Author Control (After Initial Permission)

[brimtoast]

Readers: If an author gave permission to record a podfic and then later asked for it to be taken down, what would you do? (Or has it happened to you before? And if so, what *did* you do?)

Non-Readers: What do you think a reader should do in that situation?

All: If you saw a reader taking a stand against an author who had previously given permission and was now trying to have the podfic taken down, would you publicly support them?

Comments

[paraka]

For me, I would want to know why the author wanted it taken down. If something was up in their life and they were afraid that their fannish life was about to be revealed to their detriment, well, I'm not saying I'd take it down, but I'd be willing to work with them. Changing their name or removing it name all together if that's what they want.

If it was just something like they've decided to leave fandom and want everything down and gone... well, I'd be more likely to fight them on that.

I'm not saying there aren't situations where I'd go along and remove the podfic completely but I'd definitely work with the author to try and find another solution first.

[brimtoast]

Yes, I would instantly agree to name-removing if the author asked. It's easy to do and a perfectly reasonable request, and does not destroy any of my own work. Or, I mean, maybe I said their name with totally brilliant intonation :D , but even so it very minimally alters my work. And I would be so happy that they respected my art enough to ask for that instead of asking for takedown that I would do it with bells on.

[paraka]

And I would be so happy that they respected my art enough to ask for that instead of asking for takedown that I would do it with bells on.
Well, in the climate we currently have, I doubt author's would volunteer that option (maybe they'd ask you to change their name, but I doubt they'd think to ask you to remove it) I think it'd be something you'd more have to negotiate with them.

[anatsuno]

I'm much more likely to agree to remove their name than agree to 'disappear' one of my own fanworks, yes. I would personally like to know what their reasons ares, but I also understand that perhaps it could be asking too much of them and they don't owe me their life story - otoh, without knowing what motivates them I'd have a harder time forming an opinion, which makes it more likely I'd keep the podfic up. Anonymizing seems like the best way to go to me.

If I saw a podfic artist standing up to an author in such a circumstance I would publicly support them, I want to say without a doubt (but deep down I know there are moments where I don't have enough energy to battle, sigh).

I'm also pretty sure, because I know myself (and my lack of integrity, haha), that if an author asked me to take down a podfic I recorded without choosing it myself, one I care a lot less about (maybe I recorded it FOR THE AUTHOR as a favor, maybe I recorded it for charity, and someone else picked the story, etc), I might just sigh, give them a stern look and a paragraph of explanation of how wrong I think it is, and then take it down. The lack of involvement on my part might make me go there instead of holding my political ground, depending on the circumstances.

But I'm against it in principle, I have to say.

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

I get author permission before I record. I have that policy to avoid problems with the author, such as not wanting their story out there in another format, or changing their mind later and wanting it taken down, because they didn't like how I read it or decided for whatever reason to not have it available.

I understand that there are other opinions on that, that stories should be able to be used freely, but for me, why bother to record something that might blow up on me, because I didn't get permission from the author. There are plenty of other stories I can do.

I did have one author give permission to record and archive, but only for a set time period. He had issues about his work being archived and he didn't have control over that happening.

I followed his wishes, recorded, posted, but did not archive it at Audio Fic Archive. And after the time period was up I pulled the links to Megaupload. But I have a note up on my LJ stating that if anybody wanted it I would send it privately. I don't feel he can or should have control over that part of it.

Now, if an author gave me permission, with no strings attached that I agreed to, there would be no way in Hell that I would drop that recording from being available publicly later, no matter what the author's reasons were.

NO WAY IN HELL!

I would take their name off of it, if they wanted, as suggested by earlier commenters on this post. I think that's very workable. And it means me doing more work, because I'd have to suck it back into Audacity, if I didn't save the file, and do some cutting and make it back into an Mp3.

It takes time for me to make a podfic. Lots of time. And I have put a lot of thought into music choices, done technical stuff, practiced, etc.

I've put myself into that recording, and it is mine.

I'm not tossing it out. Tough cookies if that doesn't suit the author.

Laurie

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

Forgot to add:

Yes, I would support any podficcer who didn't want to delete their work, even if they recorded it without author permission.

Laurie