Hello, Internet Controversy! My Name is Lou!

Pretty much upon discovering the internet, I also discovered that few things were more entertaining than watching others fight on it.  I also discovered that it is probably best if I stay out of things myself. 

So, right now, I'm grabbing me some popcorn.

According to Club Jade and Fandom Wank, someone has decided to sell their Twilight fanfiction.  For money.  Because apparently since Ms Meyer never drew pictures of her characters, this makes them not copyrighted.  (Daughter... of Lawyer... Senses... Tingling... Also common sense...)

Now, I'm not going to go into detail, because I don't know the details and half my favorite blogs are sharing all of them anyway.  For all I know, in fact, this is a giant hoax.  But whatever it is, it has provided me with a soapbox.  And I love soapboxes.

Fanfiction has always seemed to me to be one of those "gray areas" in the "your right to move your fist stops in my face" deal.  Basically, if the author has expressed anti fanfic feelings, I shriek "WHY?" at the heavens what I may or may not write never goes beyond my computer.  If I ever get published myself (a big, big if) I'll be all in favor of and thrilled by fanfic, but I completely respect the right of a creator to say that they don't like it.  I think it does way more good than harm, but I thought that about Scans_Daily for the lovely week it and I spent together.
 
But seriously.  Maintain a level of respect for the creator, people.  IT IS THEIRS.  IT IS NOT YOURS, OR MINE.  And whenever one of these "fic for money" stories pops up, I get nervous.  Because those are the ones that get attention, and that's what prompts creators to not want fanfic anymore.

Urgh.

I hate to be one of the internet yellers.  Really and truly I do.  I like to watch them, but I try not to get too involved for my own sake.

But sometimes...