An ethical question

[nocturnus33]

There is an author whose fics I like: Josan

She haven't been around in 9 years. Some of her fics are at an Angelfire web page she hasn´t updated since 2006. Most of her work are at both her live journals blogs josanpq

  or tales_of_josan , which were last updated during  2008. This worried me, since Livejournal announced last month that bloggers who didn't accept the new ToS will see their blogs deleted in six more months. I'd try to contact Josan through her mail but the adress was not found. (See Termination of Inactive Accounts by Administration )**

I'd been thinking about moving her fics to A03 acknowledging her authorship and the reasons why I'm posting them in another site, but I'm of two minds about it. I wasn't Josan's friend and I have no idea about her thoughts on a topic like this. I just know she stop updating but she never withdrew her fics from where she post it.

I'd seem so beautifull fics lost through the years because the site in which they were posted were shut down. It will sadden me to lost this ones too. Should I save her fics at A03?

Please share your thoughts on this.

 

_____________

**
The Administration reserves the right to delete the Account and the Blog if access to the Blog is not carried out by the User for more than 6 months in a row or was limited during the same period in connection with the violation of the Agreement.

 

Comments

[weyodi]

Personally, as a writer I wouldn't object too strenuously as long as I was credited as the writer. This has happened to me. I have been saved on archives I never submitted to. But since my name remains on the stories I don't mind.

[walgesang]

Hmm, that is a tricky question and I think you may get a variety of responses. I know some people who have long left fandom may have wanted their fic to be lost to obscurity (so to speak), so if they decided to not update their fics to a popular archive, if it were me I might be inclined to not move them to AO3. I know it may be sad to see the stories go completely, but not knowing the person's thoughts I guess I might save them for my own personal enjoyment to read again but that would be about it.

[foudebassan.livejournal.com]

I love her fics too. I'd post them making it clear they were written by her - she can always leave a review to ask you to delete it all if she doesn't like it.

If - God forbid- she has passed away keeping her fics alive would be a. Ice gesture.

[delphipsmith]

Speaking as an archivist, making a copy of something for preservation purposes is justifiable. It can also be seen as an ethical action, if it serves the interest of a community (in this case, fanfic readers), and is responsibly carried out. Given that the original author never took them down, that you have exercised due diligence in trying to locate/contact the original author, that you intend to post them with full acknowledgement of the original author as the creator, and that you are doing so not for any kind of gain but for the allowed purpose of preservation, I'd say that you are on solid ground to go ahead.

[toblass.livejournal.com]

I just read on Facebook today that someone has created an AO3 account and posted ms_figg's fics, making it clear that those were all written by ms_figg. I really like Delphi's reasoning and think it sounds like a good idea.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

By all means, save copies of Josan's work!
I have to admit I'm surprised someone would put that kind of effort into creating something and then just walk away completely, never to be heard from again, so I have to wonder if something happened to her too.

I've known at least one person who died here on LJ and others who disappeared totally...
Please save her work.
:^|

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Are any of her friends still active who might be able to contact her?

[torino10154]

Though, as both an author and a mod, I definitely hesitate to encourage reposting, I do agree with delphipsmith's comment.

But I also agree with Shiv about getting in touch with friends. I went and looked at Josan's friends and I'd suggest you try contacting Djin7. She's the person who did Snarry Games and therefore has "control" of the fic Josan did for that. She might have been in contact with her at some point or have another suggestion for you.

When an author asked me to remove their fic from an archive I run, she allowed us to give people a week to save it for themselves. I know I'm going to be looking at defunct journals to see what I can save before it's too late.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

I finally got some free time this evening--so far I've loved everything I've read of Josan's.
Thank you for bringing them to my attention!
{{{Hugs}}}
:^)