Erotic fanfiction -- Laurel's rules

[SimonDoom]

I'm working on my "One Night in Mordor" story for the event coming later this month. Before I go further I want to know exactly what Laurel's rules are on erotic fanfiction that is adapted from obviously copyrighted material. I'm not interested in a discussion of copyright or plagiarism and the underlying legality of this. I think it's a close call and an argument can be made that it's a parody or a transformative work, but I'm not interested in that discussion. My sole question is what, in anyone's experience her, Laurel's rules are about this, and whether she is likely to accept or reject the material. Specifically, the story is a somewhat silly tale about an erotic encounter between characters in Lord of the Rings, and a made-up character (an elf maiden that I have invented).

Anyone with any experience or knowledge on this subject here at Literotica?

 

[SimonDoom]

OK. I may have answered my question with a slight bit of diligence. I did a search of the site's stories re LOTR fanfiction and found "Gandalf Butt Fucks Frodo." Haven't read it yet. Still laughing at the title. But I think I have my answer.

Looks like it's a green light and we're good to go.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Frodo was a slut.

 

[oggbashan]

One of the rules is that the character should not be under 18 years old in the original version.

 

[SimonDoom]

One of the rules is that the character should not be under 18 years old in the original version.

Which is not a problem in LOTR. All of the characters are over 18, but there is an interesting wrinkle to that issue, because Hobbits develop at a slower pace than humans, and don't "come of age" (presumably that means, more or less, reaching the maturity equivalent of the age of 18) until the age of 33.

In LOTR, Frodo is 33 in the first chapter but 50 when the action really starts. So at no point is he under 18, but he's right at the maturity level of an 18 year old at the beginning.

I don't think it's a problem. My story is set when the action of The Return of the King is taking place (chapter -- Mount Doom -- no relation), so everybody is well over 18, calendar-wise and otherwise.

Theoretical question not presented by my story: would Laurel object to a story about 30-year-old hobbits having sex?

 

[oggbashan]

...

Theoretical question not presented by my story: would Laurel object to a story about 30-year-old hobbits having sex?

If it is made clear that the hobbits are immature, I think the answer would be - Yes, she would object.

 

[Hypoxia]

I wrote of gene-engineered (miniaturized) semi-clones of King Kong fucking humans in Bride of Kong. No problem, once I made them all over 18. I've not ventured into existing fantasy realms because they ain't my thang. But I might try fracturing some adult fairy tales.

 

[SimonDoom]

Frodo was a slut.

Your further thoughts on this subject are welcome.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Your further thoughts on this subject are welcome.

Every time anyone said "Frodo" and "hobbit hole" in the same sentence, the dwarves would all snicker.

 

[CuteSlaveLisa]

...Theoretical question not presented by my story: would Laurel object to a story about 30-year-old hobbits having sex?

She went for my 3 three-year old dog-on-dog tail (sic). But it got one-bombed by all the know-it-alls who said that my passage...

"Woof woof woof grrr arf woof woof" should have read "Grrrr woof arf arf woof woof grrr."

And those who thought my protagonist the doberman should have been a standard poodle.

Then I was reported as being inappropriate by those who don't like scottish terriers in thier porn.

Go figure. Somedays you just can't win

Love and Kisses

Lisa Ann

Ps in Texan 'cute' means smart-ass or cheeky

 

[SimonDoom]

Ps in Texan 'cute' means smart-ass or cheeky

Baby, it plays just as well a few parsecs west of you, where the land runs out.

Sorry about your "ruff" treatment by the Site Overlords.

 

[KeithD]

You have something else to worry about that you haven't mentioned: trademarking. A lot of stuff that fans would play on is trademarked. That's as much a no no to breach as copyright is--and not any easier to discern. And if Laurel even suspects trademarking is involved, she'll probably reject it.

 

[SimonDoom]

You have something else to worry about that you haven't mentioned: trademarking. A lot of stuff that fans would play on is trademarked. That's as much a no no to breach as copyright is--and not any easier to discern. And if Laurel even suspects trademarking is involved, she'll probably reject it.

A fair point I hadn't considered. I haven't looked into it but I suspect the Tolkien heirs have registered trademarks in parts of the LOTR universe. But trademark is only an issue if my use of the LOTR universe is likely to cause confusion and make somebody think my work is authorized by or associated with the Tolkien estate. I think that's not at all likely.

x x x x

OK, I looked it up on the federal trademark database. The Saul Zaentz Company has registered the mark "FRODO" for a wide variety of things, including cookies, figures, goblets, and decorative plates, among other things. But the question is whether the use of the name in a fanfiction story is likely to cause anyone to be confused about whether the use is associated with those uses or approved or authorized by the owner of that trademark. For instance, the story "Gandalf Butt Fucks Frodo" was published and still remains on this site. Does any sane human being confuse the origin of this story with the Tolkien estate or its representative? I doubt it. But you're right that it's something to think about. But if my use is wrong then every use is wrong, including those that have been published and have been on this site for some time.

 

[KeithD]

For instance, the story "Gandalf Butt Fucks Frodo" was published and still remains on this site.

Just on the one point, don't gauge anything you do in terms of legality on what gets posted to and stays on this site. You're likely to get away with whatever you get published here. But Literotica obviously doesn't have an entertainment lawyer on staff.

 

[SimonDoom]

Just on the one point, don't gauge anything you do in terms of legality on what gets posted to and stays on this site. You're likely to get away with whatever you get published here. But Literotica obviously doesn't have an entertainment lawyer on staff.

Oh, I get that. I figured this out a while ago. Laurel has her own rules and they trump the rules that might apply elsewhere. That's fine with me, although sometimes there are questions about what her rules are and how they might apply to a specific story.

 

[oggbashan]

You have something else to worry about that you haven't mentioned: trademarking. A lot of stuff that fans would play on is trademarked. That's as much a no no to breach as copyright is--and not any easier to discern. And if Laurel even suspects trademarking is involved, she'll probably reject it.

I had a story rejected because I repeatedly used a registered trade name for a product. I rewrote it as a generic item and it passed.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Every time anyone said "Frodo" and "hobbit hole" in the same sentence, the dwarves would all snicker.

"Bag End"

 

[KeithD]

I had a story rejected because I repeatedly used a registered trade name for a product. I rewrote it as a generic item and it passed.

That illustrates the "don't rely on what Literotica thinks" issue, at least in use in the United States. The only restriction to using Trademarked names in writing (unless you move into the area of profit-endangering libel) is to spell the name as trademarked. And you don't include the trademark symbol. (Chicago Manual of Style 16, 8.152)

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I'm working on my "One Night in Mordor" story for the event coming later this month. Before I go further I want to know exactly what Laurel's rules are on erotic fanfiction that is adapted from obviously copyrighted material. I'm not interested in a discussion of copyright or plagiarism and the underlying legality of this. I think it's a close call and an argument can be made that it's a parody or a transformative work, but I'm not interested in that discussion. My sole question is what, in anyone's experience her, Laurel's rules are about this, and whether she is likely to accept or reject the material. Specifically, the story is a somewhat silly tale about an erotic encounter between characters in Lord of the Rings, and a made-up character (an elf maiden that I have invented).

Anyone with any experience or knowledge on this subject here at Literotica?

No non-con, even non-con to con that involves the copyrighted character. Tried both for a Wonder Woman story and got rejected both times.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

Every time anyone said "Frodo" and "hobbit hole" in the same sentence, the dwarves would all snicker.

And there were no women of any significance in “The Hobbit.” Too many lonely mountains.

 

[SimonDoom]

And there were no women of any significance in “The Hobbit.” Too many lonely mountains.

Middle-Earth. Where dwarves are dwarves and the sheep are nervous.

 

[Hypoxia]

Easy out: Don't write straight celeb fanfic. Change names; go parody. Capt Quirk of the starship Intercourse, thrusting through the galaxies, aided by Lt Ubangi, Cmdr Spank, Lt Sullied, Dr McMuff, etc. Go wild with your LOTR stuff. Steal and transform.

 

[JamesMiehoff]

Easy out: Don't write straight celeb fanfic. Change names; go parody. Capt Quirk of the starship Intercourse, thrusting through the galaxies, aided by Lt Ubangi, Cmdr Spank, Lt Sullied, Dr McMuff, etc. Go wild with your LOTR stuff. Steal and transform.

Been done. Check out "Bored of the Rings" by the Harvard Lampoon. I still damn near piss myself laughing when I read that book.

Dildo, Frito, Pepsi, Moxi and Goodgulf. Not to mention Arrowroot son of Arrowshirt.

Hmmm have I got time to read it again and still get "One Night in College" out?

James

 

[SimonDoom]

Been done. Check out "Bored of the Rings" by the Harvard Lampoon. I still damn near piss myself laughing when I read that book.

Dildo, Frito, Pepsi, Moxi and Goodgulf. Not to mention Arrowroot son of Arrowshirt.


James

And Gimlet and Legolam. And Goddam. I read it shortly after reading LOTR. Very funny book.

 

[themightyxloph]

Anyone with any experience or knowledge on this subject here at Literotica?

Regarding Laurel's "rules": it's quite simple. If your story contains the word "young", if it suggests that someone might be turned into stone by a wizard or devoured by a demon, or if it even mentions a non-humanoid creature, your story is currently almost certain to be rejected as "under 18", "snuff" or "bestiality". Not sure about fantasies involving incest, sex with celebrities or other genres, but these are probably not much better off at the moment.

Having a story approved initially means little; stories may suddenly get rejected (i.e. removed) months or even years after they were initially accepted, and you won't even get an email notification but all you will notice is that suddenly you can't find your own stories any more and find it as "rejected" when you look in the control panel.

Not sure what's going on here, but lately the goalposts keep changing and the definition of what is acceptable is becoming narrower and narrower. Laurel's rules seem to be rapidly shifting from the liberal to the puritanical and it's stifling to an author's creativity. Lit used to be a platform where one could let the fantasy roam (within reason) but lately even looking in the general direction of the line between reality and fantasy is immediately punished with a rejection or removal.

I wish we'd have a firm set of rules on what is and what is not acceptable and an editor who would stick to it. But everything is very flexible and up-in-the-air and subject to Laurel's personal interpretation which mainly seems to be depend on the mood of the moment. What is fine today will be banned tomorrow. Or vice versa. Or neither.

I can't help but wonder where this is going.