Alright, quite a few people have been debating about this on LiveJournal, but I felt like making a point about it here, too, because I'm sure there are people who read fanfiction here.

So, this site, Fanlib, is apparently, from what I read on LJ, trying to make profit from fanfiction - written not by THEM, of course. Their TOS pretty much states they can steal anyone's fanfiction for money and if the SWAT comes to beat them up the writer of that fanfic gets the blame instead. Not only that, the writer must agree to not hold Fanlib in charge of ANYTHING or any harm. So basically, that writer, if in trouble for posting a fanfic on that site, will have to deal with any issues that come to them.

Fanlib thinks they're going to lead the way to getting fanfiction more attention or even publishing. But they're doing it the wrong way.

Seriously. This could mean that in the future, fanfiction may become illegal or all fanfics will be controlled by some major corporation, as stated in a short article I read. Plus, it's a major violation of the rights of fanfic readers and writers. It's also copyright violation of the original makers of the fandom.

*sigh* >_<;;

After a staff of Fanlib viewed all the "nasty" comments written about them on LiveJournal, he came with this reply:

"hey everyone,
I'm Chris one of the founders of FanLib> it's really late and i have been working on the site all day. I'm exhausted but i just realized what was going on here and all of the commentsts are making me sick. we're a small company with 10 emplyees who work 16 hours a day to try and make a great website. we're real people! with feelings and everything! we have been working on this and dreaming about it for a long time and you are just here to crap on it without giving us a chance. i care deeply about what you think but this is crazy. we're good people here and you make us sound like we're an evil corporation or the govt. sending your kids to war or something. we really are all about celebrating fan fiction and fan fiction readers and writers. im sorry this is so short and please excuse the fact that i am cutting and pasting this across a bunch of ljs but i gotta get some sleep.
chris"

???!!!!

If anyone wants to see their site (which I don't recommend unless you seriously want to see it or want to give them hits), is here: http://www.fanlib.com.

That site seems, blessedly, American. I see no mention of Pokemon or really any other anime on it, so fortunately I think fanfictions of animes/mangas/games of japanese origin are safe for now. Still, if this begins to grow, it could mean some serious trouble for fanfic writers.

Fortunately it seems rather small, with very few members. Plus. there's the whole copyright infringement thing. Technically you can't publish fanfiction since it contains copyrighted content (Characters, places, phrases, ideas.) The fanfiction publishers will get blamed for at least some of it. And plus, if they use yours you can always file a lawsuit. Don't worry.

I edited my first post with an unprofessional reply from one of the founders. Plus, this site below has GREAT arguments about this, to anyone who's interested. ^^

http://telesilla.livejournal.com/555817.html

What really makes me mad is that they don't seem to understand at all that we make fanfiction for fun and to share with fellow fandom lovers. They just don't... get it. @_@;

What the heck? That's insane. That is just so wrong, using fanfics without permission, for a profit, and then being all "ohhh its a g0od thing1!!" That just... argh.

Wait, SO these people go to forums and just take peoples fanfics without permission and publish it on their site? Or do people submit theirs in?

Either way, this is the most stupid thing I have ever heard of. And now this affects me cause I just started to write. As long as they keep on the American shows, I think we'll be fine. Unless they grow big, as Zephry said.

This is wrong and sad. Wrong on the part that these are peoples stories they are taking and just plain sad on the part that they have nothing better to do, but make a proffesion on taking people's work.

When I think of Fanlib, I think of 10 different people (30 and older) who live with their respective mothers.

No no. Not any fanfic. Just the ones who are submitted. Even so... I really hope they don't last long.

Oooh. So they don't steal fanfics, people submit theirs to it? Mmm, that makes it better, but still.

Ya, but a lot of people don't read the Terms of Service. Let this be a lesson - always read the Terms of Service! XD

Oh my God! Why do people steal stuff? That is plain wrong!! OMG OMG OMG!! I could just scream!! I am working on a fan fic for Code Lyoko(Its about Aelita getting killed, or something, ya'll have to read it soon.) and now i know i won't publish it! But is Fanfiction.net a good place?
Also that is JUST HORRIBLE! Will they steal Fan-fics from here? Hope not.
Ya'll, we have to do somthing about this! Debate! Er...something? I don't know, I am getting over-reacted about this...
Shadow is right!

@Dark Allie:

Please do not bump topics over a month old. ^^; But ya, Fanfiction.net is a good place.

Most people don't mind if others use their characters in their art work or through fan fictions, unless they make a profit out of them. Wouldn't it seem logical for the SWAT team (or whoever else is involved) to go for Fanlib instead?

I mind, and I haven't seen ONE webmaster/mistress who doesn't mind. Plus I know quite the few people who still care, even if they don't publish them out to the web/etc., they're still EXTREMELY protective.


Err, and although this is a bump. (sorry D8) But, as Zephyr said, a while ago, that it didn't touch things with Japanese origins, Naruto, Pokemon, other anime/manga. Well, I looked at their site to see how bad it was (even if this was posted a while ago).

But there is Naruto AND Inuyasha from what I see. ;'; That sucks, I wonder if pokemon is next? v.v" Ugh, I hate stolen content/fanfictions/characters/WHATEVER. ESPECIALLY when someone makes a profit from it...