While some industries (*cough*Hollywood*cough*) attempt to stifle creative fan interaction with their works (*cough*CleanFlicks*cough*), other industries are embracing it. Case in point, one of the leading game companies, LucasArts Entertainment, has launched a new website (LucasFiles) where fans can upload their own modifications of LucasArts' games. Read the press release (Officially Sanctioned Site, www.lucasfiles.com, Offers Fans Location to Create and Post Modifications of LucasArts Titles). LucasArts realizes that their best customers are the fans who spend a great deal of time and effort interacting with their works at a deep level. Not only that, these fans produce plenty of good content that increases sales of LucasArts product.
Slashdot readers note that all is not perfect with LucasArts, however (LucasArts Embraces Game Mod Community). For example, LucasArts has attacked emulators (necessary to play older games on newer computers) and the terms of use for the new site include atrocious language such as the following (Terms of Use and LucasFiles Submission Policies):
To the extent the Fan Games contain material that consists of or is derived from Source Material (as defined in Attachment B to these Terms of Use which is incorporated herein by this reference) and to the extent LF Networks agrees, in its sole discretion, to allow such use, you acknowledge that the Fan Games are in whole or in part derivative from the Source Material, that you have no right, title or interest in and to anything contained in or derived from the Source Material, and that you irrevocably assign to LF Networks any and all right, title and interest you may be deemed to have in any materials contained in or derived from the Source Materials.
Still, a step in the right direction.