An Open Letter to BBC Sherlock Fanfic Writers
Dear Writers of Sherlock Fanfic:
Thank you very much for all the pleasure you give me (especially you Sherlock/John and Lestrade/Mycroft writers in BBC Sherlock).
Perhaps you could do me and your other readers just two small (tiny really) favors?
1) In your disclaimers, could you NOT state that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle owns the rights to Sherlock Holmes? First off, he's been dead for pretty close to a century. If anyone owned the rights, it would be his estate. Second, his estate DID own the rights... UNTIL THE COPYRIGHT EXPIRED. See all those new SH movies and TV shows? And new books by various authors? It's BECAUSE THE COPYRIGHT EXPIRED. BBC owns the rights to its own show. Holmes, Watson, and company are themselves free individuals these days. Really.
2) DEDUCT versus DEDUCE. It is all well and good that Sherlock is an expert in the art of DEDUCTION. This word, as used, means "the drawing of conclusions". However, to engage in deduction is to DEDUCE. To DEDUCT is to subtract. For example, Holmes DEDUCES that Watson served in Afghanistan. He DEDUCTS his expenses to balance his bank statement. Please no longer make Sherlock deduct that the killer was a left-handed Australian midget. He is only capable of deducing it.
This has been a public service message. Thank you.
Thank you very much for all the pleasure you give me (especially you Sherlock/John and Lestrade/Mycroft writers in BBC Sherlock).
Perhaps you could do me and your other readers just two small (tiny really) favors?
1) In your disclaimers, could you NOT state that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle owns the rights to Sherlock Holmes? First off, he's been dead for pretty close to a century. If anyone owned the rights, it would be his estate. Second, his estate DID own the rights... UNTIL THE COPYRIGHT EXPIRED. See all those new SH movies and TV shows? And new books by various authors? It's BECAUSE THE COPYRIGHT EXPIRED. BBC owns the rights to its own show. Holmes, Watson, and company are themselves free individuals these days. Really.
2) DEDUCT versus DEDUCE. It is all well and good that Sherlock is an expert in the art of DEDUCTION. This word, as used, means "the drawing of conclusions". However, to engage in deduction is to DEDUCE. To DEDUCT is to subtract. For example, Holmes DEDUCES that Watson served in Afghanistan. He DEDUCTS his expenses to balance his bank statement. Please no longer make Sherlock deduct that the killer was a left-handed Australian midget. He is only capable of deducing it.
This has been a public service message. Thank you.