Organization for Transformative Works News

Do you love the Archive? Do you have skills in database analysis? Would you like to make these great two tastes taste great together?

We're looking for a MySQL database developer who can help us optimise our database performance on the Archive of Our Own. The Archive is run on MySQL 5.0 and Rails 3, but you don't need to know Rails to help -- we would really like someone who can look over our database query logs and help us spot inefficiencies!

You'd be joining a team of dedicated and passionate volunteers with a love of fandom and tech-geekery. We're looking for someone with the time and skills to help us evaluate and optimise our current setup — this can be a short-term commitment, although if you are able to join us for the long haul your skills will be very welcome.

If you're interested, please contact our Volunteers and Recruitment Committee using 'MySQL database developer' as your subject line, and let us know your skills and experience.

Your Archive needs YOU!

Mirrored from an original post on the Archive of Our Own.

Written by Natacha Guyot

French fans may find their creativity, or their ability to share fanworks and view works created by others, stifled following the introduction of a new law. On November 10, 2010, the decree regarding the HADOPI (High Authority for the Distribution of Creation and Online Protection of Rights) Law (also known as the Creation and Internet law) was officially published in France, bringing new regulations for the protection of copyrighted content on the Internet, as well as the expansion of legal content platforms for Internet users. However, how this new law will be applied in practice remains uncertain.

This new judicial framework is meant to protect arts industries (mostly musical and video) and to encourage Internet users to behave more responsibly towards artists. But despite the discourse focusing on "respect for the artist", the new law enforces a view based mostly on commercial interests. There is a danger that the law may push aside alternatives, from Creative Common Licences to possible fair use for such things as fanworks. This could keep French fans exiled to spaces hosted overseas where English is the lingua franca, even when it comes to French fandoms around French sources which have little to no exposure abroad.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog, where it is available in Français and Español.