This is me ceasing and desisting. Without even being asked.
Friday, December 19, 2008
I have received a strange message in my e-mail that says that the Dramatist Guild may be preparing to take some kind of legal action against me, and/or the Monologue Database. So, from now on, only the following monologues will be available on the database:
* Original monologues from works by Kellie Powell (me).
* Monologues from playwrights who have given their express written permission to have their work appear on the database.
* Monologues that are in the public domain.
My understanding has always been that using an excerpt of dramatic literature for an audition, a class, or a no-fee performance is a fair use. I have always given full credit to the playwright in question. I have provided links so that anyone interested can purchase a copy of the full work, thus encouraging more sales for the playwright. I have always invited playwrights, agents, or publishers, to contact me if they didn't want their work listed on the database. In eight years, that has never happened.
I have had various banners on my site so that interested persons could make donations to help with the maintenance expenses of the database. In eight years, no one has ever made a donation. I have not profited from other people's work. It is my feeling that in fact, they have profited from my work, since my database promotes sales of their plays. However, I do not want to step on any toes, so I have removed about half of the database's content, until I can obtain written permission from the playwrights in question.
I am not a lawyer, I do not have a lawyer, and if the Dramatist Guild does want me to make further changes to the site, I will be happy to do so. I have sent multiple messages to the Dramatist Guild, but their offices are closed for the holidays. I'm pretty much in a state of shock, and I'm completely terrified.
 
|
