On the topic of fanfiction

So, there seems to be some kind of movement with published authors on the 'net - not an actual organized anything, but Diana Gabaldon posted something on the subject and now it seems that George R.R. Martin has done the same.

The topic in question is fanfiction, and I believe the main point of the argument is that it is immoral to be writing fanfiction. There's some question of the legality - fanfic has always been on the borderline of legality - but I think this is really a question of morality.

herongale did an excellent post on the subject here, which I think anyone interested in the topic should read. She also posted it as a response to GRRM and was blithely ignored, it seems. I was skimming some of the comments and it kind of struck me how little the original posters were willing to really listen to what those who disagreed with them had to say.

( But I will post what I have to say anyway )

EDIT: Thanks to gossymer, I found another great rant on the subject. Go read it. It's excellent.

EDIT THE SECOND: Two more links: here and here.