I'm curious...

[ash48]

Something that has been on my mind for a while (hee...for a good reason I have to add) is how do fans generally feel about their work being used in other fans work?

If, for example, someone made a video showcasing fan art, fics and vids how would you feel if your work appeared it in? Or if your story was podficced? Or if your art was posted to a story? Do you think you should have been asked permission for it to be used or do you think that because you have released to the public domain it's available for anyone to use in a their own work? (I'm not talking about taking it and claiming it as their own - that's definitely a huge no).

As fans we take inspiration from products that are copyrighted (TV show, films, music etc) and we often use them in our own work - usually transforming them into something else to share with fellow fans. We don't seek permission from the source - once they are available to the public we jump all over them. How does that change for our own work - be it art, fic, vids, podfics? I know we don't get paid and nor do we make money from our work, so is that the sole reason why getting permission to use other people's fan work is so important? Is it just courtesy? Is it an unwritten etiquette amongst fans? Does it depend on the transformative work it appears in? Would it matter if the work was controversial or making a statement you didn't support?

Or am I missing a another explanation for why permission has to be sort and granted whenever we use other's fanworks? (I'm simply curious. I have no agenda here other than making sure I'm not missing some ethical morality (or law!!) when it comes to using fan works). And I'm not talking about taking other people's work and claiming it as your own. Or producing something that the viewer would assume is yours even if you can't give precise credit (I know that's murky, but there are times when it's obvious that the work doesn't belong to the creator - like a screen cap of a website for example).

For me I think the courtesy is nice, but I figure once my work is out there it's up for grabs. I'm usually honored when I see my work used in someone else's - or it's an inspiration for something else. Credit is nice, but not essential. I think part of the fan community is about sharing - but maybe I'm be naive on this front.

Comments

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

I think crediting is important but other than that, it's a free for all once you've released something. Remix culture is remix culture, I say!

I used to be much more precious about it--for Destiny Calling I got all of the vidders' permission before release--but for Still Alive and Coin Operated Boy I used took and credited.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I agree about the credit as the only way we get "paid" is through acknowledgement.

And I sometimes wonder if maybe we can become too precious about the permissions - or maybe worried. It's more worry that I'm feeling atm. Did you ever get any fallout from using people's work without seeking permission first?

<33

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Nope, I mean not anywhere I've seen it anyway. My guess is that people who would be offended are not the kind of people who would actually watch my vids, LOL.

[growyourwings.livejournal.com]

I freely make my photos available and am always thrilled to see them used (especially in fanvids). I've never even thought about credit being offered in a fanvid. I mean, how would that work? I imagine a fanvid is composed of a LOT of source material and it would never occur to me to see a long credit list at the end.

If my work is used for a gif or manip or some other still photo edit - I ask for a credit and link back in the original post. But I know and realize that doesn't always happen. I think sometimes people push those limits a bit too far as in doing a very slight color balance change and removing my watermark. I state that people can remove my watermark if it interferes with their creative expression, and sometimes that gets pushed. But the reality is, like you said, I figure everything I post in fandom space is pretty much up for grabs and depends "on the kindness of others." (lol)

And honestly? As you say, as fans we use the original source material all the time. How hypocritical would it be of us if we demanded credit all the time. When offerred and practical, it's wonderful. But one of the things I love about the fandom community is how everyone builds ideas off of everyone's work. It's a creative fest every day.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I mean, how would that work?

It would depend on the actual vid. When I used redteekal's photos in a vid I make I credited her and her partner at the end of the vid. Credit can be given in the end credits.

Tumblr has opened up a new level of fan work use I think. I've been hearing lately that fans really jump on other fans who take work and post it as their own over there (I didn't realise that). I never really understood how reblogging worked, but now I see it's a form of reccing and saving. So - it's a nice thing!

It's a creative fest every day.

Oh yes yes!! Lucky us! \o/

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I have a blanket statement on my LJ that my fandom stuff can be used as long as I'm credited somewhere (and I think I also say 'informed', but that's far less important.)

I'm flattered to pieces, more often than not. But I draw the line when someone's trying to make a profit or claim my work as their own. So far, neither has happened, huzzah!

Part of the glory of fannish work is in the sharing, yeah?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

This all sounds fair and I think that generally fans respect other fans work. I've never understood people taking other fans work and posting it as their own because any feedback would be empty.

xoxo

[electricmonk333.livejournal.com]

I've often wondered about this myself. Considering everything we put out there is based on someone's copyrighted work itself, we can hardly claim foul if the same is done with ours. Most people just like to get credit which is the most we can ask for, I think. Asking for permission merely a matter of courtesy the way I see it.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I suppose having it done to our own work helps us understand why some people (pro writers for example) take umbrage at their stuff being used. Maybe there are some fans who don't mind it and some that do. Mostly I think people are happy to have their work used...probably. ;))

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

Personally, my stance would be - once it's out there, it's out there, and as long as people do not make a profit from it it's fair game. I'd like to be told if my stuff is used, just because it's nice to know, not really for asking permission. The only reason I could see trying to veto it would be if somebody wanted to use it in connection with a hateful message, e.g. racism, but I don't really worry about that happenicng. If one day I turn my back to fandom I would either remove everything or it's fair game.

However, I know I am a minority with this stance. For vidding cons you need explicit permission from the vidder to show the vid. When I struggeled with this with a youtube vid (short of 2000 views) because the vidder did not get back to me and had no other contact info available I suggested that for vids that are so clearly in the public domain (youtube) it should be okay to show the vid anyway I was clearly told NO by concom and a number of people weight in being quite enraged that I was suggesting it.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I'm even more in the minority in that I don't get why clip-stealing is considered such a big deal. Often in my LJ communities there is someone posting outraged that someone is using clips from their video without permission and encouraging members of the community to dog-pile said person. And idk I can understand being frustrated if the clips took a long time to put together but, at the risk of being unpopular, I do think that people get a bit too precious at not sharing their clips when does it really hurt them personally in any way?

I can understand being annoyed if someone is blatantly taking someone else's video and posting as their own, but a lot of the time I suspect the person using borrowed clips just doesn't know any better and is excited to try and put together their own video, but doesn't know how to make clips themselves, so end up using other videos as a source for clips. Not the greatest idea, but it does make me uncomfortable when fandom at large acts like they've committed such a terrible crime. If it took me absolutely ages to colour clips or whatever then I would probably be happy if anything to see other people from fandom making use of them. Maybe they could ask them to credit them in the video info or something fair enough, but generally the goal seems to be to get all of your friends to hound the person until they take their video off-line

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

For most part I don't get clip-stealing, either. It's not 'my' clip to start with. There are some scenecs with masking and effects that I am quite proud off, and I probably wouldn't be thrilled if somebody took them without crediting, but I doubt I'd start The Inquisition over it... but it hasn't happened yet, so what do I know?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I think the clip stealing is purely about the editing. Editing takes a long time and is pretty personal in terms of the way you chose to edit something. If someone put a video together using someone else's edits I would say it's being lazy and the work is not theirs so they shouldn't be credited with it. If, however, they were making a statement of some sort or transforming it some way by remixing it then that might be different.

I would liken it to taking someone's story and changing a few words and claiming it's theirs. Or taking a piece of art, colouring over it and saying it's theirs. It's taking someone else's time and effort and claiming it as your own that I think the issue lies. Well, that would be my personal issue with it. Constructing a video is about making your own editing choices - not taking someone else's.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I guess that I just get uncomfortable when people get SO mad. Years and years ago one of my friends in Smallville fandom started making music videos and took clips from someone else's videos as a source (this was like 2002 or 2003 I guess), and the vidder and her friends got soooo nasty about her clips being taken. This was before people even did any big deal editing with them to personalise them, so all I could privately think was if it took you so long to clip them then maybe you should be happy to share your work with other people in fandom and just explain you would appreciate credit for the clips, instead of getting so precious over them being 'mine' when you're clipping someone else's work from the dvds yourself

I'm not saying it's a good thing either and people absolutely should credit the source of the clips once it's explained to them, I just get the feeling a lot of the time it's newbies who don't know any better and are just inspired by a video and excited to try and put their own together? I mean these days you can probably find various clips on YouTube that aren't part of a video, but probably not all the ones that you want? It just wouldn't be such a big deal to me quite honestly as it does nothing to hurt you personally or take away from the original work. I'm not advocating it either though,I just wish there weren't like organised attacks in communities over this ~outrage~

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - being unreasonably outraged or nasty is not necessary. If it's a newbie then I think it needs to be suggested that sourcing your own footage (like all vidders do) is the way to go. If they are just playing around, trying to get a feel for it then I can see that taking someone else's editing is one what to go.

I just. I kinda don't get it I suppose. Vidding is all about the editing. It's about creating a story or a feeling and taking someone else's work takes away that creative process. If they just need, say a clip of Dean smiling and they just take that one clip then I see how that isn't an issue. I'm sure vidders who don't have footage available to them do that all the time - maybe.

I think I would be pretty upset is someone decided to take a chunk out of one of my vids to put into their own. I would be questioning the reason why they want to be a vidder if they are not prepared to do their own editing. (I do understand asking permission for say a manip. I know a vidder who made a lovely wincest manip and that has appeared in some other vids. She's always credited though).

I'm sorry if I'm being a little single minded on this one. I definitely don't think there needs to be a war over clip taking (and I know how nasty these things can get) , but the reason vidders are precious is because creating a vid takes a long time - and usually a lot of personal and creative energy. There's also a tremendous amount of satisfaction when making edits and someone who takes someone else's must miss out on that. I dunno...

xx

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Yeah no I understand what you're saying with the work that goes into personally editing clips these days. I suppose I just come at it from the perspective that if someone is using borrowed clips (or even stealing ideas from someone else's fic), they're not going to get very far with it anyway, as most of fandom will just dismiss it as not their own work. I can understand getting annoyed if it's an effect that took you ages to perfect and someone takes it without credit, but I would possibly just comment noting that I am the original source and it would be nice for them to mention me in their info bit. I just don't understand why people get sooo personally affronted at it and I must get together a gang of people and make sure the video is removed from youtube, even though it doesn't take anything away from the original work that they did, so who really cares if it doesn't hurt you in anyway? I know that opinion is unpopualar in fandom though :p

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I just don't understand why people get sooo personally affronted at it and I must get together a gang of people and make sure the video is removed from youtube,

I've only seen this happen when some body has taken the whole vid, uploaded to their channel and claimed it as their own. That is extremely annoying and rude. Someone that did that to one of my vids even went so far as to take off the credits. I understanding the idea of sharing - but if they want to share then they could at least give credit. With YT you can favourite a vid and it's becomes part of your channel - I think that's better than re-uploading it.

And yes - fans do band together to protect each other's work. I suppose it's the only way to um, "police" people who want to receive credit for somethings that's not their own work. I can see that sometimes fans can over react, but stealing like that is pretty low.

so who really cares if it doesn't hurt you in anyway?

The problem is that it can hurt the fan who made it. I know in the scheme of things it's small but the fans who put in the work to produce something to share with fellow fans can get quite hurt by someone receiving the kudos for something they've done. I think it just comes down to being fair. The people who take stuff it's like they are cheating so I think there's simply a feeling of not liking cheats.

Hee...and yes. I think that is an unpopular opinion. :) I haven't come across it before, but I like hearing it because it absolutely puzzles me why anyone would take something that is someone else's and post it as their own. I suppose if they think it's no big deal then it really isn't a big deal. For them.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I've only seen this happen when some body has taken the whole vid, uploaded to their channel and claimed it as their own.

Hmm yeah, there's really no good reason I can think of for anyone to re-post the entire video and remove the credits, that pretty much sucks. I was thinking more of the times in communities when someone made an entry getting so upset and encouraging everyone to leave rude comments on a youtube video which used clips that came originally from their own video's. I suppose it is a big deal in a way as I'm certainly not advocating it, it's just not *such* a big deal to me and I wish that people would explain to the person that they's not the way we do things in fandom, instead of immediately going into fandom attack mode :shrugs: Not that I see it so much these days, but back in the days when LJ fandom was more active. All of that is probably on tumblr now instead, along with all the rules about reblogging instead of reposting, which again someone might not realise right away is not the done thing

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Actually I think it IS on Tumblr these days. I haven't seen it but I've heard about it recently. You'll be pounced on (I believe) if you repost.

I was alerted to the fact that someone took some caps from one of my vids and made them into gifs. It was a section that I hadn't actually made (maichan did) and I simply asked if the maker could give credit to maichan as she was the person who credited the sequence she used (there had been a lot of work involved in that sequence). She agreed and it was all amicable. I don't think there's any need to be nasty about this stuff. Most fans like to do the right thing be each other.

Fandom can certainly be a scary force when you're seen to do something wrong. Especially if it's done innocently. There's a lot of unwritten "rules" and it takes a while to navigate through them. I've seen some horrible reactions to fans - sometimes enough to drive them away completely.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I've been to a con where they removed the credits at the end of the vid. It made me think that the person had not given permission for the vid to be used maybe? I'm in 2 minds about con vids. I figure if it's in the public domain then using it at a con would be ok. (in fact...please do! *g*) - of course permission would be polite but I'm not sure why permission needs to be sort.

I think removing the credits stink though.

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm talking about vidding cons (VidUKon or Vividcon) and they would never ever do such a thing - as I said, unless there is permission from the vidder you can't show it. In the case of professional cons (which I guess you are referring to) it's more complicated because they are 'for profit' organizations. I think they ought to offer compensation (e.g. a ticket, a DVD set, an amazon voucher) to vidder who's vids they use, given that they charge the audience an arm and a leg to attend. Entertaining them with free material is sneaky....

[maichan.livejournal.com]

I personally ask permission before using another fanwork, even if only as inspiration for a new work (i.e. a fanfic inspiring fanart). But I know that I'm in the minority here, and most often work is used without permission. If you're lucky, you're given credit and informed of the usage after the fact even if your approval isn't sought beforehand.

I do think fanart is a slightly different scenario than fanvids. And there have been a couple recent incidences of slash fanart being used on talk shows and documentaries without permission. And the art is featured in a way that is not necessarily flattering, which I definitely do not agree with.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

I totally agree that using fanart without credit in "news" shows is offensive. I about had a hernia when those videos (was it PBS or what, I can't remember) surfaced that used women's work to support a general claim that fanartist were brilliant...and then only profiled guys!!! WT actual FUCK.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It's my aim to seek permission. In fact in this case I have - but I'm not sure what it means if that person doesn't get back to you. Is it enough that you tried? I'm hoping so.

And the art is featured in a way that is not necessarily flattering, which I definitely do not agree with.

Yeah - this is concerning. In those cases I think it's used to poke fun at the fandom and the artist which is completely uncalled for. Though I suppose those are the dangers we all face when our work is posted. Professionals won't think twice about seeking permission I feel (probably a gross generalisation, but I feel like it could be true).

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I've had convention photos of mine turn up all over the place, including two of my photo ops with me cut out, but although an acknowledgement of the source would be nice and courteous, I know that a lot of the time it isn't easy to track down the origin once something is 'out there'. And I posted my pics knowing that it was highly likely this would happen.

I'd be highly pissed off if someone pretended one of my photos was theirs, and it does bug me if I find one of my photos watermarked by someone else - but if people want to use them for fanart of icons or whatever, that is kind of the reason I shared them in the first place. And it is nice to know that people like them enough to use them that way. I have been known to squee a bit seeing one of my pics in a webpost and I will point out that it's mine (in case anyone doesn't know LOL!)

With my own fanart - I don't know if anyone has ever been that bothered about anything I've created to use or abuse it!

From the other side, being admin for Supernatural Seriously Awesome on Face Book, I'm pretty careful about trying to find the artist or source of anything we post - which is one reason I really dislike tumblr. a) the ethics of posting on there are virtually non existent and b) with all th reblogging it's a pain in the arse to track down the source.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey,

I'm in a quandary about using con footage in a fanvid. I have recently dl'd a heap of footage and plan to use it in a vid. In some cases I have mentioned to the vidder that I would like to use it but in most cases I don't. I will credit "fans" at the end (like I did with my Jared vid). I didn't get into trouble for that one, so I still hope it's ok.

I've learned a thing or two about Tumblr recently and that is reposting is seriously frowned upon (taking someone's work without credit and putting it on your own tumblr) or reblogging it and removing the source. With a reblog the source is actually on the post so tracing it back is easy now. I think of reblogging as a way of reccing - as long as the source remains in tact it's all good.

xx

[stormcloude]

Some of my friend use the Creative Commons licenses to tell people if they can "reuse" their fanworks or not.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - this is a good way to go. :)

[antrazi.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with anybody using my fics in that manner, it's actually a very clear comment that they liked it. I just want to be informed about it and to be credited is nice as well. Of course for art it's often more complicated, it's often not clear who the actual artist was.
And yes, we don't ask permission from the copyright owner of what we use but normally we are actually aware of their wishes. Copyright owners who frown on such things are actually vocal about not wanting that (best case) to sueing wildly.


A good example for that (copy from the fanfiction.net posting guidelines)

FanFiction respects the expressed wishes of the following authors/publishers and will not archive entries based on their work:

Anne Rice
Archie comics
Dennis L. McKiernan
Irene Radford
J.R. Ward
Laurell K. Hamilton
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb
P.N. Elrod
Raymond Feist
Robin Hobb
Robin McKinley
Terry Goodkind


Failure to comply with site rules will result in the removal of stories and/or suspension of account.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh that list is interesting. I didn't know FF did that. That's good I suppose. It also means that all that work that IS on there, those writers have essentially given permission for it to be used.

xx

[antrazi.livejournal.com]

Even if they didn't give permission directly they are at least not against it or don't care one way or the other. I at least can't imagine the copyright owners being angry about the fic with the Tetris piece being in love with a card from Solitaire (yes, that crossover actually exists).

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* Tetris piece being in love with a card from Solitaire. Oh my... :DD

[antrazi.livejournal.com]

Love Games

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

With info in general being shared so openly and fast more and more in the internet I think it's naive to expect your work to be credited everywhere and not used by others to their liking. Everything become more depersonalized. I think it's just how it is. I remember a long time ago I saw someone expecting to get credit for a simple screen cap they did, while you get tons of them from the wonderful screen cap sites without being asked to credit.
So yeah, what's out there is out there. But it's nice when people do credit. I don't know about fanfic though. I'm thinking more in terms of videos.

I had someone once ask if he could embed my video (not fandom) on his FB site. I thought that was sweet. Usually people just share stuff as they please, download with YT downloader what they want and do with it what they want, so I don't much care. It's easier to stay close to those you know generally respect you with your work and let the others do what they want. It's all just copies from copies anyway... ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes - screen caps are interesting aren't they? I suspect that's a totally thankless task. We love to use them but seldom credit them.

I gif I make popped up on a comm and my reaction was a little weird - first I thought - oh you pinched that, then I thought - that's cool you used my gif and then I realised I'd put it on Tumblr so it's essentially up for grabs.

My vids are sometimes put in places I don;t know about and I'm totally cool with that. So yeah - things are changing.

I think being asked or told is nice though. :))

xxoxx

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

This makes my head hurt too. With screen caps, I tend to give credit but not ask to use unless the comm/person gives permission on their site. I don't mind anyone using mine without credit or permission. With fanart I wouldn't share without crediting, but I don't think you can discuss it without showing it. I won't repost anything on Tumblr if I can reblog though, and if an artist has expressed a specific wish not to share their art I respect it. I won't alter art or trim any part off, if I show it either.

I wouldn't dream of showing a vid without credit but as long as it links back to YT I don't ask (I used to but everyone commented that I was the only one that ever asked and not to worry).

I would never take any part of another persons vid or fanart or fic/fic world, and reuse unless I had express permission. Once the artist has applied their own art my gut tells me it's plagiarism. The same with fic.

As for my own fic - ack - I am a total hypocrite. If I have written within the SPN canon world I have no problem with anyone putting their twist on it, but writing in one of my au worlds would feel invasive to me if the tone or main direction was changed.

It's a gut feeling, not logic at work. When I write it expresses a huge amount of me - especially my dark fic. I think I would be horrified if someone tried to give a 'happy romance rescue' to one of my slave fics because I feel so strongly about not glossing over slavery. Yes, it would feel like plagiarism. Would I consider it? If somebody asked nicely, and the tone of the fic matched, probably. Do I know I actually have no control over it? - yes. Does that make me uncomfortable and growly? -yes.
I don't pretend to be level headed and unemotional about the characters and worlds I create.

While I know that it will happen anyway, I also refuse when I am asked if my fic can be translated into other languages. I know from ESL readers that my fic does not always translate well and it leads to misconceptions, (and misconceptions lead to hate), so I am a grumpy cow. No, I don't want my fic translated either.

I am a bad person!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I am a bad person!

well, I wouldn't say that.

Other writers writing in your 'verse is an interesting point. I get it - I think if I was a writer I might feel the same way. And I think that's why some professional writers don't want fanfic writers to write in their 'verse using their characters. You have created a world that other may not be able to capture in exactly the same way. And yeah - putting a happy ending on a dark fic would be very weird. (and omg, I love your slave fics. "Mine" is one of my favs. *g*)

I think screen cappers are making caps specifically to be used by fans. I once emailed a capping site to see if I should give credit when using them and I never heard back. I sometimes credit caps - especially if I've used a lot of their caps, but not all the time.

And I never thought about that with translations. Misinterpretations would be an issues, I can see that.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think I'd prefer if someone asked me if they wanted to use any of my art or fics or anything. I think I'd definitely let them if they credited me. To me I think it's just courtesy.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It IS nice to be asked. I think sometimes it's not always practical (sometimes finding the maker proves to be difficult), but I agree that if it's possible asking is a courtesy.

[colls]

I podfic a bit and it's considered bad manners to podfic without author's permission - either via blanket permission note or specific approval. My understanding of the argument surrounding podfic is whether it's a transformative remixed work or whether a podficcer is archiving a fic albeit in a different medium - in which case archiving w/o author permission has long been considered a faux pas.
My personal opinion is that it's a bit of both and would never dream of posting a podfic without crediting the author - just like you'd never see an audiobook marketed without the author's name prominently displayed.

Like you, I think that if a fan put it out there, said fan wanted to share it. So let's SHARE! Some fan art posts contain notes like "please do not redistribute or alter without permission" and I think that sort of request should be honored.

Rec posts and embedding a youtube vid inherently links back to the source so that's not claiming anything or even remixing, but I go as far as noting on my vid rec blog that if any vidder would like me to take down a post to let them know. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE.

What's being re-used? Are you transforming something to make something entirely new? Are you referencing for meta purposes? Are you using the fan's creation or the source material the fan used? Does it make a difference?

Like podfic, I would consider using someone's vid or fanart to make something of my own without permission to be slightly rude. However, if someone did that with anything I made, I'd be flattered - whether they asked for permission or not.
But what if you can't find the source to ask? That gets murky and I've seen several people say things like "if you know creator, please advice" etc. I'm actually debating that on a podfic where the author had given permission at some point on another fic but can find no public note and have contacted them with no response. Do I assume permission based on precedence? It gets murky.

Then there are things like screencaps. The fan didn't really 'own' that to begin with, did they? I do like to credit sites I use because of the time it took to extract and provide, but I don't ask permission as I'm not sure there was a creative input on the part of the fan. I'm not sure if that's being judgmental or not. Con photos are different still, they're taken by a fan but in a public(-ish) venue. IDK, I've never thought too hard on con photos and such. Who decides what is creative and what isn't?

tl;dr
essentially I agree with your last sentence, but understand that other fans like to be involved with their fanworks which is why we tend to seek permission - it's a courtesy and we like to be nice people.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I think you make a lot of sense. I think we do need to make an effort to be polite and considerate of other fans' works. Sometimes if depends on the situation and the manner in which the work will be used. I hadn't thought much on podficcing - but yeah, it would be very important to credit the author and get permission. I suspect most authors would be thrilled to have their work read.

I'm often torn with using con footage. I am making a J2 vid atm and I have a heap of dl'd footage. I've thanked people where I can but getting permission from everyone is pretty impractical.

The fan didn't really 'own' that to begin with, did they?

Screen caps are interesting because I feel like they are made for the express purpose of fans using them. I except it's nice to credit the makers where possible though.

Hmmm...a lot of it is murky. I suppose if we try and do the right thing it's the best we can do.
xx

[destina.livejournal.com]

It has happened to me a couple of times. A piece of Want was used in a vid once, and a screencap of a story I wrote was used as an illustration in a vid. I wasn't asked first, and I didn't really mind. I guess in my head, I put that in a different category than remixes (which to me are is issue of fannish courtesy in terms of people asking before they decide to rewrite my story, because we all have to live with each other here), or people quoting my work and making my URLs available as a source in academic journals (which puts my stuff out there in the wider world beyond fandom). I've been clear that I don't want either of the latter, but to some fans, it doesn't matter. I think it should matter.

I don't know, it's tricky. I don't want to reach a point where I have to lock stuff down. I already took down all my videos, and I only put new ones up for short periods of time, and I change the passwords often to ensure embeds won't work if folks try to pass them around. But it's hard to control people re-uploading things on their own, which has also happened to me; I've had to ask people to remove my stuff from YouTube. I try to assert as much control as I can over my own work, which isn't much, honestly.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

or people quoting my work and making my URLs available as a source in academic journals (which puts my stuff out there in the wider world beyond fandom).

Hmmm, that's a good point. I know a lot of fanwork does end up in academic journals. I thought that those writers sort permission for the works to be used, but maybe they don't. Having work out there beyond our fannish haven is a consideration - especially for those who really, really don't want it to be.

Hmmm... I'm trying to put that into context for which I will be using fanworks.... I think it will be ok, but I'll have to think on that a bit more. Thanks for pointing that out.

xx

[cherry916.livejournal.com]

I think it varies. Some are 100% okay with it and consider it flattering. While others think it's stealing (even if you have credit) and aren't comfortable at all.

I would suggest asking ahead of time when wanting to use things and explain why and how you are going to use it.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yep - that's what I've done. Only, I haven't heard back from everyone so I'm stuck as to what to do. Use it anyway? Or remove it..

(though it possibly won't be an issue if everything works out the way I'm hoping it will).

[cherry916.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't use it so you don't upset anyone. I think using it anyway without hearing back is kind of asking for trouble.

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

I think for me it comes down to credit, credit given where it's due, anyone who contributes to fandom by creating something from the source material attaches a little bit of themselves to it, their skills, their love, maybe even a bit of their soul, but the huge thing is, hopefully, in return they get love back from their fandom and it's good and it's satisfying and let's be honest here, we all like being loved.

Now as I see it, source is source and open to everyone, what we do with those screencaps, those video clips, that string of words, that bead, charm or skein of wool, is create something new to share with our fandoms and we do it with passion and we get this sense of achievement and often friendship in return, but once a piece of fandom creation is out there in the world or on the net it's pretty much out of our control and open to be transformed again, It's common fandom courtesy to try to contact and seek dialogue where possible and respect other's work and wishes. we put a lot of trust into our fellow fans to remember that fandom works are often created in our private on-line safe spaces and not all of us want too much exposure, that what we create, although shared in our fandom can be still be deeply personal for various reasons and could have damaging repercussions in our real lives. This to me is why we don't transform fan works with the same carefree ease we transform source material.

What I object to, and very strongly object to, is the fact that while everyone knows where the source comes from and we all start with the same open source, some don't care to do the work but still want all that glory.

Passing off someone else's work as your own is where it's dead wrong. Plagiarism is a huge faux pas in the written word and yes, sorry, but I do see using edited video clips without credit as wrong, if you can download and clip out edited scenes from fan made vids, on YouTube, then you can clip those scenes from the episodes, nearly all of them are on YouTube. Source clips are all the same, no one could recognise where they came from, you only take coloured, blended, masked and intricately cut scenes that change the whole flow of the source without crediting the maker for one reason, and that's to put those in your vid and then sit back and bask in the glory of comments telling you how excellent your editing is. Nope, that's stealing in my book, just the same as putting your name over someone's photographs or passing off art work, altered screencaps or gifs as your own, it's not stealing of the source, but it is stealing another creator's feedback and their fandom love and respect.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

we put a lot of trust into our fellow fans to remember that fandom works are often created in our private on-line safe spaces and not all of us want too much exposure,

Yeah, I think this is a really important point. I'm trying to put it into context of my situation with other works and hoping that that isn't going to be an issue. I think not, but I'll have to ponder that some more.

some don't care to do the work but still want all that glory.

This is one of my biggest bug bears. People taking something that someone has spent time and passion and claiming it as their own. I also can't see how anyone can feel the reward from that. Being told what you've made is awesome surely rings false and can't be gratifying. I also don't understand why someone would take a chuck of a vid to use in theirs as surely only THEY can tell the story they want with their own edits. It can't really be creative editing if you are taking someone else's edits.

It's quite the can of worms - but the courtesy of asking seems to be the way to go.