legal reason

I was on a writing sabbatical in the northwoods for the last week, totally (blissfully) cut off from the online world, so I apologize if this posting appears dated by webby standards.

Grace Westcott, intellectual property lawyer and Vice Chair of the Canadian Copyright Institute has written an excellent, balanced, reasonable and detailed analysis of fan fiction and its copyright implications for the Literary Review of Canada. It is available in full online, at this link.

Here is my favorite quote, around which I intend to write a long story about Grace Westcott, lawyer by day, darkly moody superhero by night:

"What is needed is a kind of digital civility, an online code of respect in engaging with cultural works that recognizes and addresses authors’ rights and legitimate concerns."

Grace clipped her bullwhip back onto her belt and leaned out into the night, clutching the gargoyle's wing to keep her balance forty stories above the darkened city streets. Would her work ever end? Would she ever be granted rest from this endless battle for respect? It seemed unlikely.