Sun Eagle

[columbob]

Sol said:

The impression I get is that as RPG folks, they don't want to publish regular novel-sized books. But please email them and they might think twice!

I doubt that's the reason, as they're about to publish a few novels for their Armageddon 2089 game line.

[Peregrine]

Sol said:

I believe, for example, that JK Rowlings is very aggressive about maintaining her copyright. She is definitely against fan fiction, especially when it comes to Harry Potter.

You might be thinking of Anne McCaffrey, who until recently forbade any distribution of fan fiction not keeping to certain strict controls (including I believe being posted to a particular website). Rowling's always been very good-natured about fan fiction. I believe Raymond E. Feist is also heavy on copyright, though that may just be regarding games based on his work (which are also policed by the company holding the rights).

But basically, yes, any derivative work, like fan fiction, is a breach of copyright. That's not to say that it's necessarily illegal, as authors need not enforce their rights, but they can if they choose.

All that said, I think Joe's attitude would be totally different. Why wouldn't it be? He already gave the rights to his first 20 books to the world... he WANTS Lone Wolf to live! It might be polite to leave book 29-32 off the list of fanfic gamebooks I would think, but I would guess that just about anything else would be fine.

Yes, I believe it was in an interview once that he stated he had no problem with fan works, as long as he received acknowledgement--specifically, that Lone Wolf be clearly indicated as a trademark. Unlike copyright, Joe's obliged to protect his trademark, or it could be revoked.

That's my understanding anyway, but I'm not a lawyer.

[Ghost Bear]

www.ncf.ca/~as300/dever.html#copy

That's the section of the interview at the Kai Monastery that's relevant I think.

I do know that the ERPG puts the little bit of text that Joe asked for on the bottom of every page.

-GB