Copyright & Licensing
How You Can Use These Stories
A lot of artists lock their work behind strict copyright — and a lot of readers have learned to just back away the moment they see legal language. That's not the relationship I want with you or my work.
Everything on this site is released under a Creative Commons license. Here's what that actually means, in plain English.
What the license allows
Read and share freely
Share links to these stories. Copy and paste a passage to show a friend. Post a quote online. No permission needed.
Translate the work
Translate a story into another language. If you do, please credit the original and release your translation under the same license.
Write fan fiction and adaptations
Make something inspired by these stories — fan fiction, a sequel, an adaptation, an homage. If you build on my world, someone else gets to build on yours. That chain matters to me.
Use it for education and criticism
Teach with it. Write an essay about it. Review it, critique it, analyze it. These uses have always been fair, and I want to make that explicit.
What the license asks of you
Give credit
If you share or build on this work, credit Julio Lonnie Lopez as the original author and link back to falseuniverse.com. That's all I ask.
Share derivatives under the same license
If you make something based on these stories, release your version under the same Creative Commons license. Keep the chain open. Don't lock your fan fiction behind restrictions that weren't on the original.
What the license restricts
No commercial use — but reach out
You can't sell copies of these stories, use them in paid products, or make money directly from them without my permission. This isn't about being protective — it's about making sure I can say yes thoughtfully, not just automatically.
If you've made something from my work and want to sell it — a print zine, a film, an audiobook — reach out. I'll probably say yes. I just want to know about it, and I reserve the right to say no if something feels wrong.
The short version
- Read it, share it, quote it — yes.
- Translate it, adapt it, write fan fiction — yes, as long as you credit me and keep the same open license.
- Sell it or use it commercially — ask first.
- Pretend you made it — no.
These stories are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
Read the official legal code →The official version is the legally binding one. This page is a plain-language guide to help you understand it, not a substitute for it.