It’s almost time for Halloween, and it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, because friends, I am: terrified.
Follow me on Substack to watch me panic about my book’s rapidly approaching release & take a look at some new character art!
#sapphicbooks #booksky #indieauthors
![although the BookTok app doesn't appear to be offering fanfiction at this time, its store page still lists it as one of its major draws.
(A screenshot from the App Store:)
[quote]
BookTok - Books & Podcasts 12+
BookTok
Designed for iPhone
* 4.8 • 16 Ratings
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
‘With thousands of audiobooks at your fingertips, plus the ability to turn your own writing into captivating audio, BookTok opens up new dimensions in storytelling and learning.
Whether you're a book lover, a budding author, or simply short on time, BookTok lets you enjoy literature in a whole new way. Immerse yourself in thrilling narratives, *explore fan-created universes*, [end quote](emphasis added per highlighter by OP) [quote]or absorb key insights from summaries—all through the power of audio.’[end quote]
and although Weitzman now hides behind an Inc. to obscure this app's connection to Speechify®, BookTok's Privacy Policy still refers back to word-stream.
(A screenshot of BookTok’s website: [quote]‘If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, You can contact us:
• By email: support@word-stream.com’[end quote]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cupcbiyqskvohim4cvfrutip/bafkreifclbkhkb6jx6ucg3mbcfoeaj6qz7tik35rxhj2svvnw5ngocc3y4)
![it looks an awful lot like Speechify and BookTok are asking you to violate indie authors' copyright for them.
(A screenshot with two phone screens side by side depicting the BookTok app. One tells you to [quote]‘Upload your own content’, [end quote]the other to ‘[quote]Improve or translate any book with Al’.[end quote]
please don't.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cupcbiyqskvohim4cvfrutip/bafkreid5ugkv4xkaeqp2v4iow6cfgweir2uoxe5juqoy7725dnbatyemra)
![Speechify®’s Terms & Conditions state that, by submitting material to their platform, you assert you own the rights to it.
A screenshot of Speechify’s website, with the following text highlighted:
[quote]‘7.6 Each time you submit User Material to us, you represent and warrant to us as follows:
(a) You own your User Material or have the right to submit it, and in submitting it you will not be infringing any rights of any third party, including intellectual property rights (such as copyright (…)’[end quote]
An arrow points to a second screenshotted paragraph, with the remark ‘<-this one's also interesting. especially for our kinkier nerds’ in a handwritten font:
[quote](b) Your User Material is not illegal, obscene, defamatory, threatening, pornographic, (…) or is otherwise deemed inappropriate.’ [end quote]
it also states that, by using their platform, you grant Speechify® the right to publish and exploit this material—or any ideas contained within—in essentially any way the company wants.
[quote]“7.8 (…) by submitting User Material you hereby grant Speechify an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty free, worldwide license to use, telecast, copy, perform, display, edit, distribute and otherwise exploit the User Material you post on the Services, or any portion thereof, and any ideas, concepts, or know-how contained therein, with or without attribution, and without the requirement of any permission from or payment to you or to any other person or entity, in any manner (including, without limitation, for commercial, publicity, trade, promotional, or advertising purposes) and in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, and to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Material, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing without any payment of money or any other form of consideration to you or to any third party. (…)”[end quote]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cupcbiyqskvohim4cvfrutip/bafkreifn7xnii5rdq6tnkaq6nblkmwj3tqvzzw5jgsypscocqq6cd37lg4)
![A screenshot of a tumblr message posted by someone with the username @cliffweitzman:
[quote]cliffweitzman replied to your text post
“Hey everybody, the person behind word stream here: (…) Word Stream is free for anyone to use. There is a paid plan for ppl who want to use high quality text to speech which is priced at the minimum amount we can to cover server/gpu costs to power the text to speech. The next iteration will also include free text to speech but with a lower quality bar. (…) Please email me if we have a peace of work that is yours you don't want up there and I will take it down immediately (…) A future release will also add the ability to tip authors so writers can make money not from selling the works but via tips from grateful readers (…) I apologize for a beta product that got more attention that it had any right to before it was complete (…) Warmly, Cliff”[end quote]
Weitzman maintains to this day that he sees nothing wrong with monetizing work authored by others without their permission, as long as we don't personally & explicitly tell him that we don't want him to.
(A bad drawing of a small stick figure looking up at a tall stick figure. The small figure says “please don't steal our work, Cliff!” The tall figure, depicted with a yellow halo, responds “alright, I won’t steal YOURS. because YOU ASKED so nicely.”)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cupcbiyqskvohim4cvfrutip/bafkreiblin5ahce4bb6rwfo5ar4yez5n3dolnxl577e5frcltmletkmyqy)
