GWTW Fanfic Provokes Lawsuit

[Jim Ferer]

Ellen:"That doesn't seem to matter in the case of Anne McCaffreys Pern 
books/ world.  Her people and lawyers are making things miserable 
for people involved in Yahoo clubs role playing games based on Pern- 
even if they contain none of her characters, and aren't even set in 
any of the Holds (Cities) or towns) that she uses in her books.
Even clubs that are completely original, except for being set on the 
world of pern, and using her concept of Dragons, Weyrs and Thread, 
are being harassed, and told to remove their online presence (Logs 
of stories, archives of discussions) or be deleted."

It's sad. Ms. McCaffrey doesn't know or care that the good will of the 
cadre fan base is essential to the success of an SF series.  Maybe 
they want to keep their options open on marketing gaming systems based 
on Pern.  

McCaffrey has always been a commerical-minded author compared to JKR; 
JKR intends to write her seven books and that's it. 
McCaffrey, OTOH, is trying to be the Barbara Cartland of SF, churning 
'em out at an endless clip. I read and enjoyed the first three books 
of the series, before the franchise became Silhouette Desire in Space.

I remember back in the 1970's that there was at least one, and I think 
more, anthologies of Star Trek original series fics published with 
Paramount's blessing and even participation. I'd give a couple of toes 
to be included in a collection like that of HP stuff.

The biggest difference - and I hope it matters - is that JKR herself 
*likes* fanfic and considers it a compliment to her. She even admits 
to having read some,[wouldn't you like to know which?] which most 
authors would never do. They're afraid some N***y S******r like person 
will claim JKR "stole" an idea from a fanfic to use in canon. Me, I'd 
be honored, and I'd feel JKR has an absolute right to anything in HP 
fanfiction. It's her universe. (I wouldn't turn down an autographed 
copy, however).