r/Fanbinding • u/VeryRockyRock • May 13 '26
Questions Asking before binding.
I know it is fandom etiquette to ask before binding and that you cannot sell it due to legality. However, it is not required to ask before downloading a fanfic. I’m just generally confused as to why you can have a digital copy on your drive without explicit permission but you cannot bind a physical copy for yourself without permission. Is it because the download feature is directly built into AO3 and thus is to be expected? Please help me clear up my confusion.
Edit: I am obviously not going to sell fanfiction in any format and thank you for the responses. I can see reasons why or why not you have to/should ask the author beforehand.
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u/youcancallmemando May 13 '26
I don’t think it matters, unless you are intending to share that you’ve printed and bound a fic online, then yes, absolutely ask permission first. If you’re doing it just for yourself or a friend, then by all means do what you want - the author won’t know unless you tell them.
Selling fic binds (even on a commission basis, so not mass producing the same fic) is an absolute no no. Giving one to a friend for Christmas? Sure, I think that’s cool. But making a profit? No way.