CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[The Transformed Man]

So Klingon culture, D6 and Andoria aren't CBS IP?

That is so beyond delusional... Wouldn't the Klingon logo emblazoned on the coffee bag be owned by CBS... "Andorian Ice" you might get away with, but the D6 on the bag, and the rest of it are more than highly questionable uses of the Star Trek license.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Back up here too. And I appreciate the unlicensed use of my IP in your sig, ProfessorMoriarty.

It seemed appropriate to appropriate. I would be happy to take it down if you promise not to sue me, but I do appreciate a good turn of phrase and wanted to share your wordsmithery.

I grant you a non-exclusive Alpha Quadrant-wide license.

So, don't go on any Celestial Temple trips, is what you're saying. Aye aye.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

Peters is well and truly fucked.

Apologies for the language...

 

[KennyB]

Those photos are all still up at the Axanar facebook page, however.

" I'll give him this: he's consistent!"--JTK

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

So Klingon culture, D6 and Andoria aren't CBS IP?

From a trademark standpoint, Peters may have a case. None of the words used to advertise the coffee are actually trademarked. I checked, and the only one that comes close is "Andorian," where there's an expired trademark related to the old 1970s Mego toys.

Now the artwork is more problematic. Looking at the "Decaf-6," "House of Kharn," and "Izarian Gold" labels, I think CBS could argue, with justification, all infringe on their copyrights. The Kharn label, for example, features a clear recreation of the Klingon Great Hall seen in TNG.

I am glad that we finally got Peters talking about coffee.... just shows how much of a circus this thing is...

 

[Danlav05]

I thought at some point ST/NV and Axanar were going to a produce a joint production at the ST/NV studio, even to the point of having some joint cast photos taken. Does anyone know the status of that venture?

They were filmed. Reportedly, New Voyages removed all pictures of the shoot from their Facebook in the past few days.

That's another thing New Voyages filmed they'll never release! Cawley has a habit of filming episodes/vignettes then scrapping them because 'they're not good enough'

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I am glad that we finally got Peters talking about coffee.... just shows how much of a circus this thing is...

At least he's not calling it raktajino.

 

[oswriter]

This is OT but I came across this in an old court opinion while researching IP cases related to Star Trek:

Similarly, the fact that the claimant collected Star Trek memorabilia into his 40s, while perhaps not the norm in rural Tennessee, is a hobby that literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people routinely engage in, as evidenced by the well-attended Star Trek conventions and brisk sales of Star Trek memorabilia on Ebay. Some people even dress up as their favorite characters on Star Trek when attending the conventions. This does not establish they are mentally ill or retarded.

 

[Harcourt F. Mudd]

So Klingon culture, D6 and Andoria aren't CBS IP?

That is so beyond delusional... Wouldn't the Klingon logo emblazoned on the coffee bag be owned by CBS... "Andorian Ice" you might get away with, but the D6 on the bag, and the rest of it are more than highly questionable uses of the Star Trek license.

Yeah, that's crazy. Every other Star Trek fan film would readily admit they are using someone else's IP. For Axanar to even feel the need to deny such a thing is absurd. And over what, selling coffee? How did we even get here?

 

[Maurice]

This is OT but I came across this in an old court opinion while researching IP cases related to Star Trek:

Similarly, the fact that the claimant collected Star Trek memorabilia into his 40s, while perhaps not the norm in rural Tennessee, is a hobby that literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people routinely engage in, as evidenced by the well-attended Star Trek conventions and brisk sales of Star Trek memorabilia on Ebay. Some people even dress up as their favorite characters on Star Trek when attending the conventions. This does not establish they are mentally ill or retarded.

It doesn't?!

 

[Professor Moriarty]

It just establishes that there are a lot of people living in their parent's basements.

 

[oswriter]

This is OT but I came across this in an old court opinion while researching IP cases related to Star Trek:

Similarly, the fact that the claimant collected Star Trek memorabilia into his 40s, while perhaps not the norm in rural Tennessee, is a hobby that literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people routinely engage in, as evidenced by the well-attended Star Trek conventions and brisk sales of Star Trek memorabilia on Ebay. Some people even dress up as their favorite characters on Star Trek when attending the conventions. This does not establish they are mentally ill or retarded.

It doesn't?!

Well, for purposes of collecting Social Security Disability benefits at least.

 

[KennyB]

This is OT but I came across this in an old court opinion while researching IP cases related to Star Trek:

Similarly, the fact that the claimant collected Star Trek memorabilia into his 40s, while perhaps not the norm in rural Tennessee, is a hobby that literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people routinely engage in, as evidenced by the well-attended Star Trek conventions and brisk sales of Star Trek memorabilia on Ebay. Some people even dress up as their favorite characters on Star Trek when attending the conventions. This does not establish they are mentally ill or retarded.

This is GOLDEN!

 

[Smoked Salmon]

The excerpt is grossly unfair.




Peters is in his 50s, not 40s....

 

[Mudd]

What you're saying is that it's now safe for me to enter Tennessee.

 

[BillJ]

comment on David Gerrolds blog post:

Alec Peters says: January 5, 2016 at 1:01 pm
No one sells coffee with CBS IP on it. We are very careful to not use any CBS IP Axanar characters are not CBS property outside of Soval and Garth, neither of who appears on the coffee.

My response is still "awaiting moderation"

That was in response to my comment.

Here is my reply:

Umm...

"Andorian" Ice.
Decaf-6 - With an easily identifiable Klingon ship on it.
The Klingon High Council Building (complete with Klingon tri-foil symbol).
A Klingon.
"Izar"-ian Gold.

The "command star" which is inside the delta from TOS and the movies.

Axanar itself is mentioned in multiple episodes of the Star Trek franchise.

http://www.axanarcoffee.com/

Axanar is one giant IP violation. But the coffee took the proverbial cake.

I actually really liked "Prelude to Axanar" and thought you guys might be onto something special. But ego got in the way.

My comment directed at Mr. Gerrold seems to have disappeared.

 

[The Transformed Man]

So Klingon culture, D6 and Andoria aren't CBS IP?

That is so beyond delusional... Wouldn't the Klingon logo emblazoned on the coffee bag be owned by CBS... "Andorian Ice" you might get away with, but the D6 on the bag, and the rest of it are more than highly questionable uses of the Star Trek license.

Yeah, that's crazy. Every other Star Trek fan film would readily admit they are using someone else's IP. For Axanar to even feel the need to deny such a thing is absurd. And over what, selling coffee? How did we even get here?

I could see how you might be able to get away with the coffee if 100% of the sales went to fund Axanar as your purchase is little more than a donation, but even the Axanar Coffee website says:


"Help us fund the Axanar full-length feature film by purchasing Axanar Coffee. A portion of the sales price goes directly to the film-makers of Axanar."

A portion? A portion?!?!?! Well where the hell does the rest of that portion go to... oh right, a functioning, for profit business (Hansa Coffee)

 

[Maurice]

What you're saying is that it's now safe for me to enter Tennessee.

It's never safe for you to stray outside your home turf, Dennis. Just look what happened when you drove to Austin...

 

[oswriter]

The excerpt is grossly unfair.




Peters is in his 50s, not 40s....

Makes you wonder though: Would producing an independent Star Trek film without CBS' consent constitute evidence of "mental illness" with this judge?

 

[Ion]

There goes my legal defense if I ever get arrested...