Posted by Hilary Weston on January 30, 2000 at 23:30:00 from dynamic-23.max4-du-ws.dialnetwork.pavilion.co.uk:
In Reply to: Re: Fan Fiction posted by Peter H on January 30, 2000 at 20:36:02:
I've nothing against a writing competition, all for it; but the thing with Fan fiction is that you wouldn't have to try and copy AR's style. I personally don't think I could after writing in my own style for so long.
Fan fiction is pure enjoyment from those who write and those who read. Those people who might be daunted at entering a competition, should feel comfotable enough to post at a Fan fiction site as all are welcome.
As to the subject of copywrite, this comes up in all Fan fiction, as the characters are usually owned by someone else. Hence the elaborate disclaimers that head up each story. Some of them are as fun to read as the stories themselves. When it comes down to it, the big TV companies, or whoever we've 'borrowed' from, probably decide that it is not worth trying to track everyone down and sue them. None of us are making any money from it after all.
As I don't know much more about copywrite, I shall finish here.