Ann Perrone
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
For legal reasons, do you have to stay completely clear of fan-fiction related to your books/novellas? I'm wondering if you ever get a glimpse of their canonical and non-canonical writing? There are some quite inspired fan authors that we readers have the freedom to enjoy. I wonder what restrictions you have.
Lois McMaster Bujold
There used to be an alarming theory that writers should be required to actively extirpate fan fiction or lose their own rights, but really, about ten million fanfics have been written about Harry Potter, and no one (sane) is arguing that J. K. Rowling does not therefore possess her own copyrights. The concern, I think, belongs to a previous technological era. Nuisance lawsuits can happen to anyone, anywhere, for any reason, so I don't think pro writers are especially vulnerable.
Actual plagiarism in professionally published media is covered under a different set of laws and social rules.
Hollywood is another smoke, with a much larger audience having therefore a much larger number, if not necessarily percentage, of nutbars in it, and more money in play to attract predators and scavengers. Production companies are picky about clear rights for valid historical reasons.
Also, the boundaries are too fuzzy to sensibly identify. What about filk? Poetry? Alternate Universe or Crossover fics? Unlikely porn? The list goes on. I certainly consider filk fair game, for starters.
Note that there could be no restriction I can imagine on me reading fanfic in other fandoms... :-)
Ta, L.
Actual plagiarism in professionally published media is covered under a different set of laws and social rules.
Hollywood is another smoke, with a much larger audience having therefore a much larger number, if not necessarily percentage, of nutbars in it, and more money in play to attract predators and scavengers. Production companies are picky about clear rights for valid historical reasons.
Also, the boundaries are too fuzzy to sensibly identify. What about filk? Poetry? Alternate Universe or Crossover fics? Unlikely porn? The list goes on. I certainly consider filk fair game, for starters.
Note that there could be no restriction I can imagine on me reading fanfic in other fandoms... :-)
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Arni Vidar Bjorgvinsson
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just wanted to let you know about something weird I've just noticed about your Vorkosigan books? On both Amazon and Audible, the series is called "Miles Vorsokigan". I got *really* confused for a minute, wondering how I could be misremembering Vorkosigan so poorly for 3+decades, until I saw that the books are all labeled correctly. It's just the "collection" or whatever it's called that's wrong. FYI. :)
Jerri
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Is Winterfair held on the Winter Solstice, or just close to it? In any case, on the Solstice in the US, I wish you and all Bujold readers a happy Winterfair and may Father Frost bring you as much joy as the writings of LMB have brought to me. (I just finished a re-listen to Winterfair Gifts!!)
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