equipment and
lines to be used for this illegal purpose.
E. Yes, we're greedy and narrow-minded in defense of our clients'
ability to make a living. This is Mercedes Lackey's job.
Anything that threatens her ability to make a living is no less an
evil than any other situation in which an innocent party is forced,
by the actions of strangers, to fight for her livelihood."
So, please, folks *Just Say No* to Lackey-MUDS. If you want to write
Fanfic, please send mail to the Queen's Own or
HighFlight addresses above, and request a release form. Don't go doing
something that you're going to wind up regretting, later.
From: Toby_Kilbreath@markham.longview.ca
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
Message-ID: <85256568.004AC3C3.00@markham.longview.ca>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 08:40:55 -0500
Subject: Re: [FFML] Ranma & Misty?
As much as I would love the idea of a Valdemir/Ranma crossover I have to
submit the rules I was given at a "Writing in Fanfiction with Mercedes
Lackey's worlds" seminar at a convention a couple of years ago.
Legally requires the signature of a release form. And the primary
characters CANNOT be used (ie Talia or Elspeth). Your unique character
can overhear them speaking to a group but you cannot make them a major
character in the story. Also they cannot be OOC (ie Talia in an orgy or
condoning murder were the examples given).
:( Kinda ruined the fun when I heard all that.
Sorry
Toby
(Bob here again. You can find the Queen's Own's address in the earlier
Lackey books; the HighFlight address mentioned above is:
Mercedes Lackey c/o Highflight
PO Box 8309
Tulsa OK 74101
Allow me also to add the following, which goes with that address
everywhere it appears:
Letters without an SASE will not be answered. Rude letters with an SASE
will receive a form letter. Polite letters will receive equally polite
replies. All letters---as ALWAYS--- will be kept on file. Remember that
Oklahoma has a Harassment Law. Do not write anything that you would not
want the Oklahoma State Attorney General's Office to see.
The latter part is because of problems Misty has had with stalkers, nutjobs
and threats on her and others' lives.)
--
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Bob Schroeck
http://www.eclipse.net/~rms rms@eclipse.net
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Would you like to play with fire, little boy? Would you like to play with BOB?
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