ash48: (Discussion / no weapons discharge)
[personal profile] 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.

Date: 2013-06-07 08:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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.

Date: 2013-06-07 01:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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.

Date: 2013-06-08 10:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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).

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