Fan Fiction

[JeannieHolmes]

Do you allow fan fiction to be written for your worlds?

I have a strict "don't ask, don't tell" policy when it comes to fan fiction. I don't actively seek it out, nor do I wish to know it exists. If it is written for the private enjoyment of the writer, I have no issue with it. However, once it is published -- even if it is placed on a blog or other such site -- and I am made aware of it, I have no choice but to release the Kraken.

In other words, if I don't know it exists, everything is cool. It's when the fan fic draws my attention that I will zealously protect my legal copyrights.

[deathlynx]

I'm curious whether its a publisher, agent or author who makes descissions about these kinds of things? I know there's some who're very against it and some who're for it and some who basically keep on the don't ask, don't tell side of things...

[Skitty]

I guess there was a big brouhaha involving Marion Zimmer Bradley years ago over fan fiction. She was a big supporter and even published anthologies of fan fiction but then got involved in a lawsuit where a fan accused her of stealing ideas and that put the kibosh on the whole authorized fan fiction issue. Now it seems to be verboten.

[deathlynx]

Well, it's not, actually...there's three schools of thought over it...some authors (Like MZB, Terry Goodkind, and Anne Rice) are very ardently against it...others, like Eric Flint are huge and very vocal supporters of it...The third camp are basically authors who don't care much one way or the other, "don't ask don't tell" type mentality...

Not all authors remain stridently in one of those camps, either...apparently Mercedes Lacky begun in the ardently against but has mellowed into mute acceptance, while Larry Niven actually told readers "if you want any more Known Space stories you'll have to write them yourselves" only to turn around and sue when he caught wind of a Kzin slash parody piece (which could arguably be leagally permissable anyway since it was a parody)...

Wiki has an interesting article on the debate...Legal Issues With Fan Fiction

[Raven]

Wow, DL. You're quite schooled on the subject.

I think it's the liability issue where authors come into problems. They shouldn't have to get sued because someone claims they stole their idea jsut ebcause they posted fanfic somewhere that may come close to what the author eventually publishes.
It's a sensitive issue.

[deathlynx]

It's deffinately a liability issue vs. a freedom of speach and fair use issue...I understand that aspect of the arguements both for and against...I was mostly interested in finding out who has the authority of decission on the matter...We've heard how many aspects of being an author are dictated by other people; covers, titles, signings...I was wondering where this one fell...

[Michelle]

Sounds like the fuzzy gray area that is seen so often with intellectual property issues.

Reminds me of the whole book/film industry conundrum surrounding screenplays that are "based on" versus "inspired by". The first , book author retain rights but the latter... legally screwed if someone decides to use your material in a screenplay. I met a guy who suffered from this very issue and never recovered from it. Very shady lines but I think your question lies in the difference between copyright vs trademark and how the author approaches this?

The FAQs section at the bottom of this site seems to streamline some of the info.
www.chillingeffects.org/fanfic/

[JeannieHolmes]

Aug 25, 2010 17:00:20 GMT -6 deathlynx said:

It's deffinately a liability issue vs. a freedom of speach and fair use issue...I understand that aspect of the arguements both for and against...I was mostly interested in finding out who has the authority of decission on the matter...We've heard how many aspects of being an author are dictated by other people; covers, titles, signings...I was wondering where this one fell...

Yes, authors have little say in cover art, though we do have more say over titles. As for signings, I schedule all my signings. The publisher doesn't handle that for me.

As for the fan fiction issue, I own the copyright to Blood Law and (what will be) the Alexandra Sabian series. I have "ownership" of the characters, the town, and "mythos" created for this series. Therefore, if someone writes a fan fiction piece, they are technically in violation of that copyright and I could (if I wanted to be a royal pain in the ass) sue their pants off.

However, that isn't the way to gain friends and influence people in the sci-fi/fantasy world. Fan fiction is like illegal torrent download sites, which I equate to mythical hydras. Cut the head off one and two head sprout in its place. That's why I run by the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. If I don't know about it, everything is roses and sunshine. The minute I find out, though, your ass is grass and I'll be the lawnmower.

[Raven]

Well said!

[deathlynx]

Cool! Thank you for chiming in on that J
As for the cover art, I do seem to recall you mentioning a need for a slight edit because of a missing trigger guard

[JeannieHolmes]

Yes, there was that little incident. I can "suggest" or "request" small changes, but the way the cover art has worked is like this:

1. I write the book

2. Editor gives artist thumbnail description of main character & plot.

3. Artist works his magic.

4. I fall in love with cover.

And, coincidentally, my cover artist, Don Sipley, also created the art for the last two Jocelynn Drake's Dark Days series covers.

[Vampyre]

You certainly got lucky n the art department. Sipley has done some amazing work.

[Raven]

Why was there the last minute change in cover, by the way?

[JeannieHolmes]

The Powers That Be decided to change it. The decision was based on how best to market the book.

[Michelle]

The cover rocks! I hope the second cover is in the same vein.