There is a writer I suggested post their stories on here. I received the following response:
I just popped over there and I don't like their terms and conditions. You have to agree that that they can do whatever they like with your material, use it on any site they deem, edit it however they want to, and you don't get much say about it. Not for me.
How much does this writer have to "fear" concerning these terms? I would appreciate your thoughts on this writer's comment.
From my perspective, none of the things cited are concerns:
They can't do 'whatever they like.' They can post it to any WLPC-run site. They can edit it, but the T&C lists fairly limited reasons. And, of course, you can always remove your material.
Based on the history of poorly formatted and proofread material, the odds of WLPC actually editing anyone's submissions is very low.
If there is a concern for me, it's:
This agreement may be changed/altered without prior notice. Changes will apply to all posted works retroactively. It's your responsibility to keep up with changes to this agreement. You may request the removal of your works at any time if you don't agree with any change to this agreement.
That creates a much larger loophole than anything else in the T&C, in my opinion. Still, I'm comfortable with it.
Based on the history of poorly formatted and proofread material, the odds of WLPC actually editing anyone's submissions is very low.
No, Lazeez did it for my very first submission, because I was too stupid to understand the formatting guide. My entire 10k-word chapter came out as one massive wall of text. He added paragraphs for me.
Ahh! Actually, that's pretty good (I think). I seriously sweated my first submission and spent far too many emails working with Lazeez to get it (almost) right.
My point was much more that I see so many postings about stories with terrible grammar, spelling, punctuation and so forth that I doubt most submissions will get editing (beyond, maybe, making sure there are paragraphs).
This agreement may be changed/altered without prior notice. Changes will apply to all posted works retroactively. It's your responsibility to keep up with changes to this agreement. You may request the removal of your works at any time if you don't agree with any change to this agreement.
I believe this has to do with potential changes to laws and regulations in Canada, and the USA.
Previous changes in Canadian law (where the websites are based) changed the ages that are stated in stories. Previously published stores are exempted. However, that is at the Whim of politicians. Bureaucrats too could impose changes.
Changes of laws or regulations could necessitate changes to stories archived on these sites. Such a rule protects Laz and the site(s).
I came here for the military fiction. I enjoy many of the stories here; but mostly because there are more stories here than on Fine Stories, etc.
I understand that the majority of stories, and readers, are primarily interest in the porn. No skin of my nose. I get to enjoy one of the best online story sites that is sustained by others.
SOL has decades of reasonable policies and good stories. I wonder if the person referenced in the OP knows of a better site, without similar policies? I don't.
Previous changes in Canadian law (where the websites are based)
Is that still the case?
Oh, I'm not disagreeing that Lazeez needs that clause. However, the way it's worded, it's entirely open to any change for any reason, which makes it at least a concern.
That said - I'm publishing here and I'm very happy to. It's not something that bothers me. It's just that, if I were going to react negatively to something in the agreement, the notion of terms changing at any time for any reason would be the one that would set me off.
I'm publishing here and I'm very happy to. It's not something that bothers me. It's just that, if I were going to react negatively to something in the agreement, the notion of terms changing at any time for any reason would be the one that would set me off.
I agree it is a Concern just not a serious concern to you, me, and many others.
As far as I know every other similar site has a similar rule, for similar reasons.
Most importantly the "big river" has demonstrated far worse practices.
Just today Larry Corriea posted a very justified rant about his efforts at publicizing his stories, and those of other authors he promotes, being "Disappeared"
Numerous other authors added to his post about their tribulations posting links to their stories, and that the costs of advertising on Google/FB/@ma$on, etc. are typically nearly as much as any increased profits.
Despite the customer base for Bookapy being a tiny fraction of other sites, it seems that many authors might enjoy a similar level of profit, unless they get uncommonly Lucky on other more well known sites.
No using a P@treon or similar page may work well for some. Getting published by Baen, or a few other mainstream publishers may be profitable too. But much more difficult to get published.
There are some other outlets for military fiction, but that is a specialty market.
All the rules have a logical reason and benign origin.
You have to agree that that they can do whatever they like with your material, use it on any site they deem, edit it however they want to, and you don't get much say about it
Format the text: Many authors insist on controlling every minutiae of their works. I put that rule in when a couple of authors insisted that I keep their fonts, font sizes, colours etc... That wouldn't work with an engine like SOL's.
Edit the text: Many authors submit terrible text, sometime we reject it, and sometime we fix it.
Post to any site: We have many sites, for example Scifistories, so if somebody submits a scifi story to SOL, this rule allows us to post it to Scifistories.com too.
As for the rule about the changes to the rules, it only makes sense since the world around us changes. Laws change, and technologies change, our agreement needs to allow for changes otherwise at some point we would need to close up shop because we can abide by some new law without getting every author's agreement first. Notice rule #7?
I have been here for a lot of years. I trust Lazeez implicitly. He has always been attentive and honorable in his interactions with me. I have observed the same traits in his interactions with others. He is very mild in his interpretation of the rules and tends to side with the author unless it deals with laws that can cause criminal prosecution.
In those cases, he is extremely strict. As it is his livelihood and literal freedom at stake I do not blame him. So As long as he heads the company I wouldn't concern myself with the T&C's.