UVC Honor Code for Derivative Videos

by immortal1
on Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:14 pm

The Flock recently has added a number of videos to the site. Since then I've seen a lot of derivative videos added and I realized that maybe by adding videos I was giving the impression that I was okay with with the rights granted video makers concerning derivative videos under the new TOS. Far from it. I have people I work with that I didn't want to subject to this battle. We are also in the unique position where we ended our season so I can use the break to address this issue.

I've posted alot in regard to how derivatives are now vulnerable to things like "storyjacking" under the new TOS. The truth is they were always vulnerable. The difference now is that the Creators seem to be encouraging making derivatives of derivatives.

The Creators wrote:"Basically, this means that if someone creates a new character that is "fighting the order," that person can put the video anywhere they want as long as they also put it on our site, don't make money from the video, put a link in the description when it is uploaded to other sites, and let other people build from that story/character."


I feel that this will only encourage bad behavior such as "storyjacking." To encourage this without establishing some guidelines first sets it up to be the Wild West where derivatives are concerned. I have a theory about why the hardcore ARG players left lonelygirl15 and haven't returned and that's because the ARG Commandments were broken. Those aren't laws enforced by anyone, rather more an honor code among thieves. This same honor code amongst theives has been established in the literary world of collaborative storytelling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_fiction Collaborative storytelling is in essence what we do with derivatives. I think we can adapt these rules to apply what we do here.

Commone guidelines for Collaborative fiction deal in:

1. Enforcing a specific genre
2. Not killing off or otherwise permanently changing a major character owned by another author
3. No God Mod'ing, i.e., not making a character a God, invincible and never wrong when all other characters are not similarly endowed
4. No writing for another author's characters, unless agreed by the author
5. Sticking to a certain 'point of view'
6. Keeping a certain pacing, theme, or style emulation
7. Keeping up grammar and spelling and staying to a certain language
8. Sticking to rules regarding 'adult content'.
9. Staying with 'the story'.
10. Minimum and/or maximum word counts per contribution.
11. Restrictions on or requirements to work together outside the story over plot and other elements.
12. Restriction on who can contribute, and how often, when the work is being put together in an open area such as an online forum or mailing list.

Obviously most of these do not apply but from these I suggest we establish an "UVC Honor Code for Derivative Videos." It's an honor system. Every person who creates a derivative video can put "I follow the UVC Honor Code for Derivative Videos" in the video description or maybe we can even establish a small symbol. If someone breaks a rule- the community will respond accordingly by not watching those vids. It's self regulation and I think the Creators will get on board with that.

So my hope is that this post sparks discussion about guidelines and the examples offered. Feel free to suggest your own guidelines you think may apply.

For more on this discussion follow this thread .