CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[TheSeeker]

Does anyone know what the deal was with Aleister Benton over on the "I Stand With CBS" facebook page? I see he has been blocked.

 

[OpenMaw]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

Does anyone know what the deal was with Aleister Benton over on the "I Stand With CBS" facebook page? I see he has been blocked.

I am not an admin, but it seems that it was just a throwaway account that was created for the purpose of posting about Axanar (A way to hide the identity of the poster)

 

[oswriter]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

I think the next shoe to drop here will be some sort of move against the crowdfunding platforms. Maybe not a full-scale lawsuit, but CBS and Paramount now clearly view crowdfunded productions as a problem that needs to be addressed. That's why I said earlier I think any settlement with Axanar will include turning over any documents related to their dealings with Indiegogo and Kickstarter. The studios want that intelligence.

And based on what I've seen from STC filings, I would not surprised if they're already providing CBS with all that documentation.

 

[9gs]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

That would surprise me as STC, NV, etc operate at such a low donation threshold as to hardly raise a blimp on CBS radar. I think with Axanar is was all about what they were doing with the $$ more than how much they raised.

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

I 100% agree, and I think that's why Star Trek Continues had announced they were only going to do one final Kickstarter this year to raise funds to finish out their 13 episode season.

 

[Tom]

Has there been a big-budget fan thing made yet that was worth it? The first Sky Conway film at best had some charm but I couldn't sit through Renegades. The first Starship Exeter was better than either of them. Is there even anything else?

It seems like the best approach is with a fan franchise is to start cheap, be productive, and scale up because amateur and ambitious writing and directing will inevitably lead to fanwank, which money will exacerbate.

I'd actually argue that STC has been big-budget (from a fan film perspective) since day one. New Voyages built their way up to their current size and budget level, but STC started with a high bar and just kept running with it.

However, I do think they're the one exception to date, and they're definitely producing a quality product.

If I had to guess who was going to be next on the lawsuit merry-go-round, it'll be STC. I think Renegades is dead in the water, I don't think they're going to be around much longer--I go be wrong, and it's no offense to anyone on Renegades, I just don't see it. Star Trek Continues is getting a little to big, to popular, and I think they're going to run into the same mower-blade as Axanar.

Oh, that's news to me We are moving forward with filming our last episode of Renegades, The Requiem. If CBS issues us a C&D we will, of course, stop and that will be it for it for STR. We have over 3000 fans that have donated to the Kickstarter, we cant just sit around wondering about the Axanar lawsuit and if we are next. Need to move on and get this episode done.

We have seen no direct evidence that suggest we (or STC and STNV ) will get shut down. Para/CBS has a case with Axanar, we cant live in fear over it, we just need to make sure everything is done the right way.


"CBS and Paramount are are like your parents. You want to do your own thing, but if you don't respect them, they will take the keys to the car away from you. "

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

I think the next shoe to drop here will be some sort of move against the crowdfunding platforms. Maybe not a full-scale lawsuit, but CBS and Paramount now clearly view crowdfunded productions as a problem that needs to be addressed. That's why I said earlier I think any settlement with Axanar will include turning over any documents related to their dealings with Indiegogo and Kickstarter. The studios want that intelligence.

And based on what I've seen from STC filings, I would not surprised if they're already providing CBS with all that documentation.

The STC Filings had their account numbers listed... I mean, Alec can boast about transparency until he is blue in the face, but that's nothing like what Vic has provided.

And maybe that is CBS/Paramount's real endgame here, forget the fan films themselves, go after the crowdfunding sites that DO benefit from the use of CBS IP... they do Host CBS IP...

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

I'd actually argue that STC has been big-budget (from a fan film perspective) since day one. New Voyages built their way up to their current size and budget level, but STC started with a high bar and just kept running with it.

However, I do think they're the one exception to date, and they're definitely producing a quality product.

If I had to guess who was going to be next on the lawsuit merry-go-round, it'll be STC. I think Renegades is dead in the water, I don't think they're going to be around much longer--I go be wrong, and it's no offense to anyone on Renegades, I just don't see it. Star Trek Continues is getting a little to big, to popular, and I think they're going to run into the same mower-blade as Axanar.

Oh, that's news to me We are moving forward with filming our last episode of Renegades, The Requiem. If CBS issues us a C&D we will, of course, stop and that will be it for it for STR. We have over 3000 fans that have donated to the Kickstarter, we cant just sit around wondering about the Axanar lawsuit and if we are next. Need to move on and get this episode done.

We have seen no direct evidence that suggest we (or STC and STNV ) will get shut down. Para/CBS has a case with Axanar, we cant live in fear over it, we just need to make sure everything is done the right way.


"CBS and Paramount are are like your parents. You want to do your own thing, but if you don't respect them, they will take the keys to the car away from you. "

With the claims by Alec, that they didn't receive a C&D, does that give you any pause at all about proceeding with the next episode? I mean, aside from Axanar, you guys are the next biggest fish in the fan film pond, with regards to funds raised, I guess, what I am asking is, since last week, has anyone made any overtures to CBS to see if they were okay with you guys moving forward?

 

[TheSeeker]

Does anyone know what the deal was with Aleister Benton over on the "I Stand With CBS" facebook page? I see he has been blocked.

I am not an admin, but it seems that it was just a throwaway account that was created for the purpose of posting about Axanar (A way to hide the identity of the poster)

That was my impression as well. I was just wondering if anyone had been able to determine their true identity.

 

[Karzak]

Does anyone know what the deal was with Aleister Benton over on the "I Stand With CBS" facebook page? I see he has been blocked.

I am not an admin, but it seems that it was just a throwaway account that was created for the purpose of posting about Axanar (A way to hide the identity of the poster)

That was my impression as well. I was just wondering if anyone had been able to determine their true identity.

I was wondering why that guy was able to go around threadshitting all over that page. Glad to see he finally got the boot.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I can confirm i am me...

The other personality in my mind will vouch for me

 

[Karzak]

The one thing with crowdfunding that will likely change it is now that CBS does have plans to bring Trek back to it's "TV" roots, there's going to be more direct financial competition. Beyond the "profit/non-profit" part of the equation. A show like Continues might have CBS tell them to back off because they know that checkbooks are only so deep. Trek fans not putting their money into official Trek stuff, and instead donating it to a production like STC will likely not be tolerated in it's entirety any longer.

I do hope CBS operates with a scalpel and not a chainsaw.

I think the next shoe to drop here will be some sort of move against the crowdfunding platforms. Maybe not a full-scale lawsuit, but CBS and Paramount now clearly view crowdfunded productions as a problem that needs to be addressed. That's why I said earlier I think any settlement with Axanar will include turning over any documents related to their dealings with Indiegogo and Kickstarter. The studios want that intelligence.

And based on what I've seen from STC filings, I would not surprised if they're already providing CBS with all that documentation.

If true, it would just be one more example of Peters taking credit for ("No other fan film is as transparent as we are!") when in fact the opposite has been true and given his track record with the truth, it sure seems like it could be possible.

 

[Tom]

If I had to guess who was going to be next on the lawsuit merry-go-round, it'll be STC. I think Renegades is dead in the water, I don't think they're going to be around much longer--I go be wrong, and it's no offense to anyone on Renegades, I just don't see it. Star Trek Continues is getting a little to big, to popular, and I think they're going to run into the same mower-blade as Axanar.

Oh, that's news to me We are moving forward with filming our last episode of Renegades, The Requiem. If CBS issues us a C&D we will, of course, stop and that will be it for it for STR. We have over 3000 fans that have donated to the Kickstarter, we cant just sit around wondering about the Axanar lawsuit and if we are next. Need to move on and get this episode done.

We have seen no direct evidence that suggest we (or STC and STNV ) will get shut down. Para/CBS has a case with Axanar, we cant live in fear over it, we just need to make sure everything is done the right way.


"CBS and Paramount are are like your parents. You want to do your own thing, but if you don't respect them, they will take the keys to the car away from you. "

With the claims by Alec, that they didn't receive a C&D, does that give you any pause at all about proceeding with the next episode? I mean, aside from Axanar, you guys are the next biggest fish in the fan film pond, with regards to funds raised, I guess, what I am asking is, since last week, has anyone made any overtures to CBS to see if they were okay with you guys moving forward?

Well no news is good news. Thing is, CBS will never give you written permission to do a fan film (we all know that) and i doubt that in the light of this lawsuit someone at CBS will be quoted saying your fan film will be ok. We don't want to poke the bear when it is angry.

Since Day 1, CBS has never had an issue with our production. We produced the last episode to actually show them, so we are a bit opposite on the respect level, compared to how Axanar views CBS (as exhibited in this thread) . STNV and STC also have a great deal of respect when it comes to CBS, and CBS know's that. I think the wildcard with Axanar is they dipped into Paramount's territory and they are not as forgiving, while our productions only deal with CBS IP.

 

[ozzfloyd]

 

[SuperSpaceMan]

I am not an admin, but it seems that it was just a throwaway account that was created for the purpose of posting about Axanar (A way to hide the identity of the poster)

That was my impression as well. I was just wondering if anyone had been able to determine their true identity.

I was wondering why that guy was able to go around threadshitting all over that page. Glad to see he finally got the boot.

He had some interesting things to say, seemed like he could be an insider, trying to conceal his identity anonymously.... I just wish his rhetoric was toned down a bit...

 

[Campe]

That was my impression as well. I was just wondering if anyone had been able to determine their true identity.

I was wondering why that guy was able to go around threadshitting all over that page. Glad to see he finally got the boot.

He had some interesting things to say, seemed like he could be an insider, trying to conceal his identity anonymously.... I just wish his rhetoric was toned down a bit...

The Heaven's Gate thing was where I was like, "Oh no, you did not just do that." Talk about poor taste.

 

[TheSeeker]

^I thought so too. Wasn't Nichelle Nichols' brother a part of that group?

 

[SeerSGB]

I was wondering why that guy was able to go around threadshitting all over that page. Glad to see he finally got the boot.

He had some interesting things to say, seemed like he could be an insider, trying to conceal his identity anonymously.... I just wish his rhetoric was toned down a bit...

The Heaven's Gate thing was where I was like, "Oh no, you did not just do that." Talk about poor taste.

Especially given that Nichelle lost her younger brother to that cult.

 

[KennyB]

That damn Alec.............paranoid much? Way to treat a supporter too.