Questions about Fan-Fic

[Aristide_St_Michel]

First post on a new forum -

I have a sweet, sexy story that involves two "big fish is a small pool," celebrity-wise: performers who are very popular in the tiny genre of explicit girl-girl erotica. I don't plan to use their names and identities unless they agree, but would that be allowable anyway, under the law-law and the Lit-law? (I can't imagine that the big-name celebs in fan-fic stories have given permission.)

Also, I know that links aren't allowed in stories, but can I include any cross-promotional references in the introduction? Here's it is (details hidden pending permission) so you can see what I have in mind:

This story is a work of fiction, describing an imaginary encounter between two real-life personalities in the world of lesbian erotica. L. L. is a pioneer performer and producer in this genre. Other producers include Girlfriends Films, Sweetheart Video, Triangle Productions, and Bellezza Video.

D.M. is one of most popular and compelling personalities in this new genre. She is also the proprietress of the “Spank Me” website.

Thanks, Authors.

 

[NoJo]

If you post a story in "Celebrities" section, lit posts this disclaimer at the top of your story:

DISCLAIMER:

The stories in the "Celebrity" section of Literotica are all fictional parodies - none are true, nor are they approved of by the celebrities named in the stories. Authors write these fictitious stories about famous people for the same reason that Larry Flynt made fun of Jerry Falwell, because they can. The Supreme Court of the United States, the country where this site is located, has ruled that parodies involving famous people are perfectly and totally legal under the United States Constitution. The specific case law on this was decided in the case of "Hustler Magazine, Inc. et al. v. Jerry Falwell" in 1988. No harm is intended toward the celebrities featured in these stories, but they are public figures and in being so, they must accept that they are fair target for parodies by the public. We believe in the first amendment, and more broadly, in the basic principle of free speech and this section may push the boundaries of that principle, but the United States Supreme Court has approved of this type of material. We believe that the Supreme Court was correct in their decision.

 

[FallingToFly]

I just posted a Celeb story. The link in my signature can take you there.

In addition to Lit's disclaimer, I usually add one of my own. It's always at the top of my Celeb stories.

 

[Aristide_St_Michel]

Gosh, my story is respectful, not a parody. I'm not "appropriating their likeness" and identities to make a social statement, but just to add a bit of appeal and piquancy to a sweet, sexy story. The story would actually stand up well with purely fictional characters.

Perhaps that is irrelevent. Lit:"(T)his section may push the boundaries of that principle."

I think my question is answered, but if this thread becomes a platform for a discussion of the issues raised that would be very cool too.

 

[Aristide_St_Michel]

Oh, one more thing: Does this mean that the story would have to go into "Celebrities" category, and would be banned from the "Lesbian Sex" category where it really belongs?

I would really have to think about whether I wanted to do that - these are not "real" celebs, and the story's appeal is as a sweet, sexy "newfound friendship (with benefits)" Lesbian Sex story.

 

[Guest]

If you use their real names (author or performer names, anyway) it will go into Celebrities.


And as for the other?

The rule states:

9. No HTML links or web addresses are allowed within stories.

Author or performer names listed? Fine.

Publishing companies or other websites named? Probably not a good idea.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

Oh, one more thing: Does this mean that the story would have to go into "Celebrities" category, and would be banned from the "Lesbian Sex" category where it really belongs?

I would really have to think about whether I wanted to do that - these are not "real" celebs, and the story's appeal is as a sweet, sexy "newfound friendship (with benefits)" Lesbian Sex story.

If there are identifiable celebrities in the story, it will most likely get put in "Celebrities" whether you want it there or not. There may be an exception if they are only a limited part of the story; you could PM Laurel and ask her.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Yeah, if you're writing about real people, it goes into celeb, no matter what. This is a bit of a problem; I wrote a story about two male celebs, and it got some one-bombs from offended homophobes who wanted to read about female celebs together.

And if your story is too sweet-- you'll get low scores from men looking for raunchy girlie action. personally, I'm looking forward to reading your story if the plot is as you say, but I could care less about your celebs themselves.

You could give your women new names, and you might not need to change a single other thing, depending. Or add one or two sentences to set the scene? How do you feel about that?

 

[Aristide_St_Michel]

Yeah, if you're writing about real people, it goes into celeb, no matter what. This is a bit of a problem; I wrote a story about two male celebs, and it got some one-bombs from offended homophobes who wanted to read about female celebs together.

And if your story is too sweet-- you'll get low scores from men looking for raunchy girlie action. personally, I'm looking forward to reading your story if the plot is as you say, but I could care less about your celebs themselves.

You could give your women new names, and you might not need to change a single other thing, depending. Or add one or two sentences to set the scene? How do you feel about that?

What you suggest is probably what I will do if there is "zero tolerance" on the celeb category. I asked Laurel if an exception could be made if the subjects have given permission to use their names, which is the only way I would do this anyway.

 

[sr71plt]

I think you will find there is, indeed, zero tolerance on deviation from the rules. I've just been around the barn on that on use of a fake URL that was integral to my story, and there was no give on that issue. It was up to me to adjust if I wanted to post a story here--which I have done. I'm pretty sure there is even less of a possibility of give on an identifiable celebrity--even if they gave permission, which would have to be provided to the Web site in convincing form, they wouldn't just take your word for it that you had permission.

 

[Aristide_St_Michel]

I think you will find there is, indeed, zero tolerance on deviation from the rules. I've just been around the barn on that on use of a fake URL that was integral to my story, and there was no give on that issue. It was up to me to adjust if I wanted to post a story here--which I have done. I'm pretty sure there is even less of a possibility of give on an identifiable celebrity--even if they gave permission, which would have to be provided to the Web site in convincing form, they wouldn't just take your word for it that you had permission.

You're probably right. Such absolutism is not really necessary given the particular circumstances - the story would still go up, just not in my preferred category - but considering the major challenges of maintaining a massive web site like this I would not blame the managers if they enforced it regardless, just to avoid one more thing to have to think about.

 

[Stella_Omega]

What you suggest is exactly what I will do if there is "zero tolerance" on celeb category. I asked Laurel if an exception could be made if the subjects have given permission to use their names, which is the only way I would do this anyway.

There is no law against "Roman à Clef, where the people are exactly themselves in all but name. It's a famous literary stunt, in fact.

 

[sr71plt]

There's no law about all sorts of uses of celebrities in fiction. Unfortunately, this is a private Web site. It's not a question of law in posting stories here beyond how the Web site owners want to perceive and accept risk.

Interesting, though, to see advice being given on posting stories here by someone who has no stories posted here.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

Yeah, if you're writing about real people, it goes into celeb, no matter what.

This is a good point. I recall a Halloween story from several years back about a ghost that took on the form of a celebrity (Jamie Lee Curtis?) and then had sex. I seem to remember that the story was in Non-Human, perhaps because it was about the ghost rather than the "real" celebrity.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Interesting, though, to see advice being given on posting stories here by someone who has no stories posted here.

Aww, snookums!

You hump on that notion like a little chihuahua on someone's pants leg, don't you, puddin?

 

[sr71plt]

Yep. It certainly seems to be a natural question for someone who really cares about what happens to what they have written.