And for those who haven't found this comm by now: Life without FanLib is...

[patk]

here: http://community.livejournal.com/life_wo_fanlib/

I found the entry "We Call It Fanfiction. FanLib Calls It Viral Marketing. A special round-up of FanLib's activities since 2003" especially interesting.

Quote from the article:

"As was exposed by rez_lo and chesyre, FanLib isn't a

Comments

Re: Who needs another Corporate Overlord?

[patk]

>>that they've invented something new and revolutionary (an archive?)

Yes, what a new and stunning concept, isn't it? ;-)

>>the notion that fanfic writers crave some sort of legitimacy from "the establishment".

See, they know "us" better than we do. ;-?

>>My life is controlled enough by outside forces--government, job, etc.--I don't need to have my creativity controlled and regimented as well.<<

Absolutely what I think too. :-) Couldn't have said it better.

PatK
:-)

[snycock]

harness the energy in a way that can be controlled and moderated by the creators and distributors of that existing property.'... "

Controlled and moderated? Oh, no, I don't think so, buddy....::makes pissy face::

The more I read about this, the more the total male chauvinistic attitude of it all is infuriating me! Oh, you poor dears have no idea what you're doing, so let us come in and control it all for you...grrrr....

[patk]

And if you read their marketing brochure... man it's *so* clear what they really want. Control of a possibly lucrative market niche. :-(

[laurie_ky]

Yay!, PatK for rounding up this information. It has set me to thinking about the implications and what message it sends to the readers and writers of fanfiction. I now have to go back to painting the endless project bedroom again, but I've been thinking about all the comments and posts I've read and probably later tonight will actually post my thoughts, too.
Laurie

[patk]

>>It has set me to thinking about the implications and what message it sends to the readers and writers of fanfiction.<<

"You're a herd of cows with no owner that needs to be milked regularly"

PatK
:-)

[laurie_ky]

THAT is a great metaphor. I think you should post it on the life without fanlib community.
Laurie

[roslynsmuse]

Harnessed and controlled? I guess they will concentrate on B&D fics then.

Has anyone contacted TPTB at LJ central? For their take on this and whether or not TPTB at Fanlib can ever have any say over LJ content? I don't see how - corporate entities can't really permit fan fic to be restricted to only one locale if they are prepared to permit it to continue at all. Any licensing requirements for writers via a single entity like Fan Lib, would be unwieldy and end the recreational nature of the entire enterprise.

Fan Fic is also a key to profit for discontinued series - sells a lot of DVDs and enlarges audiences. No series lasts forever so the wider the territory covered by writers, the better for them.

Seems people are awfully nervous when a simple comment from the local gurus might set some minds at ease. After all, LJ users have some consumer power too - why not use it?

. . . and it might be just a little bit fun to see TPTB at LJ tap dance a bit on this subject.

Roslyn