Forum: Author Hangout

I read that already, thanks, but I wanted to make sure I understood.

I had hoped to get input from those who had run contributory universes as often there are subtleties that are missed, or maybe that is just me.

I had hoped to get input from those who had run contributory universes as often there are subtleties that are missed, or maybe that is just me.

While there are aspects of a universe the creator can set out, there is nothing they can do to make other authors abide by them once they allow the author access to the universe. I've got some stories in the Damsels in Distress Universe and have helped others understand it to the point I wrote a Rules Book for it which was approved by the universe creator, as were so expansions on the universe rules I made. However, there are other authors in the universe and one of them has a story which violates the universe canon, but the story is still there as the universe is an Open Universe. Lazlo, the creator of the DiD Universe, accepted he can't make people abide by what he created and just lets it be.

I should mention that where people have violated the set out canon of a universe they've been minor things. In the DiD universe there is no moon, so there is no moonlight, but due to the location in the galaxy there's a lot more starlight than on Earth. Thus people can move about at night with the light being about level with the darkest period we have on Earth, but it's always like that there. In a couple of DiD stories the authors have violated that aspect and have moonlight in the story. yes, it's against the established universe rules, but it's very minor. If anyone was going to violate the rules a great deal they'd likely set up a new universe of their own.

Two possible not-quite-workarounds, that work in conjunction:

1) Use Multi-Author, and ask authors to agree to whatever terms you want (respect the universe bible, edit to fix things outside the bible, withdraw stories clearly outside, authorize Lazeez to remove stories clearly outside, etc). Enforceable? No idea, but it sets an understanding, and you can make the 'terms and conditions' public.

2) Post a list of stories considered 'within the universe' as a story inside the universe. Only add stories that fit the criteria.

Both can cause conflict if someone posts something they think is valid and you don't, but conflict is inevitable if that happens. They at least give you some rules for the conflict.

At a bare minimum, I would expect that the creator can revoke that permission.

I just looked, and we can indeed add or remove authors.

My point on whether it was enforcible were the terms beyond simply exclusion. For instance, if one signs an agreement saying that Lazeez can remove any stories that violate the Universe's bible, would Lazeez then remove them? No idea. If an author signs an agreement saying they'll edit to fix issues, then doesn't fix them, what can you do? But at least you've not just set the terms, you've set them in a public place and the other authors have explicitly agreed to them.

What would be nice is for Universes to have a curator who needs to approve stories for posting within the Universe and can kick them out (but not delete them). But that's precisely the problem we're working around.

I believe the Swarm Cycle universe based on Thinking Horndog's stories and dozens of other authors who added material have an organization who might be able to help you.

There are some excellent Swarm Cycle-type stories that are non-canon and not in the official universe. Is there a need for an 'associated' universe, public so that any author can contribute, and linked to the official universe so readers can easily navigate between them?

AJ

Is there a need for an 'associated' universe, public so that any author can contribute,

My initial thought is Thinking Horndog created the Swarm Universe and defined Canon within the Universe, and therefore he owns the copyright on that Universe in the same way as other authors' own the copyright on series such as Harry Potter.

So for me, creation of another Universe based on the Swarm Universe without Thinking Horndog's permission would be a violation of his copyright.

So for me, creation of another Universe based on the Swarm Universe without Thinking Horndog's permission would be a violation of his copyright.

I don't believe TH is inclined to enforce the copyright rigorously since he hasn't objected to 'inspired by the swarm cycle' appearing in story descriptions. And that's what I envisage associated universes would be - inspired by - whether by the swarm cycle, damsels in distress, naked in school or whatever.

AJ

I don't believe TH is inclined to enforce the copyright rigorously since he hasn't objected to 'inspired by the swarm cycle'

Whether he is inclined to enforce his copyright, or not, TH still owns the copyright.

To me, there is a difference between 'inspired by' and posting a story using his universe, which includes organizations such as The Confederacy, Civil Service, Earth First, etc., without his permission.

I my opinion, 'inspired by' means the author created a similar universe with different rules, characters, and organizations.

In my opinion, 'fanfic' violates the original author's copyright if the original author did not give the fanfic authors permission to post/publish their stories.

Just because the author who created a universe is overwhelmed by the number of unauthorized fanfic stories doesn't mean the posting/publication of such stories is not a violation of the original author's copyright.