David wrote:You are hereby granted license to write Ponyfinder fiction in short story or novel fashion, provided it is given to us for review, either by emailing us at
fanfics@ponyfinder.net or posting it to this forum. Monetization options are not included in this license unless otherwise arranged. Such fiction is not authorized to be posted elsewhere until approval is given(We aren't aiming to be mean, but we do need to make sure no super scandalous Ponyfinder fics do the rounds with our blessing attached).
Congratulations!
PS: This license applies to anyone who reads this.
I am going to have to bite the bullet here and point out how wrong this post comes over. You are trying to enforce rules on something as unregulated as fanfiction, that never ends well.
This forum is your domain where you can do as you please, but outside of this forum you have very little authority on what fanfiction people want to post. As for monetization, I understand not wishing to have people sell their work based on your world, but you do have an active Patreon that walks that line like a tightrope so I think discretion is the better part of valor.
If you truly stand by what you posted above you will have to provide good evidence that you have send your work through relevant copyright holders for your own fanfiction. Otherwise, as much as I adore your work, you are coming over as a massive hypocrite, and also delusional if you think you can enforce the above restrictions in any way possible.
Mind you, I am NOT asking you to give blessings to all or any fanfictions. No one can force you to accept their work as being associated with yours, but you can also not stop them from saying their work was inspired by you. If they care whether or not you are happy with what they are doing, they will come here and gladly post it for your approval, you do not have to force them. In the end, you should be happy that others are willing to spend their time on your world and in the process are giving you free advertisement.
A much better reply would have been:
"I am happy to hear that you were inspired by the Ponyfinder setting we have created and wish to write your own work based on it. We would encourage you to post any such work on this forum or email it to us at
fanfics@ponyfinder.net as we would like to read it and give our own opinion. This general invitation extents to anyone who reads this topic.
Any fiction thus written is not actively endorsed by (company) unless otherwise stated. This is not a legally binding statement and we hold the rights to change these conditions at a later date."
I am no lawyer and have zero experience in legal speech, but the fact is that you do not need a legally binding policy on fanfiction, much bigger companies do not. However, simply assuring your fans that you will not try to step on their work is good enough for the time being, really.
With all due respect, Sapare.