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I have other things I need to be doing but you know whaaaat, it's time for a thread about Epic Games' fanart policy, why companies trying to monetize or control fandom aren't doing it well, and what some better options are. https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/fan-art-policy
On first look: a major games publisher putting out a fanart policy seems great, right? Historically, most IP holders have absolutely no idea what fandom is, or what it looks like outside of mass-market appeal. I've been on countless calls where I have to explain fanart/fic.
To have acknowledgment -- hey, we know you are going to create fanart, so we've drafted up a few rules, seems great. In my mind, I expected something like "please don't sell, don't use our logos/trademarks, and don't insinuate we approved this."
Which. I mean, it IS that, but:
Which. I mean, it IS that, but:
Seems pretty okay, from the first pass. Though: let's be real here lol. Who on AO3/within the fanart community is going to think to go to Epic Games' website and check their specific fanart policy, especially when it's not advertised all over.
1.1 If you don't follow the rules, you cannot create it. Okay, what does that enforcement look like?
1.2 Okay this I'm a little unclear on: are folks in the clear if they haven't signed a EULA?
1.2 Okay this I'm a little unclear on: are folks in the clear if they haven't signed a EULA?
1.3 What.
NO REALLY LOL WHAT. There is so much to unpack here. "The spirit and tone" as determined by Epic? This feels vague enough to be "if we don't like it remove it." BUT THEN: the notes about sexual explicit.
NO REALLY LOL WHAT. There is so much to unpack here. "The spirit and tone" as determined by Epic? This feels vague enough to be "if we don't like it remove it." BUT THEN: the notes about sexual explicit.
What counts as that? Are we talking about Sakimi-Chan doing fanart on her Patreon? Are we talking about characters in bathing suits who are normally covered in armor?
Are we talking about QUEER CONTENT, typically stifled as "obscene"?
Are we talking about QUEER CONTENT, typically stifled as "obscene"?
This section is what worries me the most. What about fandom shipping zines that are not made for profit, but feature two characters from one of Epic's IPs making out?
Hell, what about any sort of NSFW fic on AO3? What about kink memes?
Hell, what about any sort of NSFW fic on AO3? What about kink memes?
Section 1.4: THIS IS THE MOST FASCINATING TO ME because I feel like it illustrates EXACTLY how little IP holders understand fandom.
"you can't make money off this unless you're monetizing it through YT because that gets us extra marketing"
Dude what do you think fandom does?
"you can't make money off this unless you're monetizing it through YT because that gets us extra marketing"
Dude what do you think fandom does?
1.5: we can revoke your right to create fanworks.
HOW LOL? Like this is hilarious, but also: HOW. If someone does fanart that violates the policies listed here, how are you going to stop them from doing it again? What does that look like?
HOW LOL? Like this is hilarious, but also: HOW. If someone does fanart that violates the policies listed here, how are you going to stop them from doing it again? What does that look like?
Does it look like Epic Games going to AO3 trying to strongarm them into banning someone's profile? Does it look like EG going to Twitter to get someone banned? Does it look like EG sending cease and desists to artists for creating fanart they don't like?
1.6-1.8 are pretty standard.
1.9 tho: Again: what does this mean or look like? "As determined by Epic."
What if you're a fic writer doing G rated fic, but talking about how Epic is partially owned by TenCent, and the ramifications of that in the greater fandom ecosystem?
1.9 tho: Again: what does this mean or look like? "As determined by Epic."
What if you're a fic writer doing G rated fic, but talking about how Epic is partially owned by TenCent, and the ramifications of that in the greater fandom ecosystem?
(Okay listen I know there aren't a ton of people who would do this because they don't understand why this is such a big deal, but please understand why this is so ominous in my mind. Here's a prior thread on it https://twitter.com/RowanRowden/status/1256994476972630022)
The tl;dr here is that I think that it's both interesting and worth a bit of concern re: the level of control TenCent has on its variety of investments, how they choose to stifle creative avenues to profit off of them, and what that means on a larger scale WRT current events.
BUT OKAY, so back to the "agreement." 1.10
WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM FFN/AFFN/MEDIAMINER/ROUND ROBIN DAYS BAYYYBEE.
No one uses disclaimers anymore. Know why? Because OBVIOUSLY, they don't own the rights.
WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM FFN/AFFN/MEDIAMINER/ROUND ROBIN DAYS BAYYYBEE.
No one uses disclaimers anymore. Know why? Because OBVIOUSLY, they don't own the rights.
This part's pretty standard, but also: who is going to read this and actually follow the branding guidelines, let's be real here.
Except: what happens if you don't?
Except: what happens if you don't?
Okay. So, that's the doc. Some parts pretty standard and not iffy, but the vast majority of it, IMO, is NOT GREAT.
So let's talk
monetizing fandom and why I think it's very worrying we're starting to see an awareness of fandom turn into the strict guidelines & monetization.
So let's talk
monetizing fandom and why I think it's very worrying we're starting to see an awareness of fandom turn into the strict guidelines & monetization.
Historically, there hasn't been a ton of awareness of the different avenues fandom goes to create things. I would be on calls/in meetings with BizDev folks who have no idea what Ko-Fi, Patreon, zines, shaker charms, any of these things are.
When I explain fandom, and when I go into detail about why we should be working within fandom to license these goods or figure out good, non-predatory methods to work in conjunction with fandom: often, I got a very condescending "oh sweetie seems like you're a fan."
haha video games, comics, and tv shows right
Except-- except. Redbubble now has a policy regarding fanart and the monetization of it. Fandom (you know, that wiki all of us use now to track info on our fav characters) has become bigger and bigger at events.
video games, comics, and tv shows rightExcept-- except. Redbubble now has a policy regarding fanart and the monetization of it. Fandom (you know, that wiki all of us use now to track info on our fav characters) has become bigger and bigger at events.
Patreon is starting to ban NSFW creators from their platform because payment processors start to get real iffy when it comes to "objectionable content" getting filtered through their systems. https://thenextweb.com/tech/2019/06/27/patreon-continues-to-crack-down-on-nsfw-content-creators/
Now, hm. What does that remind me of?
https://fanlore.org/wiki/Strikethrough_and_Boldthrough
https://fanlore.org/wiki/FanFiction.Net%27s_NC-17_Purges:_2002_and_2012
I'm sure a fair number of folks are familiar with why everyone so loudly defends AO3's right to exist: THINGS LIKE THIS ARE WHY.
https://fanlore.org/wiki/Strikethrough_and_Boldthrough
https://fanlore.org/wiki/FanFiction.Net%27s_NC-17_Purges:_2002_and_2012
I'm sure a fair number of folks are familiar with why everyone so loudly defends AO3's right to exist: THINGS LIKE THIS ARE WHY.
Sure feels like plenty of places are happy to have fandom on their sites, to take their money, and then when they don't have to anymore, bump them off of their platforms for 'undesirable content.'
Okay Rowan, what does all of this have to do with Epic Games and their policy?
Okay Rowan, what does all of this have to do with Epic Games and their policy?
SO GLAD YOU ASKED.
It is not a question of if fandom will become monetized, and if it will be cannibalized by large business. It's a question of when, and how.
My largest concerns with all of these things happening are that we know how this goes.
It is not a question of if fandom will become monetized, and if it will be cannibalized by large business. It's a question of when, and how.
My largest concerns with all of these things happening are that we know how this goes.
Certain content is okay to create. Other content, somehow, usually queer, kink friendly, or "problematic" content begins to get removed because it "looks bad" for the investors and everyone else.
(TBC; Twitter won't let me thread anymore my thread is Too Powerful.)
(TBC; Twitter won't let me thread anymore my thread is Too Powerful.)
The monetization of fandom in turn means the sanitization of fandom to make it more palatable, so they can profit off of it. That's bad! That's really bad! Fandom is transformative works, it's inserting ourselves into stories that don't feature us. It's making our own space.
To see more and more places get in on trying to control fandom, to monetize it, to start stipulating what kinds of creations are "okay" is EXTREMELY CONCERNING. Y'all think getting C&Ds from The Mouse is bad?
What about getting a C&D or getting banned from EG
What about getting a C&D or getting banned from EG
for your 20k NSFW fantasy AU where two people bang?
OKAY SO I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT ABOUT WHY THIS IS BAD, so like...what are the options on how to fix it?
OKAY SO I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT ABOUT WHY THIS IS BAD, so like...what are the options on how to fix it?
A HUGE portion of what I've been working on with Dual Wield Studio is a licensing plan specifically tailored to help bring fandom INTO licensing.
What does this look like? Check out how we're handling @TamoraPierce's license here. https://dualwieldstudio.com/blogs/news/be-a-part-of-our-officially-licensed-tamora-pierce-line
What does this look like? Check out how we're handling @TamoraPierce's license here. https://dualwieldstudio.com/blogs/news/be-a-part-of-our-officially-licensed-tamora-pierce-line
We're building out an entire licensing process to bring typically C&Ded items into the licensing process. That means that your items that you were previously selling without the consent of the IP holder could be "official work."
EXCEPT: I get it. This isn't great either. Fandom as an ecosystem is great because there are no rules outside the ones we make, and because there is no stifling of creativity (fanpol aside.)
But here's the truth: fandom's going to be monetized and right now, it's not being monetized in such a way that it benefits the creators who love the IP. We're working to change that, but it's slow going, and it's expensive.
If you're an IP holder who has a fandom who you KNOW is creating a ton of unlicensed stuff: let's chat. If you're an IP holder for basically any big game, movie, tv show, anime, whatever: banning people from creating fanworks you don't like isn't how to do this.
There's no perfect solution to this, but I think it's very unrealistic to believe that fandom is going to be able to stay the same as it has been. AO3 is an incredible resource and you should 100% donate to it whenever you are able.
But I feel like we're going to start seeing more and more of these issues with Ko-Fi, Patreon, and other websites for content creation, which means there needs to be a serious conversation within fandom: what are we doing to be able to KEEP DOING this?
This is how I feel when I make these tweets, but also, I've been in fandom from Y!Groups, to FFN, to LJ circles, to LJ/DWRP, to AO3 and more for 18+ years and my literal job is working within licensing IP stuff, so.
