I have a number of stories that I love, Sadly there are a few that remain unfinished.
I know that a few stories on here have been finished by talented readers...Scout comes to mind...With the finish by Fantasy Lover HERE.
Is there an established topic for posting these fractions of fiction to in hopes of a whole completion?
Tycoon By Dash & Raven Soule is the one I was rereading that sparked the post.
Thanks in advance for any help or assistance!
Don Lockwood's Rewind.
https://storiesonline.net/a/Don_Lockwood
https://storiesonline.net/s/42289/rewind
Don noted in his blog he was back to writing as of the end of 2019 and would finish Rewind, but like everything else, the Rona has likely screwed that up.
Random writing's only story, The Private. Such an interesting tale, but unfinished towards the end. Still worth the read.
https://storiesonline.net/s/69860/the-private
There are so many stories I'd love to see finished, The Defenseman series comes to mind since I was just discussing it. Cold Creek really left people in the lurch on that, I am sure there are a lot more stories that people could finish. Perhaps if there was a 5+ years old rule, anything that has sat unfinished and abandoned for that long with no activity by the original author?
Not sure how people would feel about it though.
Perhaps if there was a 5+ years old rule, anything that has sat unfinished and abandoned for that long with no activity by the original author?
It doesn't matter how long it sits unless it's long enough to lose copyright protection, it's still the intellectual property of the author.
It doesn't matter how long it sits unless it's long enough to lose copyright protection, it's still the intellectual property of the author.
I agree with that. There are several stories I really would like to see finished but not at the cost of abusing an authors copyright. And even after that the story/characters remain the intellectual property of the author so it's even debatable if a separate story that finishes an unfinished story is the right way to do it.
There are probably lots of readers who don't care about copyrights and intellectual property, they just want their stuff free and complete. But I think most readers here on SOL are a lot 'closer' to the authors and thus have a lot more respect for their efforts and consequently their rights, at least I hope so.
This is not strictly true. Per the SOL Author Agreement:
16. If you don't log into Storiesonline for more than 3 years, your stories will get moved into the archives which are accessible to premier members only. We may give interested authors permission to finish any work you left unfinished.
Essentially, authors have granted copyright permission in terms of completing stories. That doesn't include e.g. spinoffs, sequels, whatever.
Essentially, authors have granted copyright permission in terms of completing stories.
That rule says:
We may give interested authors permission to finish any work you left unfinished.
May, as in it's not automatic. And the We is site management(Lazeez). That isn't blanket permission for any author to on their own pick up and finish another author's work.
Rule 16 isn't exactly true.
I doubt that it would hold up in court if the original author challenged it, so the site would likely only entertain such additions if the author is deceased.
Unlike those who steal stories and post them elsewhere,, SoL and WLP are an easy target for a copyright lawyer, IF a breach was ever committed by them upon a copyright holder who cared enough to act.
SoL and WLP are an easy target for a copyright lawyer, IF a breach was ever committed by them upon a copyright holder who cared enough to act.
Not as easy as you think. Sure, they could fairly easily get an injunction, but monetary damages would require proof of actual damages. That could be rather difficult for something they deliberately posted to SOL in the first place.
In the US, there are statutory damages that could be obtained without proof of actual damages, but that would require that the copyright was registered before the breach occurred.
Note: I am not suggesting that the above is reason/justification to ignore the right/wishes of the original author.
Don't forget that copyright law has two types: civil and criminal.
For civil you are correct, the copyright holder needs to prove damages in order to collect payment.
However, this is not true for criminal copyright, for which there are fines and even potential jail time. Prosecutors don't need to prove that the copyright holder lost anything, only that the violator knowingly and wilfully committed copyright violation for profit. Since SOL and WP collect fees for use that would probably be enough.
The likelihood of this happening is low, but if SOL started encouraging violations en masse it could happen.
Prosecutors don't need to prove that the copyright holder lost anything, only that the violator knowingly and wilfully[sic] committed copyright violation for profit.
This is not quite true under US law.
There is a certain element of scale to it. For a criminal charge, they must have unlawfully produced at least 10 copies with an aggregate retail value of at least $1,000.00 (or $2,500.00 for a felony charge).
And they have to prove state of mind. That the defendant knew that the work was under copyright.
Stories that have only ever been posted on SOL have a retail value of $0.
I wasn't aware of the limits, thank you. Even so, I suspect that the idea that stories posted here are without value is probably not legally true. Giving something away for free does not invalidate copyright.
However, your phrasing did remind me of something: SOL and Lazeez are based in Canada, so likely it's Canadian copyright law that applies here. And other than having slightly shorter terms (50 years after the author's death instead of the US's 70), I have no idea about the details.
Giving something away for free does not invalidate copyright.
No, giving something away for free does not invalidate copyright and you can still sue over it, though you would likely be limited to injunctive relief.
For that matter, you still have a copyright if you don't share it at all.
However, the requirement for a criminal charge is not just value, but explicitly retail value.
If it's not available at retail anywhere, it's going to be really hard to prove it has a retail value
Essentially, authors have granted copyright permission in terms of completing stories. That doesn't include e.g. spinoffs, sequels, whatever.
I didn't know about that part of the author agreement (I'm not an author).
I agree with Dominions Son and JoyR that while the rule is there SOL management will be very cautious with allowing someone to finish such a story. Probably, like JoyR said, only if the author is deceased.
Probably, like JoyR said, only if the author is deceased.
Not quite.
1. If the author is known to be deceased.
2. IIRC: Lazeez has mentioned that a couple of authors explicitly gave him permission to pick someone to continue their stories.
1. If the author is known to be deceased.
Well duh. If it's not know you can't just assume. ("the rumors about...")
2. IIRC: Lazeez has mentioned that a couple of authors explicitly gave him permission to pick someone to continue their stories.
Yes, I remember reading something like that here on the forum.
Well duh. If it's not know you can't just assume.
Well, my point was more the other way around. Not assuming that authors are deceased, but rather thinking an actually deceased author is merely MIA.
Well, my point was more the other way around. Not assuming that authors are deceased, but rather thinking an actually deceased author is merely MIA.
Then we agree :)
I have to say i'm not interested in that stories anymore, it got too damn weird even for me
I too have read a few stories that may have been finished by the author ( only 2-3 pages)but their story was not. I have also read a couple of short stories that were on rather forbidden? subjects concerning FGM that were also extremely short and not well written or liked that essentially needed severe expansion and editing. I have tried contacting the authors to render some demented services to both editing and proofreading. I am having some difficulty finding a listing of verboten subjects except politics.
Any hints? Lazeez.
Demigod of War
https://storiesonline.net/s/19098:230917
A well written and interesting story that I hope might one day be completed. Mad Wolf posted in his blog in October 2021 that he is finishing another story. Then he will return to Demigod of War.
Silver Wings Upon His Chest
https://storiesonline.net/s/14348:187178
It's not as good a plot as Demigod of War. Only 5 chapters were posted. I do think it had potential.
Adam's Redoubt
https://storiesonline.net/s/17375:202330
Post apocalypse story that is plausible and well written.
Sixth Generation Cowboy and a Third Generation Whore
https://storiesonline.net/s/20085/the-past-effects-the
I would like to see that story resume, partially because I have met the author and hope his situation improves.
I spoke with him around Christmas 2021, and he has posted in his blog recently. He is supposed to be writing, but is having problems with internet access. He is sequestered in an assisted living facility. Washington state still has draconian "Covid-19" restrictions.
https://storiesonline.net/s/69120/more-magic by Lazlo. I keep hoping that Tenderloin can complete it.
