Odd Private Message
It's been a while since anyone PMd me on FanFiction. So, when the email notification came through, just under a month late, I will admit that it filled me with dread.
Mostly because I'm shy and never know how to respond to people, but also for good reason:
DN WhatIf, who I'm aware has contacted authors on AO3 before, is apparently now approaching people through other sites where Project Copy-Knight can't automatically reach them. (Yet.)
Of course, I turned them down.
I know that monetization is an ongoing dispute within fandom, but that's a discussion for another time. I personally do not make any money from my fic writing. To do so can jeopardize the platform I host my writing on, and what AO3 stands for.
That said, if I don't gain monetarily from writing that already treads the line with IPs and Copyright Law, why would I consent to someone else's profit from my work?
If DN WhatIf wanted to support creators and user accessibility like they claim, they would 1) not monetize their uploads, and 2) post transformative content to AO3 which is acknowledged and consented to by the author in the form of Pod Fics or linked works, for all to access freely.
If you yourself are contacted by DN WhatIf, as the image above shows you do have the opportunity to opt out and block them. They are, at least, now asking for creator's consent before they profit from works.
I'm just disappointed, I guess, that people think it is okay to do this, and I want to make other creators aware if they too need to dust off their FanFiction account to check their PMs.