Posting guidelines question

[binky]

Hi all,

I'm new here, been lurking a couple of months but think I'm ready to start
participating until I outstay my welcome and am asked to leave.

I have an AU Willow/Tara fic that I started a couple of months ago that I'd
like to try here, since it doesn't seem to fit in any of the online W/T
sites neatly and I really need feedback (my first AU, my first longish
story, I'm insecure). My question is, do you have some type of FAQ that goes
over formatting rules?

Thanks,

binky

[AGOL]

Hi binky.

You could maybe check out the headings at the start of some of the fics
posted by others here for what's preferred. A disclaimer of some sort is
also considered usual.

Please remember to post in '.txt' format, i.e. from text readable by
MSNotepad for example. This ensures all can read it whichever newsreader
they prefer using. Do not use '.doc', '.rtf', or HTML, etc. It also saves
bandwidth for those still on dial-up.

Also see the headers ( subject lines) for the format to use there, showing
the story's name, and which part you are posting, of how many. For example:
[ Fic: "Shaggy Dog" 1/1 ] and if you think it necessary, a caution rating.
The system used at < Fanfiction.net > seems to be the usual one these days.

I expect others here can usefully add to these points, and clarify where
necessary.

HTH

Looking forward to seeing your fic.

AGOL



"binky" <***@optonline.net> wrote in message news:gBzzi.3893$***@newsfe12.lga...
| Hi all,
|
| I'm new here, been lurking a couple of months but think I'm ready to start
| participating until I outstay my welcome and am asked to leave.
|
| I have an AU Willow/Tara fic that I started a couple of months ago that
I'd
| like to try here, since it doesn't seem to fit in any of the online W/T
| sites neatly and I really need feedback (my first AU, my first longish
| story, I'm insecure). My question is, do you have some type of FAQ that
goes
| over formatting rules?
|
| Thanks,
|
| binky
|
|

[BTR1701]

Post by AGOL
A disclaimer of some sort is
also considered usual.

Yes, despite the fact that those disclaimers have no legal effect and
actually serve to make a prima facie case for copyright infringement
should anyone decide to sue over it.

[-Andy-]

Post by BTR1701

A disclaimer of some sort is also considered usual.

Yes, despite the fact that those disclaimers have no legal effect and
actually serve to make a prima facie case for copyright infringement
should anyone decide to sue over it.

And a lot of them have the words "no copyright infringement intended" or
"covered by fair use" or similar words which clearly shows the authors
of these works have no idea what copyright, fair use, and 'intellectual
property' really mean.

I've always thought the use of the word "disclaimer" was unfortunate.
They are really an acknowledgement of the source material being borrowed
from.

But it's too late to change it now. It's the required/enforced wordage
on a lot of fic archive sites. Until someone actually gets sued. (Which
I don't believe has actually happened yet (in the US anyway))

[binky]

Thanks all. I'll dig around some of the previous work folks have posted
here.

[BTR1701]

Post by -Andy-

Post by BTR1701

A disclaimer of some sort is also considered usual.

Yes, despite the fact that those disclaimers have no
legal effect and actually serve to make a prima facie
case for copyright infringement should anyone decide
to sue over it.

And a lot of them have the words "no copyright infringement
intended" or "covered by fair use" or similar words which
clearly shows the authors of these works have no idea what
copyright, fair use, and 'intellectual property' really mean.
I've always thought the use of the word "disclaimer" was
unfortunate. They are really an acknowledgement of the source
material being borrowed from.

Yes, it's pretty much saying, "Yes, I know the material I'm using
belongs to someone else but I'm doing it anyway." So in the event the
copyright owner decides to sue, all they have to do is point to the
disclaimer and say, "See? This disclaimer is proof you knew about our
intellectual property rights."

Basically by putting a disclaimer on your fanfic, you're foreclosing any
possible "innocent mistake" defense you might otherwise have.

[Daniel Damouth]

Post by -Andy-

Post by BTR1701

A disclaimer of some sort is also considered usual.

Yes, despite the fact that those disclaimers have no legal effect
and actually serve to make a prima facie case for copyright
infringement should anyone decide to sue over it.

And a lot of them have the words "no copyright infringement
intended" or "covered by fair use" or similar words which clearly
shows the authors of these works have no idea what copyright, fair
use, and 'intellectual property' really mean.

Not to mention that a lot of fanfic authors label their stories
"parody", because they think they can thereby invoke "fair use", when
the stories are clearly not parody.

-Dan Damouth