Caveat: #TermsofService (TOS) for many 3rd party printers prohibit printed copies of fanfic (even #LuluPress which allows you to set zero profits).

#AO3 has strict policies against mentioning fanfic for sale or linking to fanfic for sale. Again, this is a Terms of Service issue

However, AO3's platform allows anyone to format fanfic for printing or offline reading (PDF, epub etc.)

#TOS are not #copyright laws - you can be fine under copyright & still violate TOS 2/n

Printed #fanfiction is not "illegal". It is called #fanzines & has been around for 50 years. All #TransformativeWorks (#FanArt, #FanVids) rely on the #FairUse defense to #copyright. Commercial activity is only 1 of the 4 factors when deciding if an activity violates copyright. The fact that $ exchanged hands is not an automatic copyright violation. $ weighs heavily, but with printed fanfic, only a few copies made, maybe not

Again: #TermsofService =\= copyright law

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/fair-use-rule-copyright-material-30100.html 3/n

OK, now to more links

1. Top level overview from a #FanFiction #FanWriter who has their own bigcartel store.

Note: this is only one example of how printed fanfiction can be offered. Do not assume all fanwriters are using commercial, 3rd party platforms

https://chaoticdean.tumblr.com/post/701750704842375168/you-reap-what-you-sow-etc-etc

4/n

2. Twitter links showing that a group of fans have organized and written how to guides to impersonate interested readers to obtain copies of printed fanfiction and report the writers in an effort to get their websites taken down and get the writers banned from #AO3

https://twitter.com/caslostwings/status/1595121722218647554

5/n

Thoughts: I don't know #AO3 terms well enough to evaluate their actions in this situation.

But the tradition of offering #FanFiction for "sale" in printed format is long and rich and core to our community. Printed fanzines continue to this day with #fanbooks being created and sold, usually heavy on fanart, but with fanfiction included.

Examples: Raw, a #Hannibal fanzine https://rawfanzine.tumblr.com/

Some zines done for charity, some at cost and some offer any $ leftover to the creators

6/n

@twistedchick

It looks like Part 1 is targeting non-AO3 activity.

The How To guide instructs fans on impersonating as someone who wants buy a copy, are given a private link, and then the wording they need to send to Lulu Press to get the story taken down. Because it is "against the law"

@twistedchick

Part 2 is focused on AO3. The goal is to take the fanfic down from AO3 even if the availability of a printed copy of fanfic is not mentioned on AO3 (but if it is mentioned they note this will be easier)

Here is where I defer to AO3 Abuse...but I think AO3 Abuse should take a hard look and if the person does not mention the fanwork is available in hard copy or link to it, their fic should not be removed.