[FFML] Continue dead or abandon fics by other authors.

[Bryan Cupp]

> On 8/12/2015 11:09 AM, Mythril Moth wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 8/12/2015 9:48 AM, seb ren wrote:
> >> Honestly, the idea of "intellectual property" is meaningless drivel 
> >> dreamed
> >> up by the various majors' legal representatives and their ilk.
> >
> > You'll find it difficult to find anyone who agrees with this 
> > statement. You'll also find it difficult to find anyone who isn't 
> > insulted by this assertion, especially artists and writers.
> 
> He'd also find it very difficult to find any courts of law that would 
> agree. Judges tend the have very poor senses of humor.

This statement and the next... words just fail to describe....  needless to say its just so wrong.

I really agree with Larry and MM here.

> 
> 
> >
> >>
> >> Once any creative work has been released into the world, it's everyone's
> >> property.
> >
> > This is absolute bullshit. I'm sorry to put it so offensively, but 
> > there is no nicer way for me to say it.
> 
> Good heavens, MM. Don't sugercoat it like that. Tell him how you 
> _really_ feel. ^_^
> 
> Anyone who thinks that creative work is public property needs to have a 
> serious talk with their local legal consultant. That, and maybe go back 
> to school. It implies a very serious lack of touch with the real world.
> 
> 


> > Just not enough respect and love to care whether or not the original 
> > author would approve. Right.
> 
> Amen. Theft is not an act of love and respect. It's a selfish statement 
> that one doesn't give a hoot about what anyone else wants.
> 

Sadly here I have to say that Larry and MM your comments are like a slap in the face to the fanfiction community in general.
Do either of you know any fanfiction authors who have asked the original owner if they could use their characters, settings and what not?
While there probably has been a few its not a majority, and even then those that did may have gone on to publish.  I know this isn't the 
exact context you were meaning your comments, but please do think about them for a few moments.

Are you saying that a fanfiction author is any different from a published author, or that the fanfiction author should be given special consideration
because they are easier to contact, or have less fans?  Sorry, for picking on your two comments, but you both really walking right into that one, and
offered yourselves up on a silver platter.

Anyway, back on topic.  I feel divided about the issue really, and there are some questions that I feel each person should address themselves.

Is the original author available to be contacted, did you try all of their emails, check out the boards they used to visit if you know them?  Did you
give them a fair amount of time to respond?  People have lives they may not have a chance to get back to you right away.  A month or two wouldn't 
kill your story if they truly are not available to respond or even if they are.   

Is the story still being written?  
 
How long ago was the story written?

Did the author say they were never writing anything for the story again?

Are you writing a continuation of a finished story, an AU story or splitting off the story to take a different path?

Then there is the point of the fanfiction community itself to think about.  There are authors out there who expressly forbid their characters and settings
to be used in fanfiction.  The problem, this does not stop people from doing so, and it is somewhat unlikely that they could stop them even if they tried.
As its been said before fanfiction is in that grey area.  No one has taken it to court, and its highly unlikely that anyone ever will.

Will some people be upset if you start your own story based upon someone's  work, yes.  Should that stop you from writing, I don't know.
 		 	   		  
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