I read on the internet that Fox wants Buffy and Angel sites slain, and that X-Files or something like that is challenging that. What does everyone think of that? I mean, the creator of the show did basically give us the go ahead to write fanfics on the materiel of the shows. I think he said something like, ‘what to do with that hour, write fanfics.’

It sounds impossible and improbable. Fox has enough to worry about with their current programming as it is.

Don't believe *everything * you read on the web.  Fox, I'm sure, has better things to do than be the "net police..." like making up for canceling the "Buffyverse" and giving us a show we'll actually watch!

rofl, I like Bones. But in no way does it make up for the Buffyverse. I don't think Fox actually said that. Another one of those net rumors. I mean why would anyone want to kill a cash cow? Say someone never watched the show(s) *gasps* But they find fanfic, start reading, loves it. Then they want to see the actual show that start the fans writing about it.

But then again we are talking about Fox. They cancel shows that are good and leave sh*tty shows on the air. *roll eyes*

I think the only Buffy/Angel stuff being slain is the youtube videos.  Fox would have a very hard time with first ammendment free speech when all fanfic is credited to Joss, ME, et al in disclaimers so copyrights aren't violated.  Any one agree?  I can only say that I thank God for the 1st amendment!

Kim

Fox would have a very hard time with first ammendment free speech when all fanfic is credited to Joss, ME, et al in disclaimers so copyrights aren't violated.

As thoughtful as it is to put a disclaimer, I really doubt it would have any real effect. If Joss, ME, or Fox actually decided to take you to court for stealing their stuff, I don't think our disclaimers are going to provide any legal protection. If you *really* wanted to respect copyrights, you'd have to ask permission from the copyright holders to use the characters. And "Joss said we could write fanfic" in no way qualifies as permission. He didn't give permission for you to use those specific characters in that specific fanfic, and he's not the only one who owns rights.

So, yeah, freedom of speech doesn't really apply.

I think most creators of 'verses that fans decide to continue in the form of fanfic are probably flattered, pleased, and delighted that their creations have inspired so many people to so many works.  The amount of time, blood, sweat and tears that many of the authors must put into their work is incredible to me, and even though the characters may not be original, the situations they are placed in truly are.  I think that the creators of these worlds that we find so enthralling can only be thrilled at the care with which their characters are handled, and have to be pleased to see them live on in the worlds that we imagine for them.   Creators will hopefully see these works as we intend them, as an homage, an attempt to breathe new life into the worlds they created, and a desire to keep the characters alive, and not as an act of theft or copyright infringement.

Unfortunately some authors aren't accepting of fanfic, such as Anne Rice and my own fave author Laurell K. Hamilton. I had been writing a couple fics when she asked they be removed from ff net. I think it's kinda said that fellow writers would quash what could make for wonderful stories, though we understand they have every right to ask us not to do it. Another fave author, Christine Feehan, is the only creator I ever heard of that makes people ask permission before starting up RPGs. (Though, she basically says yes to them all, but still - they make you ask so they can set down a few rules for you.)

Excluding artistic works that are literary, I don't see how they could possibly sue any fan fic writer, or the people who make vids, icons or banners.  Even if someone forgot to put up a disclaimer, what are they going to sue you for?  Reviews?  Cause that's all we're getting.  We've seen plenty of things in our legal system where people get away with way worse things, and writing fan fic and all of the other stuff in a fandom wouldn't be in the top...100, I'd think.  I think a judge would throw out such a case with raucous laughter. 

And even if Joss doesn't have all of the copyrights, he'd still be in our corner.  I haven't seen Buffy in syndication for awhile- not Fox or F/X (though they still air "Angel" on TNT on weekday mornings).  If not for the fandom, the character that he wanted to be a cult classic would slowly perish and die.  We'd go on with our lives, have a lot of free time on our hands, but we wouldn't spend our days remembering his heroine.  It'd break his wittle heart, it would :P

Even if someone forgot to put up a disclaimer, what are they going to sue you for?  Reviews?  Cause that's all we're getting.

I doubt you'd actually get sued, since you're right, no money involved, but there are other punishments. If an author insisted, you'd probably be forced to take down your work, and if you refused, might risk losing your account at sites like ff.net, lj, and youtube. And freedom of speech isn't going to protect you from that - even if you use a disclaimer. 

It would never happen in this fandom, but like BF pointed out, there are authors who don't allow fanfic to be written based on their work.

Yeah, books are different.  I get that.  I'm willing to bet that those authors are afraid that someone could do their work better (I'm sure there is.  I won't name any names, but some authors, well, I've heard there's a steady decline in quality, and fan fiction could be a huge threat to their livelyhood), and that would effect their money.  Why would I buy (insert author here) when I can read fan fic writer such and such's work for free?  Characters who start out as books don't have to go away, as long as the author chooses to still write them.  And if an author retires/kills a character, and a fan brought them back...Issues.  So glad Buffy was a show, and not a book.  Yup.

Scarlet-

"Buffy" is still airing on FX. It airs Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7:00 AM Eastern.

FetchingMadScientist

 I'm willing to bet that those authors are afraid that someone could do their work better...and that would effect their money.

Here's the reason a lot of authors started saying "No" to fan fiction.

"Also noteworthy is the series of Darkover anthologies published by Marion Zimmer Bradley, beginning in 1980, consisting largely of fan fiction extended into her canon. At the time, the intent was to make Darkover a shared universe similar to the Cthulhu Mythos. The author eventually discontinued these after a 1992skirmish with a fan who claimed authorship of a book identical to one Bradley had published and accused Bradley of "stealing" the idea. The resultant lawsuit cost Bradley a book, and her attorney advised against permitting fan fiction of any kind."

Here's the link to the whole article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction

So glad Buffy was a show, and not a book.

Well, now that Buffy is a comic, it has more similarities to books. Joss can keep writing as long as he wants, since he's not restricted by actors being available, immortal vampires aging, special effects budgets, or any of the other hang-ups of a TV show. 

I think LadyYashka brings up a great point, and it's not just restricted to books. Anytime a book, comic, TV show, or movie in a series is produced, there is the possibility that some fan will accuse them of stealing the idea from their fanfiction. And if the fan decides to make a big deal about it, it can be a hassle for the author or production company that owns the characters and the series. Now, I doubt that it results in a lawsuit very often, but some creators (in all mediums) might be wary of the possibility of that kind of accusation - especially if they've been burned before. It's why TV writers don't read spec scripts of their own shows, and why they won't read your fanfiction. They don't want to be accused of stealing.

Is anyone worried about fanfiction being taken down?

Wait, Buffy was canceled? I always thought they knew it was the last season, with going back to HS and all, and SMG had the final say in it months before Fox could even think about axing Buffy.

I thought they knew it was the last season too, because Joss said something like 'we knew it was the last season, so we wanted to go back to the beginning.'

I heard Josh was planning a season eight. Considering how many of the plot points in early season seven were dropped due to the sudden revalation that season seven is going to be the last, I assume it's true. Even if Josh stated that he always knew season seven was the last, watching the season itself, I can't seem to believe him.

I don't think Joss "always" knew 7 was going to be the last season. He knew by the time it began it, because by then Sarah had indicated that she was done. It was one of his reasons for becoming more involved in that season; that it was going to be the last one.

Cancelled just means the show was...cancelled.  It doesn't necessarily mean that the network did the cancelling - just that the show was not going to continue.  It does have that connotation, but in this case it just means it was going off the air.:)

Not that wikipedia is a great source, but:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancellation_%28television%29

It states that: "In television, cancellation refers to the termination of a program by the network, typically because of low viewership. Shows whose runs end due to a mutual creative decision by its producers and cast (such as Seinfeld or The Sopranos) are not considered to be 'cancelled.'"

The term more refers to Angel the series, where they had to try to wrap everything up in the back nine after being surprised by the network.

Did Buffy know that was the last season (or months) before it ended?