thread: 2012-03-03 : Ben Lehman: Caveat Scriba: Margret Weis Productions
On 2012-03-04, Brand Robins wrote:
So my takeaway is as follows:
1) Having contacted a moderate number of folks who've worked with MWP, and having some scope of the issue, I feel that its a bit messy and complicated, but not really abnormal for the publishing world. (Note, not "abnormal for the RPG publishing world" but "not abnormal for the publishing world period.")
2) That said, at this point I see neither cause nor justification for a boycott or a public flogging. Neither seem likely to lead to the problems getting fixed nor anyone directly involved getting what they want.
3) Given the above, I do think that folks who aren't used to the freelance treadmill can always use a reminder about the ways, wherefores, best practices, and dangers of doing work for hire. (Frex: http://www.bookequals.com/2011/02/09/vampire-diaries-author-l-j-smith-fired/)
4) If I personally were to lose my fucking brain and start writing for RPGs again, I would still consider work with MWP, but I would take certain precautions and go into the situation with a clearer sense of what I could expect.
5) The above sense does not come from reading Ben's post. Alas. It comes from talking to people involved. However, if it hadn't been for Ben's post, I may not have asked.
6) All of the above give good reason for people who suspect issues with a publisher to talk about those issues. Talk, however, is different than self-righteous grandstanding in which we make ourselves out to be the protector of the poor sell-out fools who do not know the value of indie publishing.
7) Ben's post was the later, and thus the annoyance and silliness factor of it rather outweighed the potential good of simply tossing up a flag.
8) I can't believe I've typed this much about the subject. I really must hate myself.
