One of the great things about internet forums I feel is the ability to collaborate with strangers in building imaginary worlds, exploring ideas and just kicking thoughts around. Setting Riffs, they are known as in some parts.

However what if the setting to be discussed is part of something you'd want to publish for profit at some point in the future? I have a few threads about such a setting here and there, mostly just stream of consciousness efforts rather than actively soliciting collaboration, but how would people feel about their ideas being published in someone else's work?

Sure most creative endeavours borrow heavily from all sorts of places, that's how culture advances, but should there be a disclaimer at the start of such threads saying these ideas may be used in a publication, PM me for a writing credit?

I should mention I've no problem with lending my own efforts to someone else's publication, have done it before and hope to do it again, and amn't too bothered about credit.

yeah, the "sharing notes" and ideas in forum discussions is good, and can bring up great material.  i think it's assumed that we steal each others' stuff for our own "in house" work fairly regularly.

Quote from: The Traveller;623769Sure most creative endeavours borrow heavily from all sorts of places, that's how culture advances, but should there be a disclaimer at the start of such threads saying these ideas may be used in a publication, PM me for a writing credit?

but if one is riffing with others with intent to publish, then yeah, it would be disingenuous not to include a disclaimer about that.  

if anything i say gets used, great--and while i'd love a "with help from" mention in an introduction or credits page, it's no big otherwise.  hells, i spout off riffs & concepts on blog or wetpaint entries just to throw out thoughts.  wouldn't be surprised if something ends up in someone else's material and i didn't know about it.  not like there's any real money in this "field" anyhoo :rotfl:

I usually say what I am about to discuss is intended for publication. Pretty much anything I post in this subforum, with a few exceptions, falls into that category. Usually if I get to the point where someone is giving me lots of feedback by email or PM, I include them as a Reader/Playtester in the credits. Actual collaboration though, where a person goes from being credited as a playtester to being credited as a designer, is something I haven't explored in the forum format. As a poster, when I participate in a design thread and offer up ideas, I usually do so knowing it is someone else's baby and I don't expect credit if they happen to use something I suggest.

This is probably a good discussion to have though because I am sure people have different assumptions here.

So how about this:

Some of the ideas in this thread may become part of a for-profit publication. If you would like a writer's credit, please send me a PM with your details, and if your contribution is used you will be credited.

That way everyone knows the lay of the land from the start.

I tend to treat most things as an academic, which means anything is fair game if you stick a credit on it; and I am happiest when people treat my own stuff in the same way.

Ultimately though, the internet is basically the wild west - once you put stuff out into it I think you have to acknowledge you are going to have very little control over it.