Question Regarding Fanfiction

[Jynnx]

Tch. I tried using the search function to answer this on my own time, but either no one has asked yet or my search fu has failed me. In any event, some backstory.

As some of you might recall, I submitted a post some time ago in the "Where are you using Ponyfinder" thread about running a sort of hybrid campaign, utilizing elements of the Ponyfinder lore and using them to rebuild pony society after a collapse of Equestria. Further (if early) details, for those interested, can be found in that thread of course.

More to the point. Unfortunately, due to the loss of a couple of players to real-world obligations, and a general lack of continued enthusiasm for the campaign, my group scraped it. This leaves me in a quandry. I have all these campaign notes to use, that I spent a good deal of time developing, and nothing to do with them. I do eventually intend to maybe run the campaign again, with a different group who shares my pony-obse - er, enthusiasm.

However, I also thought about utilizing those notes to whip up a pony fan-fic. But I'm not sure if that would be entirely kosher, and I wish not to step on any toes here. So my question is whether or not that would be acceptable, provided I include all the relevant copyright information regarding copyrights and trademarks. I know that Paizo has authorized fan-fiction regarding their Golarian material, with those caveats, but I wanted to be sure that the same could be said of Ponyfinder before I start slapping David and his crew in the face. I rather appreciate them and their efforts, and would prefer not to become a thorn in their side.

[David]

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.

[Jynnx]

Ah, danke. Helps take away some of the little irritations nibbling at the back of my mind, now that I know I can still make good use of that planning. lol

[Sun Dial]

NOOOOOOO! Don't give me permission, now I might actually have to write some Stories of the Everglow rather then shipping Soarin and Dash together. Ugh. Very Well, Queen Iliana, your death await's!

[Sapare]

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.

[David]

You are welcome to break the rules, the Internet is full of such things. On the other hand, following them means your fiction is actually authorized. I am far from the first place or company to provide a framework, however incredibly minimal this one is, to their fanfiction. There are some IPs where you can even sell your fanfiction if you follow the rules. Mind, that isn't off the table here. I just requested that you ask about it first. Frameworks open options, not close them.