No copyright infringement is intended....
I might just be getting old and crotchety, but does anyone know what writing "No copyright infringement is intended" on fanfic actually means? Or whether fanfic writers have any idea what they think they mean by it?
It seems to be "I'm going to use your characters without your permission, but I don't mean to..." which is, of course, complete nonsense. They know they're using someone else's creations, they haven't asked the author's permission, they know there's a copyright issue or they wouldn't mention it, but they think saying they don't *intend* to violate copyright makes it all okay? As though copyright law is all about "intention" rather than fact?
Like walking into a sweet shop, grabbing a bag of sweeties and shouting to the shopkeeper "No theft is intended, okay?!" as you run out.
I don't have an issue generally with fanfic - some of it is very good (and sadly most is complete crap) but I just wish the writers would simply acknowledge that they *are* violating someone else's copyright and not try to pretend it's not an issue. I have a lot more respect for writers who put "Not my characters but please don't sue me....". Much more honest.
Rant over!
It seems to be "I'm going to use your characters without your permission, but I don't mean to..." which is, of course, complete nonsense. They know they're using someone else's creations, they haven't asked the author's permission, they know there's a copyright issue or they wouldn't mention it, but they think saying they don't *intend* to violate copyright makes it all okay? As though copyright law is all about "intention" rather than fact?
Like walking into a sweet shop, grabbing a bag of sweeties and shouting to the shopkeeper "No theft is intended, okay?!" as you run out.
I don't have an issue generally with fanfic - some of it is very good (and sadly most is complete crap) but I just wish the writers would simply acknowledge that they *are* violating someone else's copyright and not try to pretend it's not an issue. I have a lot more respect for writers who put "Not my characters but please don't sue me....". Much more honest.
Rant over!