everything about this is a terrible idea

[lirazel]

So what do we think the likelihood is that after this Kindle Worlds thing starts that Amazon/Alloy will start going after all the Vampire Diaries/PLL/etc. fic that's published on sites other than theirs? Because that wouldn't surprise me. I'm not saying they'd have a legal leg to stand on (I don't think they would), but I would be surprised if they sent C&D letters to people who have their TVD fic up on other sites.

Comments

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

It's hard to tell. I think they would be very stupid to so, shooting on the scene that is their clientel, but you never know with the big companies, they can be surprisingly stupid. And I'm a bit worried for them going after the big archive sites like AO3. It's not that fanfic would disappear but it would have to go more underground and hide behind friends locks and so on.

While I rather like the idea that people can live off their writing I think it might be better to stick with changing the names and calling it original. This way, the writers have far more rights and the fanfic scene stays the fun experimental scene it is.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. They can be SO DUMB sometimes, especially when they get greedy.

While I rather like the idea that people can live off their writing I think it might be better to stick with changing the names and calling it original. This way, the writers have far more rights and the fanfic scene stays the fun experimental scene it is.

Agreed. I have a number of friends who've filed off the serial numbers and made money off of stuff that was previously fic, and I support them completely. I think that's definitely the best way of doing it.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Also because they second they started this, they are already messing with some unique key aspects of fanfic, like the fact that there is a female dominated porn scene, that is not hampered by a male dominated publishing industry.
Crossovers are what happens when people let all the stories in their head freely connect. When you find those two characters from completely different universes that would have so much to say to each other.

If fanfic is caged by what you can and cannot write it loses a lot of it's appeal. Hardly any of my favorite stories would be allowed under their rules and in the end we would end with cheap tie in novels, which never could hold a candle to the better fanfics.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes. What makes fanfiction so extraordinary is that it DOESN'T have limits, it isn't controlled by corporations, it's entirely a gift culture, mostly dominated by women, many of whom are queer. By putting it in a corporate context, it destroys all the things that make fanfiction so valuable to so many of us. I'm not saying other people shouldn't take advantage of this--they obviously can if they want to. But it isn't fanfiction in the communal sense once rules and money start coming into play. It's something else altogether.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Hardly any of my favorite stories would be allowed under their rules

Yeah it would be one thing if they were saying any fan fic for those shows are welcome, but by establishing restrictions like no pornography or cross-overs, well it does cut out huge chunks of most of the fan fic that people get really interested in reading. I can read the tie-in novels if I want to read something safe and bland, that's generally not what most readers turn to fan fic for

[silverusagi]

It's not that fanfic would disappear but it would have to go more underground and hide behind friends locks and so on.

Well, then LJ would live again, lol.

[upupa-epops.livejournal.com]

See, I'm really conflicted about this, because I can see all the problems that can arise now, but on the other hand: damn it, I really could use some extra money, and I would like to be paid for writing short stories (how difficult it is for a young writer to publish short stories right now?). The thing is, for me Kindle Worlds writing and "normal" fanfic writing would be two completely different things? I wouldn't give them any of my stories that I have posted now, not even if they didn't violate they guidelines. I'd prefer to write something just for them, and it wouldn't be the kind of story I usually write for myself. I'd like to give this a shot and see what happens, but I wouldn't give them any of my babies, you know?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally wouldn't blame you for taking advantage of it. It's them I blame for ridiculous, not you. I mean, if SOMEONE'S going to be making money off of it, I'd rather it be my friends!

I'd prefer to write something just for them, and it wouldn't be the kind of story I usually write for myself. I'd like to give this a shot and see what happens, but I wouldn't give them any of my babies, you know?

That makes total sense and I think it's really smart, actually. If I was still watching TVD I might do the same thing myself.

[upupa-epops.livejournal.com]

If you send them a story, you give away all your rights to said story. So no way I'm giving up a story that's actually important for me. I'll likely just spew out something about Alaric drinking too much. Let's be real, who'd pay for my Elena musings?

[vergoldung.livejournal.com]

I so would (pay for your Elena musings).

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think it's the "traditional" fanfic sites that wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on. Fanfic is infringement of copyright, and those disclaimers people put on fic would never hold up in court; most rights holders just don't care because it's not costing them anything. If they get it into their heads that they should be paid for fanfic, and that anyone offering it for free is eating into their profits... They'd be idiots, but they'd hardly be the first idiots in the media business.

I don't think it's anything that's likely to come up immediately, but once Kindle Worlds becomes an established source of revenue, who knows?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I don't know--I've heard things both ways from copyright lawyers, so I don't know how it would go if someone actually got taken to court.

I don't think it's anything that's likely to come up immediately, but once Kindle Worlds becomes an established source of revenue, who knows?

I'm kind of hoping it turns to nothing--I mean, Alloy is a giant mess of an organization and it wouldn't surprise me if they totally bollixed it up. I think as long as it doesn't mean something for fandom proper, I'm not going to worry about it too much.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Alloy might be, but Amazon are frighteningly competent most of the time. We'll see if this is just a PR stunt or if they're really going to work it...

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I guess that was me making the assumption that Amazon's just sort of letting Alloy take care of this while using their name/system in exchange for a cut. But you're right--that could be a completely wrong assumption and I guess we'll just have to see!

[phaedresgarden.livejournal.com]

Actually no, Fanfic is not necessarily infringement of copyright, especially given that most fanfic writers do NOT make money off their work. Most fanfic writers also clearly state that they are well aware that they do not own the characters just the plot. It can fall under Fair Use, again so long as the writer is not attempting to make money on the work.

The Kindle Worlds thing is attempting to basically circumvent the whole idea of infringement or fair use by saying, hey you can write whatever you want in this world provided you follow these rules and provided you don't try to claim copyright over either the plot or the writing. That's actually one reason it bothers me.

[cariad-82.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but could you please tell me what exactly you mean?
By all the comments I got that it has something to do with Fanfics and copyinfringement but other than that I have no idea what you are talking about. Sorry.