I'm curious...
Jun. 7th, 2013 10:52 amSomething 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.
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.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-07 03:21 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-07 03:44 am (UTC)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/