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So I was wondering. Suppose I'm writing a story, maybe for profit, maybe not, and I want to reference something on this site without naming it directly (I was thinking about calling a demonic being the Scarlet King, for instance). Is this allowed, and what would I have to do for permission if it is?
Preface: I AM NOT A LAWYER
That being said, my understanding is that ANY derivative work, including oblique concept references to this site, are covered by our Creative Commons License. So yes, using "Scarlet King" as a demonic being would be a reference to 231, which would mean that your story would have to adopt the same CC license that we use.
Giving bearhugs to the unsuspecting since 1872.
The more I see info about the CC liscence, the more I'm convinced it's really an infectious textual phenomenon.
Dibs on the -J
"Hey," says a bright young idealist, eager to share his favorite creepypasta series with the world, "what if we published a book about the SCP series? It'd be amazing! What do you guys thi-"
The hopeful youngsters words fade away as a sound emanates from the forum. It is one faint voice at first, nearly silent, but as the seconds pass more voices add to the mass, growing louder and louder until the forum is almost shaking with the snakelike hiss of the seasoned veterans of the SCP. They repeat the same words over and over, an empty rage fueling the noise.
"Creative Commonsssssssssssss! Creative Commonsssssssss!"
The fresh-faced writer is taken aback by this response. Surely these people wanted their community to succeed! Why were they resisting? "B-but don't you guys want people around the world to share in your stories?!"
"Creative Commonssssssssssss! Creative Commonssssssssssss!"
"But what about fame, about notoriety? Surely THAT interests you!"
"Creative Commonsssssssssss! Creative Commonsssssssssssss!"
"Money, then! What about money?!"
Without warning, the hissing stops. The empty silence is amplified as the young poster sits and waits nervously for the response. Did the prospect of profit change their minds?
Like lightning, the community strikes! Hundreds if not thousands of venomous bites are delivered as the poster writhes in agony. How DARE he suggest something so obvious! Of COURSE we've thought about money! Of COURSE we've thought about fame, about making this wiki profitable! But this…this insect doesn't understand what we've gone through! The attacks continue on and on until finally…silence.
Nothing left of the naive newbie, save for a single finger pointing at a hastily etched note of regret:
"Creative Commons"
It always makes my day when Cryogen makes a forum story.
I didn't know I wasn't the only person to have the idea of an SCP-related book.
Please don't hurt me.
In times like these, I apply my personal philosophy: "It's only illegal once they catch you."
You'll be totally fine doing putting a reference in your book, unless someone from the site buys your book, sees the connection to the wiki, actually cares about it enough to pay the legal fees of the case, actually bothers to take it to court, gets their case accepted, then manages to prove the connection in court.
I seriously doubt that would happen. But give credit where credit is due, whatever that means to you…
Are you serious? You're telling someone it's fine to do something illegal as long as no one gets up and sues them?
I believe in a generous interpretation of fair use. Which is a lot different from the charming ethos of "it's only illegal once they catch you." For example, I don't believe that a vague allusion to a Scarlet King would inherit our license. Retelling the story of 231 would.
References are one thing. Actually taking content from the site for your own use and hoping that you either don't get caught or can outspend the people you stole from is just straight up capital A Asshole.
This is the second stop I've had to call on a conversation you've started today Blackwood. I recognize that some of the problems in those other threads were not your fault, but you need to check yourself. If you make any more posts where you are antagonizing someone or giving asshole advice like this then you're looking at a temp ban at the very least. Reel it in.
And just a reminder for everyone this is a stop, and any further posts on this particular topic or replies to this post will get a hammer drop.
PM an admin for a more official ruling, or at least RhettSarlin who is becoming one of those more proficient in "dealings with things offsite".
I'll do that when I've actually written the story. Thank you.
EDIT: I'm not a lawyer, either, so everything I've just said may be a load of bollocks. Proceed with trepidation.
If it's something small like calling a character the Scarlet King, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. We don't have exclusive rights to the words "scarlet" and "king" being put in that order, after all.
But if you're planning on making a direct link to the SCP series and the Foundation specifically, that's when you need to start asking about permissions. Like, if you wanted to call a group in your story "The Chaos Insurgency", I highly doubt anyone here would raise a fuss about it. However, if you're making it very obvious that your group is supposed to be OUR Chaos Insurgency (i.e. is enemies with "the Foundation", uses anomalous objects stolen from "the Foundation", etc.), that's when you need to ask us about permission.
At least, that's how I understand it. I'm a little fuzzy on Creative Commons, though, so if I'm wrong I invite someone more fluent in legalese to correct me.
Not a lawyer as well, but I'm possibly the Staff member who has looked into this stuff the deepest thus far, and my understanding on this is…
That it would really depend on what you wrote, and why you wrote it.
If what you wrote is directly identifiable as being based off of something on the site, or uses any significant amount of text from an entry on the site, and is a creative entry rather than an article talking about something on SCP(which would fall under Fair Use), then yes, you need the full Creative Commons license and attribution as detailed in the Licensing Guide. If you're caught not doing so we'll totally ride you about it :P.
If what you write is technically based on SCP materials but cannot be proven to be due to it being too ambiguous to directly apply to anything specific, then while you still *should* license and attribute, you could get away with not doing so, because nobody could prove that you did. But come on. Don't be a dick. License and attribute.
If all you're doing is borrowing terms from something you read on SCP and then writing something completely different, then don't bother. If your "Scarlet King" was your own completely separate entity rather than the one presumably involved with SCP-231, and you just used that name because you liked it, you're fine, that would fall under Fair Use. As noted earlier, nobody has a copyright on the name "Scarlet King", the copyright would be applicable only if you were writing about the same entity and/or the SCP universe.
Basically, judge your own heart and motives. If you're writing something based on SCP material then be honest, do it right and license and attribute correctly. If you're just borrowing a name you saw that liked, then don't stress it.
My story is probably going to fall under the second point. But with the licensing guide up, I know what I need to do. Thank you Clef.
Creative Commonssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss…
