Permission policies

[via_ostiense]

I've been recording a lot of audiofic lately for amplificathon, and as I've chipped through a lot of my To Do list, which had fics that I'd already asked permission for, now I've been branching out (admittedly with a bias toward the archive's less-/un- represented fandoms/pairings!). I've noticed that I definitely lean toward recording stories of authors who have blanket permission policies. It's not enough to make me record a story on its own, but when faced with two stories I want to record, one with a blanket permission policy and one without, I'll do the former and put the latter on my list of things to request permission for and get to later. It's not that I'm afraid of someone saying no to me, although that's happened before, but that leaving a comment or sending a PM for each individual story I want to record is just enough effort to make me put that fic off until some nebulous time later. What about you?

Comments

[helens78]

I also tend toward authors with blanket permission policies. I'll ask permission if there's something I particularly want to record, but the length of time it takes to get a response (still waiting for one I asked about two weeks ago, frex) plus having to navigate permission for each individual fic adds a layer of difficulty that makes other stories without that difficulty much more compelling.

I had a poll up at my journal asking if people were okay with my recording stuff of theirs 300 words or less, and got back several blanket "yes" answers, as well as a couple of people who said "well, 300 words or less, I guess, but nothing above", and my immediate thought was "Well, I'll skip that person altogether." I'm sure they don't mean it to sound as much like a barrier as it does, but it just feels like someone who has complicated permission policies may end up being someone who wants to take it back later, or who might decide they don't like the idea of podfic of their stuff at all, and I'd just as soon avoid even the possibility of that.

[via_ostiense]

Waiting to hear back also is logistically confusing--I've asked people via LJ/DW comments, PMs, emails, and AO3 comments, and it's annoying to keep track of who I asked when, and where, and whether or not they've replied. 300 is an interesting cut off line; I wonder what makes people ok with blanket permissions underneath 300 but not 300 words.

[helens78]

I dunno! Maybe those stories feel less "personal" or serious?

[dodificus]

This amplificathon is the first time I've taken advantage of blanket permissions and I think I'm getting a little spoiled by it. No awkward PMing and hoping the author knows what the hell podfic is! No long waits while you wonder whether they've checked their email yet or if they're ignoring you! No low self esteem moment of thinking that maybe they *do* want it podficced but not by you!

But all that being said, if I really want to record something, if I love it *that* much? Then I'm still willing to go through the slight discomfort of getting permission for a story I love.

[via_ostiense]

Yup. I've just started working on a long audiofic, and the author didn't have a blanket permission, so I held off on recording it, but I kept rereading it and loved the story so much I eventually PM'd hir, and got permission (yay!).

[klb]

Blanket permission is awesome. There are 2 people lately who I've talked to who are new to making podfic (one just starting, another thinking of starting) and in both cases, pointing them towards the blanket permission list has felt like one of the most helpful things I have done.

I've been thinking about ways to let more authors know about it. It's not that I want to convince authors to add their names if they don't already want to, but I want to make sure that the ones who *would* say yes are aware that blanket podfic permission is a thing and that all they have to do to give it is leave a comment on this post.

So I edited my master list to add a link to the post, just saying that if authors are comfortable having their fic recorded, to please consider adding their names to the list. When I crosspost my Podfic Big Bang, I think I'm going to include a line and a link to the post also. Again, I'm not at all interested in pressuring authors who don't feel comfortable with blanket permission. I just want to make sure the word is spread to the those who do.

[via_ostiense]

Whoa, that list is fantastic!

[luzula]

Blanket permission makes things easier, but it doesn't influence what I podfic at all. I usually feel strongly about wanting to podfic a story, and sending an email/PM isn't a big barrier for me.

[via_ostiense]

{nod} When I think about it, blanket permission statements are a relatively recent phenomenon, too. I remember back when I started recording, I had to ask every author, and it didn't seem like much of a bother then. It's just that now, between recording so much that I've trampled my to do list flat and having gotten used to blanket permissions, it feels easier.

[paraka]

I think blanket permission (or some indication that permission will be granted, like the author already having said yes to podfic) will influence my decision on when I record something but not likely if I'll record and it's not a completely tangible thing. I think it's more like what you said in your post; I have a big list of things I'd like to podfic and if some of those authors have given blanket permission they'll move closer to the top of the list.
I think too, it depends on how I come across the blanket permission. I'm the one who runs the multipodicity Blanket Permission list, so I see a lot of authors on the list but I don't have any context for what it is they write (I'm horrible at names :S). If it's someone on my flist that might catch my notice more since I'm more likely to be familiar with them and their writing. I also run a shorter American Idol blanket permission list over at ai_podfic which, I have actually gone through and checked out some of the fic of authors I didn't know, just because they were on that list (since that's the fandom I'm currently reading in).
I think blanket permission is awesome but I also kind of wish it were presented better. A lot of authors only give permission in the comments on posts spread throughout fandom (like the ones I run, or the amplificathon and other comm specific permission posts). It would be so much better if they would post it to their journals, AO3 profiles, fic master posts, etc. Lists are great (as klb said, the list is a great place to send newbies), it's just, looking at a list of names isn't even the most useful thing. I have some plans that I'd like to put into motion to make the lists I run more easy to use and even just to spread awareness to authors so they know about this. But, I kind of have a huge list of to-do things for podfic so it might take me a while to put those thoughts into action. :P

[via_ostiense]

{nod} The list is a great resource, but I appreciate it when people post it to a LJ/DW sticky post, a LJ/DW profile, or AO3 profile. And then there are the people who have a blanket permission policy but don't post it, which works out if you chat with them, but not so much otherwise.

[paraka]

Totally, so many podficcers don’t even know about the permission posts/lists that exist. Hell, I admit, when I find a fic I want to read, I don’t go jumping over to the list to see if they’ve given blanket permission. I might check a profile and sometimes I’ll check the list but I don’t do it every time.

I have this plan, which will hopefully go live… soonish? to run a podfic awareness week (the week itself would likely be in August, but ramp up should probably start sooner rather than later, once I get pod_together all set up, I’ll start on this. So much fun podfic stuff, so little time /o\). If I do, there’s going to be an entire day devoted to Blanket Permission and encouraging people to give their permission in a clear place.