Question on continuing another author's story

[ginnyablonde]

Hello everyone,

I am new here though I have been reading stories on Literotica for years. I have tried searching for answers on here but have not found any.

I am very fond of the story "A way to get more" by debaser_lament as are many on this board. But I feel like there is so much more that can come of the story and would like to see some sequels written. So in the absence of any opposition or rules against this, I would like to continue to story. Is this frowned upon or prohibited on Literotica?

Thank you,
Ginny

 

[Hypoxia]

PM the author and ask for permission. If given, great! If not, don't. It's that simple.

 

[ginnyablonde]

Author unresponsive

I have PMed the author as have others. From what I gather the author has not responded to anyone or posted anything new in about 5 years. Thanks!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Then don't.

 

[StrangeTamer]

I would have to say don't. If you feel the need to write a story do it but make it your own.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If you don't have the original authors name Laurel won't publish it in most cases.

Now if you can prove that author has been dead the requisite 14 years with no offspring to take up the copyright, then you might talk her into letting you publish it.

 

[oggbashan]

If you don't have the original authors name Laurel won't publish it in most cases.

Now if you can prove that author has been dead the requisite 14 years with no offspring to take up the copyright, then you might talk her into letting you publish it.

Wait 120 years!

US copyright law on published writing:

The law automatically protects a work that is created and fixed in a tangible medium of expression on or after January 1, 1978, from the moment of its creation and gives it a term lasting for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years. For a “joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire,” the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire and anonymous and pseudonymous works, the duration of copyright is 95 years from first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter (unless the author’s identity is later revealed in Copyright Office records, in which case the term becomes the author’s life plus 70 years).

 

[Fuckherhard]

I guess u can always write the story and change the names? And mention in the intro of what had happened prior to the upcoming events?

 

[BertrandRussell]

Don't do it. Not only is it bad manners and probably criminal, but - most importantly - you will stunt your own growth as a writer.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Wait 120 years!

US copyright law on published writing:

The law automatically protects a work that is created and fixed in a tangible medium of expression on or after January 1, 1978, from the moment of its creation and gives it a term lasting for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years. For a “joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire,” the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire and anonymous and pseudonymous works, the duration of copyright is 95 years from first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter (unless the author’s identity is later revealed in Copyright Office records, in which case the term becomes the author’s life plus 70 years).

But if there is no one around to claim it, then it might be public domain.

 

[lovecraft68]

Don't do it. Not only is it bad manners and probably criminal, but - most importantly - you will stunt your own growth as a writer.

The stealing is a big deal, but the part in bold is important as well. Another person's story can inspire you and influence you, but you should write your own story.

 

[oggbashan]

But if there is no one around to claim it, then it might be public domain.

Unlikely. Someone is the owner even if they don't enforce their copyright. Who knows? It might even be the IRS.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Unlikely. Someone is the owner even if they don't enforce their copyright. Who knows? It might even be the IRS.

If the government owns it, it is in the public domain. The government holds no patents, trade marks, service marks or copyrights.

 

[oggbashan]

If the government owns it, it is in the public domain. The government holds no patents, trade marks, service marks or copyrights.

That's not true in the UK.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's not true in the UK.

I thought we were talking about the US?

 

[oggbashan]

I thought we were talking about the US?

We probably were, but my point is that Literotica is an international site, which many users forget. What is true of the USA is not necessarily true elsewhere.

The obvious example is the age of consent. Lit's rule is very clear, but age of consent varies across US States, and throughout the world.

I'm a Brit, writing in British English, but I would not have characters having sex before the age of 18 because I am posting on Literotica. The UK age of consent, and marriage with parental approval, is 16.

Copyright law is also very different. In the UK I have copyright under the Berne Convention and UK law from my story's first appearance. I don't have to do anything else, such as register my story, nor do I have to pay a registration fee. My copyright is automatic. Enforcing it? That's a different matter. I could, in the UK and most of Europe, because the Berne Convention applies. All I would need is money to throw at expensive lawyers.

But I can't enforce that copyright in the US unless I have registered the work IN THE USA and have paid the appropriate fee. Very expensive US lawyers wouldn't be able to help me.

Even this post is my copyrighted work because it was generated in the UK. But that copyright has no status in the US, the base of Literotica.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

We probably were, but my point is that Literotica is an international site, which many users forget. What is true of the USA is not necessarily true elsewhere.

The obvious example is the age of consent. Lit's rule is very clear, but age of consent varies across US States, and throughout the world.

I'm a Brit, writing in British English, but I would not have characters having sex before the age of 18 because I am posting on Literotica. The UK age of consent, and marriage with parental approval, is 16.

Copyright law is also very different. In the UK I have copyright under the Berne Convention and UK law from my story's first appearance. I don't have to do anything else, such as register my story, nor do I have to pay a registration fee. My copyright is automatic. Enforcing it? That's a different matter. I could, in the UK and most of Europe, because the Berne Convention applies. All I would need is money to throw at expensive lawyers.

But I can't enforce that copyright in the US unless I have registered the work IN THE USA and have paid the appropriate fee. Very expensive US lawyers wouldn't be able to help me.

Even this post is my copyrighted work because it was generated in the UK. But that copyright has no status in the US, the base of Literotica.

I realize all that...except the age of consent here in the states.

In most it's exactly what you describe in the UK. In some it's even lower.

It was easier to have it at 18 on lit to ward off the local church ladies and such from make complaints to the local sheriffs department and the federal authorities, but 18 is considered an adult all across the US by federal law allowing them to vote. Although in most states you have to be 21 to drink alcohol in any form, you can legally marry on you own at 18. Go figure.

 

[Hypoxia]

Copyright is somewhat murky because of WHAT can and can't be protected. Directly copying text is illegal, but hard to enforce, and unlikely to be enforced unless value (money, grades, etc) is involved. Copying text but changing names is about the same. I'd expect to be called out if I published a Catcher In The Wheat narrated by Colden Haulfield via replace-all editing. Even story universes can be protected and enforced. Try publishing a serious sequel to Gone With The Wind.

But titles cannot be copyrighted. I can publish my Catcher In The Rye so long as I don't infringe on JD Salinger's universe. (Salinger took his title from a song.) And parody often falls under Fair Use, such as National Lampoon's classic Bored With The Rings. I *can* publish my Gone With The Wind that's an obvious socio-sexual spoof but I'd be unsurprised if I have to defend in court.

Back to the OP. Were I obsessed with "A way to get more" (with which I am unfamiliar) I would know that serious unauthorized sequels are unlikely to be approved. Parody sequels *might* pass Laurel's muster. If you *really* want to write any such you should PM Laurel first for a ruling.

 

[Hypoxia]

It was easier to have it at 18 on lit to ward off the local church ladies and such from make complaints to the local sheriffs department and the federal authorities...

Other online story sites, some much much older than LIT, have no underage | bestiality | sex-snuff rules, and haven't been taken down by jeezoids or cops. IMHO Laurel and Manu's rules exemplify a business model that works better than the no-rules sites.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Other online story sites, some much much older than LIT, have no underage | bestiality | sex-snuff rules, and haven't been taken down by jeezoids or cops. IMHO Laurel and Manu's rules exemplify a business model that works better than the no-rules sites.

For sure, but it was thought out and the owners didn't want what those other sites drew as readers...it was the yuck factor.

 

[MagicFingers]

I agree wholehardily

Other online story sites, some much much older than LIT, have no underage | bestiality | sex-snuff rules, and haven't been taken down by jeezoids or cops. IMHO Laurel and Manu's rules exemplify a business model that works better than the no-rules sites.

Thanks to Laurel & Manu for giving us such a great place to come play in!

Ginnyablonde - Go ahead and write it and sent it to me! I'll read it.

Speaking of completing another writer's story:
I was thinking of possibly doing part III of a story that I'm about to release part I of soon. I was thinking of crediting it to an Alt because "I" would not write the stuff I was contemplating for part III!
Has anyone ever done this?

 

[Hypoxia]

Has anyone ever done this?

I haven't (yet) but it should be easy to grant oneself permission.