But I had lost the information.

15 years ago I worked as a proofreader for a legal publisher. During that time, I came across a 1994 appellate case involving Anne Rice. I printed it out and saved it for years, because I was and am a fan of her novels, but I thought that it had gotten thrown away during one of my moves. Which was a shame, because I wished I could share it on f_w.

Yesterday I was going through a box of old stuff and found out I still had the opening page. I put the info into Google and found the case!



That is, her long-standing habit of writing angry letters to people gave them an excuse to drag her back into court.

There's a tiny bit more info about it here. Also, it seems that in '97, James Cameron was trying to make a movie of The Mummy.

And that is all I could find about this case. I hope no one minds my sharing a wank this outdated; I thought those who follow Anne Rice wanks would be interested, and so far as I can tell this has only ever been reported in lawyer publications.

Reality TV star Gene Simmons spoke on a panel at MIPCOM 2010 with all kinds of advice about how to deal with digital piracy.

"The music industry was asleep at the wheel," Simmons complained, "and didn't have the balls to sue every fresh-faced, freckle-faced college kid who downloaded material. And so now we're left with hundreds of thousands of people without jobs. There's no industry."

Poor man, reduced to earning money by slapping the KISS logo on any bit of merchandise that will hold it.

"Everything from KISS condoms to KISS caskets," Simmons disclosed. "We'll get you coming and we'll get you going. We literally have everything from KISS Hi-Def television sets that are about to come on the market to KISS Motorcycles. Well, it's Planet KISS. Oh, I've already trademarked that, I forgot that."

Meanwhile, the rampaging hordes of Anonymous launched Operation Payback--DDoS attacks on the MPAA, the RIAA and others . . . including GeneSimmons.com.

Gene Simmons' response is about what you'd expect from a fading 70s rock star who doesn't quite get this Internet business:

Some of you may have heard a few popcorn farts re: our sites being threatened by hackers.

Our legal team and the FBI have been on the case and we have found a few, shall we say "adventurous" young people, who feel they are above the law.

And, as stated in my MIPCOM speech, we will sue their pants off.

First, they will be punished.

Second, they might find their little butts in jail, right next to someone who's been there for years and is looking for a new girl friend.

We will soon be printing their names and pictures.

We will find you.

You cannot hide.

Stay tuned

(Scuse me a moment, I have to stop giggling uncontrollably at the thought of somebody saying this to Anonymous.)

The comments on Ars Technica devolve into the usual arguments about the State of the Music Industry, but at least one person points out that Mr. Simmons might want to "put his house in order before waging war against the interweb"

Delaneyg84 is a well known crazy Rob/Kristen shipper who reports on the personal lives of this amazing duo as if she's BFFs with them. Because of her amazing reporting skills she's gained a large following of fans online. In the past she has claimed that her husband works for Summit. This must be the way she gets her R/K hot-off-the-press info. Like this, ( her first exclusive )

But I digress, because recently she leaked several photos of the upcoming Eclipse movie (ty for the links, and here and here too, linking to suspended twitpic accout), declaring that if she were to go out she might as well go out with a bang and make it good. Shit talking about Summit right after that probably didn't help anything at all because Summit is suing Miss Delaney. And for good measure, here is the filing on Justia.

As said before, she has many, many fans, who already have her back and are offering up financial services in her time of need (however, I should add that she's declined the offer).


All links, sources, and whatnot was collected from the posts about this made by the lovely ladies at ontd_twatlight.

ETA:

Look like Summit was planning on selling the images as movie promo cards for $20 a piece!

Lady Sybilla put out another press release. She also showed up at the Twilight Lexicon again, since that went so well the last time. (When the formatting gets hard to read, check it here.)

(Fanhistory links are all nofollow.)

After her Wikipedia article was deleted (you can go to the Russet-Noon webpage for more information), Lady Sybilla edited the shit out of the Russet Noon Fanhistory page all by her lonesome (despire Laura Hale asking around on Bebo whether anyone else had anything to contribute).

And in case your blog entry about the whole affair shows up there, I'm sorry. Lady Sybilla farmed the Russet Doom Supplementary Links Collection and changed my format a little to make the attention seem less wholly negative.

Oh also I put together an entry in my journal with links to screencaps and transcriptions and things, for quick and easy reference. 

For those just tuning in:

Lady Sybilla wanted to put out Russet Noon, her tribute sequel to the Twilight Saga via sockpuppet publisher. Smeyer never drew her characters, so this totally wasn't copyright infringement. She put out press releases, a Youtube reading, and listed her book on eBay months and months before she intended to make it available.

Then, of course, the "massive hate campaign" began. Darn Earth logic!

I myself wrote no less than four separate versions of a wank report, as I tried to keep on top of everything (and eventually lost my grip on sanity).

Lady Sybilla did not take this well. She pretend-banned the russet-noon site, taking down its former glory, then changed it to goad voyeurs.

And what did I get for my efforts? Emails from Lady Sybs herself.

Now she's put up a message directing us to the interview she did at a Brazilian fan site.

In the words of Stephenie Meyer, "When a story demands to be written, there's no way to resist."

Yes, Sybsy baby, and your story demands to be put down. Um, I mean the reports on you, not Russet Noon. Your tomfoolery must be chronicled for posterity the lulz.

But wait, there's more! Aaaaaaand she's back to writing press releases. It's the Foforks interview with this blurb at the end:

AV Paranormal Publishing is an independent publisher in the Los Angeles area. We publish online books, digital art and paperback novels. No unsolicited manuscript submissions are considered. We accept query emails with a short synopsis. Email your queries to submissions@avparanormal.com

O rly? Also the Twilight Lexicon is back to smacking her down. Kisses, kids!

And guess what just came up in my Google reader? This post by Karen Knows Best! Which led me to go and check...yes! Lee Goldberg is back on the case!

( Now for the tl;dr... )

In other news, I'm totally over this email business. I have a spam filter and I intend to use it. If someone wants to continue discussing this shiz, she can do so in the comments like everybody else.
ETA: Yes, we can haz more press release.

This story has been out for a couple of days, but as it hasn't been brought to Fandom Wank yet, I thought I'd write it up. I hope that's okay.

As previously reported, RDR Books stated their intention of appealing the Lexicon verdict.

RDR Books have now withdrawn their appeal.

Lest anyone think that this is the end, however, RDR Books and Steve Vander Ark are going ahead with a "revised" version of the encyclopedia. E! Online quotes "the 50-year-old with free time to spare" as saying:

"We learned a lot at the trial about what was acceptable, what would follow the fair-use guidelines," he said. "That was not clear before. There was no law on the books that made it clear what was acceptable and what wasn't.

"Coming out of the trial, I had a much better idea of what should go into the book."

RDR's Roger Rapoport says that the book contains "a lot more critical commentary, which means more analysis", while the decision "to publish a different book prepared with reference to Judge Patterson's decision" has been welcomed by Neil Blair, a lawyer for Rowling's London-based agent, and also by a spokeman for Warner Bros. (The Associated Press.)

I haven't found any indication of whether J.K. Rowling's and Warner Brothers' lawyers have reviewed the entire content of the new encyclopedia. 10,000 copies are to be printed for a January 12 release.

ETA: Thanks to mariem_1 for some more information.

The Stanford Fair Use Project have commented:( Voldemort hasn't gone away, you know )

SVA supporter rattlesnakeroot celebrates. Includes links to SVA's posts on the Leaky Lounge and other fun.

The report on the HP Lexicon site.

ETA 2: Thanks again to mariem_1 for this.

Via author/illustrator Matthew Holm (Harry Potter Lexicon Dispute Concludes with Worst Book Title Ever) here is a quote from a Publishers Weekly article:

( Here's the snappy title of the revised Lexicon )

ETA 3: From cleolinda: ( There's a tour! )

Breaking: Judge rules for Rowling in 'Lexicon' book case.


Note: My understanding is that SVA will not be appealing anything, because SVA is not the one named in the suit. RDR is. No word as to what he'll do.

(Watch That Page for ETAs.)

( Read more... )

ETA 7: JKR's agents want to see SVA's new book, with bonus comment wank at Mugglenet (OH GOD NO PLEASE DON'T BE INFRINGING I CAN'T GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN); Dear Author comment wank, with bonus Nora Roberts; NPR's audio coverage; clearly, Diane Duane is using the Leaky Lounge lawsuit thread for her own nefarious purposes.

ETA 8: And the appeals begin. Also of note: "Rapoport said the legal tangle has boosted business for his company."

Here's a recent addition to Torchwood wankage, brought to you by a kind anonymouse who submitted it to wank_report, only this time with the added bonus of plagiarism on behalf of the unofficial torchwood guide author.

Funtimes as someone publishes an unofficial guide to Torchwood. Containing pages of reviews from fans on livejournal without their permission.
Amazon.com version
UK Amazon.com version

People are less than pleased.

whereas some are quite happy to be featured.

Leave the author alone!

Differing views of copyright laws

People suggesting going to the tabloids to get their own back.

Meme view:

Reply from author


Oh dear. I'd like to see what'll happen if this bloke makes a fortune on this guidebook and who will be the first LJer to actually initiate a lawsuit. Should be an interesting case to watch on the evening news.

Mucho gracias to the folks over on wank_report. AND A SPOILER WARNING WITH EXTRA SPARKLES FOR TWILIGHT FANS. I suggest Twilight fans who actually care that much about being spoiled avoid this post like the plague.

( Why do I feel we've been through this before? )
ETA: Fixed the tag on the last link. Sorry, folks.
ETA3: A support request was entered by someone claiming to be from a law firm, claiming to represent the publishing group with a pretty much standard letter that has been going around like a strain of herpes to people leaking the book or even discussing spoilers (julian_black explains exactly why here). I don't think intellectual property laws work that way.

( text can be found here )


Other posts concerning the leaks can be found here and a twilight_news (thanks to hooloovoo_too). Possible confirmation of some of the spoilers has also sparked more wank over here.

There's some more fun over at ontd (the macros start on page 2). The OP itself only concerns the movie, but that doesn't stop people from wanking over the spoilers.

ETA4: system is love.

( Go System! )

And there's now been blurry confirmation on spoilers (thanks to miraba).

ETA5: Ok, guys, lay off the Mormons or I'm going to have to ask you to get out of the pool. I really, really, REALLY hate to quote mcity but plz no Mormon bashing. Let's have some class.

ETA6: SMeyer allegedly wrote a parody version of Breaking Dawn according to this EW article (thanks to greenconverses).

Dearest, beloved, Fandom Wank.

I know you were looking forward to great excitement today. Some of you said words to me that indicated you anticipated fiery 'judgement' upon those who remained fresh and dewey white, those you call n00bs.

Anyway, you got today instead.

Stop anticipating things, we'll just break your hearts.

Sincerely,

Sepia P. Magpie, Esq.



PS: Use this post to reflect on how you could be better people. Or just fuck around in the comments.

Thanks to the wank_report mouse for the tip off.

the summary:

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT. Chancery Stone, fandom_wank mockee and author of the infamous 'Danny' 'mad as hell and not going to take it... er... two years later'! Thrill! As she describes how badass she is! Marvel! As she repeatedly laments the horrors that have lead her down the path of legal action against a certain fan-run journalling site! GASP! As she remarks of herself, "Once I scent blood I'm in there like a heat-seeking missile."

COMING SOON to a tl;dr blog post near you.

( More highlights under cut )

So, some kid threw a piece of paper at the rapper Akon at a concert. Akon has him picked out of the crowd, hoists him up on stage and suddenly tosses him back at the unsuspecting concert-goers. Wanky (and stupid) in and of itself, but we have videos. You can see the toss in this video. There's another here. The angle sucks, but you get a clearer picture of the situation. There's wank all over the comments of the videos arguing whether or not the kid deserved it and if Akon's an asshole or not.

Media Takeout, the site that supposedly broke the story is full of tabloid journalism goodness with the tagline EXCLUSIVE!! POLICE MAY CHARGE AKON WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER!!. There's lot of fun capslocks of rage going on in there. Other sites are a little less sensationalist with titles like Rapper Akon Investigated by Police, Angry Akon Throws Young Fan Offstage, and Akon is a real piece of work, throws kid off stage.

People's got it covered. Just about everything Digg digs up on Akon is about this stage dive.

So far, the Poughkeepsie Journal has the most detailed coverage of the incident. They're still looking for the kid. Plenty more "he deserved it" vs "he didn't deserve it" and "Akon's an asshole" opinions going back and forth in the comments.

Perez Hilton's got it. There's plenty of idiocy there, including arguments on whether or not this is a hoax since "mainstream media" hasn't picked it up.

The Akon support side of the wank seems pretty much summed up with this mindnumbingly stupid comment from some "Head Bitch" blog. "And can you blame him [Akon]??? That little shit tried to throw something at him, and basically Akon showed everyone what a BITCH the kid really was by hurling him through the air into the crowd. I absolutely love it, and just wish I was strong enough to do that to people. It’s so awesome to actually see someone be thrown, flail around in the air and land on the hard ground, especially when they are a deserving douchebag."

Music just brings out the best in people wouldn't ya say?

Update: The kid has been identified and the lady he landed on is coming forward saying she was injured by the flying teen, here. She was diagnosed with a concussion and demands an apology. Despite this, Akon is denying wrong-doing. Here's the statement from his lawyers:
"Given the information that we have reviewed to date, it does not appear to us that Akon was involved in any criminal conduct whatsoever. We are prepared to fully cooperate with any law enforcement agency that may be investigating this incident. We are confident that after a thorough investigation it will be apparent that no criminal prosecution of Akon is warranted."

Last night's feature on Pottersues was Miss Jessica Kayes, one of those particularly pointless Sues who simply takes Harry's place in a universe where 'The Boy Who Lived' doesn't exist. There are surprisingly many of them. How is this wanky?

Well, for one thing, the author has written seven stories about her Sue's years at Hogwarts, totalling (according to Pottersues) seven hundred thousand words, and as yet unfinished.

For another, said author also devotes an entire web page to explaining why her character is not a Mary-Sue. It's mighty entertaining to watch her try to wiggle out of answering 'yes' through any possible loophole. This young lady would make a hell of a lawyer.

At least the folks at Pottersues are having fun.

And we can't forget the Which Jessicaverse Character Are You? quiz. This author actually thinks her Suefic is that important and that popular.