What's really killing me is that there are already several studies that have been done by fanthropology programs at universities that would've given FanLib a ton of information about fanfic writers. It's out there. It exists, for Christ's sake. The fact that they marketing to fanfic writers doesn't seem to go beyond raiding the FF.net and LJ rosters for writers is mind-boggling.
I think the thing that's getting overlooked (by both sides, believe it or not) is that FanLib is, in essence, asking fanfic writers to do them a favor by providing free content. Jesus! I work in publishing! I know for a fact that content is currency! FanLib, in essence, expects people to give them content (remember, free currency!) which they can then use to make a profit.
Without even getting into the fact that FanLib proposes to make a profit off fanfiction (which is a very dark grey area in copyright law at best) based on a legal theory that's never been tried in U.S. courts, you'd think they'd give slightly more consideration to the people feeding them content beyond a t-shirt.
Now, given that FanLib is asking us to do them a favor by feeding them content, you'd think they'd actually be polite about it. But they're not. When people bring up legitimate questions, they are ignored or get some kind of rude, circular answer. It's maddening.
I don't want to even get into the whiff of sexism that I'm starting to pick up. I'd just raise my bloodpressure into the level of stroke.
As for familiar names, I know some people have registered, if only to cybersquat their names, but don't intend to send content to the site. I'm not sure that's a wise move, since it gives them some kind of "population" they can sell to potential advertisers. What's more, it might be counterproductive if, say, Universal or FOX, decides to start hunting for scalps on select properties.
no subject
I think the thing that's getting overlooked (by both sides, believe it or not) is that FanLib is, in essence, asking fanfic writers to do them a favor by providing free content. Jesus! I work in publishing! I know for a fact that content is currency! FanLib, in essence, expects people to give them content (remember, free currency!) which they can then use to make a profit.
Without even getting into the fact that FanLib proposes to make a profit off fanfiction (which is a very dark grey area in copyright law at best) based on a legal theory that's never been tried in U.S. courts, you'd think they'd give slightly more consideration to the people feeding them content beyond a t-shirt.
Now, given that FanLib is asking us to do them a favor by feeding them content, you'd think they'd actually be polite about it. But they're not. When people bring up legitimate questions, they are ignored or get some kind of rude, circular answer. It's maddening.
I don't want to even get into the whiff of sexism that I'm starting to pick up. I'd just raise my bloodpressure into the level of stroke.
As for familiar names, I know some people have registered, if only to cybersquat their names, but don't intend to send content to the site. I'm not sure that's a wise move, since it gives them some kind of "population" they can sell to potential advertisers. What's more, it might be counterproductive if, say, Universal or FOX, decides to start hunting for scalps on select properties.