The fanfiction deep state

I've always found it a bit uncomfortable when fanfiction is discussed in the mainstream. I guess it's because it used to be so much less mainstream - so much more looked down upon. This was always unfair, but my experience was that people outside of fandom just didn't get it, putting people inside of fandom constantly on the defensive.

So imagine how I felt when the omegaverse lawsuit made it into the NYT.

If you haven't heard of it, the short summary is:

Addison Cain is an author of het omegaverse romance novels who believes that she invented the het omegaverse romance novel. She's been targeting other authors for years with false accusations of plagiarism, invalid DMCA takedown notices, and so on. There have been lawsuits.

Not too long ago, Lindsay Ellis posted a youtube video about the whole mess.

It's worth watching. You might know about the case already, but Ellis just posted an amazing sequel: Addison Cain's lawyer e-mailed me, and it only got worse from there. It's amazing because it's just this slow descent into increasingly bad behavior from Addison Cain and her madcap conspiracy theories... ending with... get this ...

Lindsay Ellis, the OTW, and the EFF are engaged in a conspiracy to persecute Addison Cain. #fanfictiondeepstate

I feel sorry for Ellis for having to deal with this mess, but it is hilarious.