Orphaned works

[lauramcewan]

 Hello!

So I've recently and with relief and happiness fallen back into reading fanfic, itching to finish a podfic I began a long while ago before some real-life issue intervened and knocked me completely out of my fannish playground, and I've found a fic that I want to record. 

My issue is, the story has been orphaned and the author is now listed as Orphan_Works by AO3. It's from 2014, and in several chapter headers the original author lists her personal email address. It includes her name, like "lauramcewan@email.com" (not my real one.)

So: Should I still seek permission, if it's been orphaned? If I email that addy and get a "this email doesn't exist" and/or she doesn't reply after a week or so, can I assume permission? 

These are the questions that keep me up at night. 

I am so out of practice. I hope I can remember how to do all this. :)

Comments

[paraka]

My general feelings are if it's orphaned, the author has given up their claims on the fic and it's fair game for podficcing. Though if you want to play it safe you can try emailing them.

[malnpudl]

Seconded.

[keeperofseeds]

Thirded. I podficced an orphaned fic and just noted that it was archived under orphan works where I'd usually say 'this fic is written by X'. I'd hope that if the author is actually still around somewhere or maybe say, just changed their screen name, they'd comment and let you know if there was a problem or if they want to be linked to/credited under a new name.

[lauramcewan]

Excellent, thank you.

[dancinbutterfly]

Fourthed. Also YAY LAURA I MISSED YOU! cant wait to hear more from you

[lauramcewan]

thank you, that's the way I was leaning but it seems sometimes I miss certain points that don't occur to me in situations like this, so wanted to get another take. Thank you very much!