Why Is AO3 Called AO3? Meaning and History Behind Archive of Our Own

Discover why AO3 is called Archive of Our Own and learn about its origins as a fan-run, censorship-free fanfiction platform.

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AO3, stands for Archive of Our Own, is called so due to its foundational aim to serve as a fan-created, fan-run, inclusive space where fanfiction writers and readers could archive their own works without the fear of censorship. The name emphasizes the platform's dedication to being a self-sustaining community repository ('Our Own') for fanworks of all kinds. Launched by the Organization for Transformative Works in 2009, it was conceived as a response to commercial hosting sites that imposed restrictions or outright banned fanfiction.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What does AO3 stand for? AO3 stands for Archive of Our Own, a fan-created platform for archiving fanfiction and fanworks.
  2. Who created AO3? AO3 was created by the Organization for Transformative Works in 2009 as a censorship-free fanfiction archive.
  3. Why was AO3 created? AO3 was created to provide a safe, fan-run space for hosting fanfiction without commercial censorship or restrictions.
  4. Is AO3 only for fanfiction writers? No, AO3 is for both fanfiction writers and readers who want to archive and explore diverse fanworks.