Today, I found out that my fanfic, More Than Empty Servitude, has been copied by another fanfic writer, both on AO3 and Tumblr.
The similarities range from nuanced to blatantly copied, even down to the backstory, appearance, and friendships/relationships of the FMC. Some very specific events and dialogue have also been copied, uncannily so. Thankfully, the copied story eventually becomes its own, but still feels like a fanfic of the source material (MTES) itself.
While I am all for being inspired by others in the fandom,
copying and plagiarizing is not okay.
I know at the end of the day, there’s no such thing as an original idea anymore, but when you have THIS many back to back to back similarities, it’s hard to pass off as flattery, inspiration, or coincidence.
(Especially when the author copying left kudos on MTES just a couple months ago, only to then publish their own fic a few weeks later.)
All this to say, if you are inspired by a piece of fanart or fan fiction, please use that inspiration with careful consideration. Tag the source material, credit the author, something, anything. Or, better yet, find a way to portray what you loved from the source material in a new and unique way, rather than copying aspects line for line, design by design.
Seeing this copied fanfic has left me feeling deflated and defeated, my writing motivation doused. I have spent YEARS creating and writing this story. To see it be reused and claimed as someone else’s has me feeling robbed and cheated.
To everyone in the fandom, creator and consumer alike, please don’t do this.
Thank you @spooky-reblogs / @spooky-daggers for doing this amazing work of my main ship. Rebekath Hardt and Hunter a moment in their wildest dreams. 🫶✨