: Locking a fic prevents "guests" (unlogged users) from leaving anonymous, potentially hateful comments. Niche Content

If an author explicitly states that they do not permit their works to be mirrored, honor that request even if you encounter their work on a mirror site.

Scraping AO3 content directly violates the site’s Terms of Service. The OTW actively investigates reports of content theft and issues cease-and-desist notices to unauthorized mirrors when necessary. How to Protect Your Data and Account

Many mirror sites rely on advertisements to fund their operations, and some display pop-up ads that may contain malicious content. Users are specifically warned not to trust any ads requiring software downloads or SMS verification.

: Define what your post is about. Are you announcing a new AO3 mirror site? Sharing exclusive content available only on this mirror? Discussing features or improvements of this mirror?

If you want, I can draft a specific announcement, mirror policy, or a short author's note tailored to a particular work or fandom — tell me the tone (formal/friendly) and any specifics to include.

The Last Sync Author: orphan_account Archive Warning: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Fandom: Original Work Relationship: M/? Tags: Post-Apocalyptic, Digital Ghosts, AO3 Mirror Exclusive, Unreliable Narrator, Epistolary, Metadata as Poetry, Sentient Archives, Loneliness, Experimental Format

Because public web scrapers browse the internet without logging into accounts, they cannot see or copy locked stories. Locking stories remains the most effective way for authors to keep their work off third-party mirrors. Legal and Ethical Implications

Fanfictions that authors deliberately or inadvertently publish exclusively on mirror sites, never uploading them to the official AO3.