• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

Status
Not open for further replies.
Okay. Again, I wasn't citing that film as some global example, just that in terms of branding it doesn't even open itself up to confusion as to its official status.
Agreed. But the Pro-Axanar crowd is holding that same SWFF up as a comparison to Axanar. "WHY WON'T DISNEY SUE THESE GUYS?!?!"

Because they're so similar? I'm 95% sure that they have no idea about what the suit is actually about nor do they know what other fan films actually are.
 
Yes, the runtime matters, I agree. Axanar even did a "prelude" that was twice as long as the Star Wars short film.

A long run time (2 hours) may make the situation WORSE, but a short run time certainly doesn't make it better. Brand confusion can occur with a 2 minute trailer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ion
Hiya - we have a YouTube video!
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
It starts at just about 25 minutes in but I admit we were less organized yesterday so there may be some earlier tidbits. It was a much more free-flowing discussion than we had had during the previous two shows. It ends at just about 42 minutes, something like that.
C49-AUZUEAEKYr-.jpg

Thank you again for your support. We are continuing to watch - answers or motions are due on the 20th and 21st and I will take a gander at Pacer later this week if the mainstream press doesn't pick up anything.

And thank you to @oswriter for your thoughtful, well-researched, level-headed insights.
I saw your post, brought up the YouTube, then went to iTunes to see if you have a podcast. You do, I've just Subscribed. So you or one of you is an attorney and you or the attorney has been in contact, then besmirched by the contact as an ambulance chaser, but G and T is very willing to have an on-mic interview.
 
Last edited:
Agreed. But the Pro-Axanar crowd is holding that same SWFF up as a comparison to Axanar. "WHY WON'T DISNEY SUE THESE GUYS?!?!"

I love that kind of argument. And even if Disney simply forgot to sue them that's no reason for CBS to do the same or for Axanar to go free. Life isn't "fair" always.
 
To be honest, I haven't joined I Stand With CBS either, mainly because I don't really get on Facebook much so it's not worth it.

Yeah, I'm not on Facebook much either. I have too many things to occupy my time as it is...

Yeah, for me it's more "Axanar isn't right" than "I Stand With CBS." I mean, they don't need me standing with them. They don't care if I do. They've probably done a lot of dick things over the years and I'm not going to align myself with them. It actually seems a bit weird to me to have a group like that. I'm not going out of my way to support or not support anyone, but from what I've read so far, it seems like they're well within their rights. Should I make a group like that? "I think CBS is within their rights to go after Axanar" group? Probably not as catchy ...

But far more accurate. :)

I actually believe that fan films should have a right to exist, but Axanar has struck me as shady from the get-go. There's a difference between politely making use of someone's else's property, and abusing that same property.

Also, it doesn't fit in the banner.

:guffaw:

Very good point then-- I think it's important, if I were the brand owner, that all fan films clearly identify themselves as such, with all legal disclaimers.

This. You can argue the ethics of fan films 'til you're blue in the face, but it is never alright to use someone else's material without attribution. In the print world they call that plagiarism...

Yes, the runtime matters, I agree. Axanar even did a "prelude" that was twice as long as the Star Wars short film.

And I disagree. Infringement is infringement. The runtime only matters if the property owner says it matters (like Lucas/Disney apparently did); anything else is irrelevant.

All the folks complaining about no guidance from CBS, they would be the first to complain about the limitations of whatever rules were put in place by CBS.

:techman:
 
Besides, if Paramount were to publicly state rules/guidelines to produce fan-films, it would be seen as tacit approval of all fan-films, which would hurt them in any disputes, legally or otherwise. It also handcuffs them if they ever decide to reverse policy, or alter policy, or go after a fan-film they find particularly offensive in any way.

Essentially, it's not a brand owner's job to tell others how to get away with copyright infringement, and its pretty damned entitled to be upset when they don't.

Can you imagine if the IRS published "A Guide To Avoiding Income Tax"?
 
And I disagree. Infringement is infringement. The runtime only matters if the property owner says it matters (like Lucas/Disney apparently did); anything else is irrelevant.

Technically yes but there are always other things that influence if a law/right is enforced or not. What I meant (others have said that before) is: the right holder might simply not care about shorter films.
Even law enforcement works like that: They use the word "petty" for that if my english is good enough.
 
after all is said and done and all the axanar-originated websites have been completely purged of all content that shows intent to profit or knowledge aforethought of the consequences brought on by the lawsuit or any other objectionable statement, there will be a retumentary or retcon 'making of' book idolizing the valiant effort while rewriting/omitting every trace of the specifics that undermined it all, moving that all to an isolated final chapter about the 'controversy and unresolved issues'.
 
Technically yes but there are always other things that influence if a law/right is enforced or not. What I meant (others have said that before) is: the right holder might simply not care about shorter films.
Even law enforcement works like that: They use the word "petty" for that if my english is good enough.

The key, though, is that the owner chooses whether or not to try to enforce it. AFAIK, it doesn't change the legality (unless you're already in "fair use" territory). Thus, my statement stands: only the owner's opinion matters.

So yeah, basically saying the same thing based on your statement above.

Now, damage awards would be a different matter entirely. There the runtime (and a whole host of other things) may well matter, but I don't think that's what we're talking about here.
 
They do seem to keep tossing CBS ammo.

http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-jan-16th-17th-2016/

The floor plan has "Ares Studios" and the address on the upper right hand corner.
Jesus Christ, they're laying carpet in their offices - for a production that is supposed to take 3 weeks to shoot (Please recall Mr. Peter's claim that Ares Studios is ONLY being used for the production of Axanar. Yep, it appears they REALLY care about the backer funds going ONLY towards the production - but hey, they got the carpet at cost,,,WTG Alec!):beer::ack:
 
The key, though, is that the owner chooses whether or not to try to enforce it. AFAIK, it doesn't change the legality (unless you're already in "fair use" territory). Thus, my statement stands: only the owner's opinion matters.

Yes (but let's not forget the judge. In this case it will be no surprise but in others it might be - generally said - . )

So yeah, basically saying the same thing based on your statement above.

Yupp, I think so. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ion
Jesus Christ, they're laying carpet in their offices - for a production that is supposed to take 3 weeks to shoot (Please recall Mr. Peter's claim that Ares Studios is ONLY being used for the production of Axanar. Yep, it appears they REALLY care about the backer funds going ONLY towards the production - but hey, they got the carpet at cost,,,WTG Alec!):beer::ack:

Suckered a Star Trek fan into installing it and then made sure to toss Diana Kingsbury under the bus.

What a guy!
 
So Dominic Parry works for Alec directly? Interesting, considering some of the comments he has made about the "I Stand with CBS" group.

I didn't even recognize the name at first. Maybe he's hoping to be a co-star at the trial as a "John Doe"!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top