CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[cultcross]

nor even any allusion to the fact that the objectives of the 'infrastructure' kickstarter ran contrary to the CBS guidance for fan films.

There is no guidance for fan films. It ran contrary to common sense, granted, but technically all crowd funded fan films run against CBS's official position which has to be that they object to unlicensed money making from their IP. And Kickstarters for thousands of dollars count as money making!

 

[muCephi]

There is no guidance for fan films. It ran contrary to common sense, granted, but technically all crowd funded fan films run against CBS's official position which has to be that they object to unlicensed money making from their IP. And Kickstarters for thousands of dollars count as money making!

that's the guidance I am thinking of -- make no money. there seems to be a lot of debate about what is the reasonable interpretation

 

[muCephi]

Does anyone hear of any donors getting interested in pursuing legal action? Either through a state agency or through litigation?

I have a feeling, nothing will come of that. Or, they are waiting to see if CBS/Paramount will do something for them...

Personally I suspect most fans are waiting to see whether Axanar's high powered legal team will save the day. In my own opinion, I think its kinda like being on the Titanic and so far only having noted that there was a lurch, and a few people whispering and gesturing to each other over in the corner. Unless you're in the know, you're probably still dining.

 

[jespah]

Whew, I finally got through that damned Request for Judicial Notice. That blog post is scheduled for the 5th. The Second Motion to Dismiss blog post will be up tomorrow, and I'll be sure to drop the link.

As always, I thank you for your kind support.

 

[cultcross]

As always, I thank you for your kind support

Are you kidding? Your contributions are pretty much why I'm still reading every godforsaken page of the thread, you bring a gravitas to proceedings that the rest of us can only try to match with memes and snark.

 

[Indysolo]

...you bring a gravitas to proceedings that the rest of us can only try to match with memes and snark.

How dare you!!!

Neil

 

[cultcross]

Clearly I was wrong...

 

[Professor Zoom]

Personally I suspect most fans are waiting to see whether Axanar's high powered legal team will save the day. In my own opinion, I think its kinda like being on the Titanic and so far only having noted that there was a lurch, and a few people whispering and gesturing to each other over in the corner. Unless you're in the know, you're probably still dining.

Yeah, but, don't those fans realize, the high powered legal team doesn't work for them?

 

[muCephi]

Are you kidding? Your contributions are pretty much why I'm still reading every godforsaken page of the thread, you bring a gravitas to proceedings that the rest of us can only try to match with memes and snark.

I'd hazard a guess that a variety of questions and observations from this thread have found their way out into the public discussion, too.

Yeah, but, don't those fans realize, the high powered legal team doesn't work for them?

I think the donors are being told that the lawsuit can be worked out.

 

[jespah]

Are you kidding? Your contributions are pretty much why I'm still reading every godforsaken page of the thread, you bring a gravitas to proceedings that the rest of us can only try to match with memes and snark.

Aw, thanks!

 

[JD]

Is it normal to paint a wall green like they did in the picture on the last page? I was just checking out B-Roll videos for the third Hobbit movie and Guardians of the Galaxy and they both seemed to just hang up green cloth, which is how I thought that kind of thing was usually done.

 

[Kaltauba47]

Donors are being addressed publicly by various people reading this thread. The fact that Alec and his director said these things in a podcast might be helpful in any eventual lawsuit, since the statements can be pursued in discovery as specifics to explain. Just like all their statements that they "are using CBS IP" open them to being asked to explain during discovery what they meant in each case.

Will CBS ask for accounting of the funds? I don't know, but they are claiming that gain accrued to persons and/or corporate entities as a result of the infringement, so it might be reasonable for them to ask for the books as part of discovery, the books being information only Axanar has. If statements by Axanar management give reason to believe that the funds were not being managed in an orderly fashion, it opens the door to discovery of how/whether any of the funds may have ended up in private accounts. Again, it allows for more specific discovery.

So its basically facilitation of discovery that is behind my pointing out these statements.

Some are even being doxxed by the powers that be on their FB pages.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I think the donors are being told that the lawsuit can be worked out.

I'm thinking more of those who might be unhappy with Peters and not quite believing him anymore.

 

[muCephi]

I'm thinking more of those who might be unhappy with Peters and not quite believing him anymore.

I have not yet seen any independent Kickstarter Axanar donors discussion sites pop up, but with advice like the G&T posts being out there and indexed into Google, and the info about the for profit studio plan being echoed now all over secondary blogs ( for example http://www.eatyourcomics.com/2016/03/29/the-geek-holocron-what-the-heck-is-an-axanar/ ), I suspect we will be seeing one before too long.

 

[HIjol]

Just read this Thread, in its entirety, again...been gone a while, and I wanted to review and catch up.

A (self-termed) thought occurs;

The level of discussion, wry humor, fact, legal commentary, professional information, supposition, and, yes, "...memes and snark..." offered by you all further demonstrates the degree to which this Franchise is a part of us all...a very deep and important part.

Approaching 700 Pages...Impressive...

To you all, I say, tlhIngan Hol

majQa'!!!
batlh Hegh!!!
Qapla'

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

David "no dog in this fight" Gerrold has commented again on Axanar, and now his comment is no comment.

Regarding Axanar and the CBS/Paramount lawsuit, I will say only this:

Alec Peters and Rob Burnette are both good friends. I know Alec from his participation with James Cawley's New Voyages. I know Rob from his excellent work on the various Blu-ray sets he's worked on.

Yes, they have both expressed enthusiasm for seeing two of my book series translated into film, but we have never gotten beyond conversation. There is no deal in place of any kind. If there is going to be a deal, it will not happen until Axanar has been completed.

No, I am not investor in Axanar. Aside from a set of script notes I gave Alec a couple years ago, and a visit to their studio, I am not connected to the project, nor am I in a position to say anything about Alec Peters' plans.

As for the lawsuit, I have not been asked for my opinion by either side. Nor have I been in the room for any negotiations or discussions--neither has anyone else who's talking about the case.

Those who do know the specifics are not talking -- so all the online conversations are speculation, second-guessing, rumor-mongering, and just plain old-fashioned gossip.

The signal-to-noise ratio on this is deteriorating. I refuse to add to the noise. And I respectfully request to be left out of the discussions.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/david.gerrold/posts/10207787051046590

 

[Sgt_G]

Here's the thing about this whole mess: I for one would still like to see Axanar get made.

I would love it if there was an out-of-court settlement in which CBS allows someone to finish the project, but a couple/few of the key players currently involved may NOT continue with it. Bring in leadership who all have clean hands in the deal.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

David "no dog in this fight" Gerrold has commented again on Axanar, and now his comment is no comment.
"Regarding Axanar and the CBS/Paramount lawsuit, I will say only this:

Alec Peters and Rob Burnette are both good friends. I know Alec from his participation with James Cawley's New Voyages. I know Rob from his excellent work on the various Blu-ray sets he's worked on.

Yes, they have both expressed enthusiasm for seeing two of my book series translated into film, but we have never gotten beyond conversation. There is no deal in place of any kind. If there is going to be a deal, it will not happen until Axanar has been completed.

No, I am not investor in Axanar. Aside from a set of script notes I gave Alec a couple years ago, and a visit to their studio, I am not connected to the project, nor am I in a position to say anything about Alec Peters' plans.

As for the lawsuit, I have not been asked for my opinion by either side. Nor have I been in the room for any negotiations or discussions--neither has anyone else who's talking about the case.

Those who do know the specifics are not talking -- so all the online conversations are speculation, second-guessing, rumor-mongering, and just plain old-fashioned gossip.

The signal-to-noise ratio on this is deteriorating. I refuse to add to the noise. And I respectfully request to be left out of the discussions.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/david.gerrold/posts/10207787051046590

Now this man may have changed his mind or something but his relationship is not as casual as indicated in the above quote.
"Ares Studio Launches: ..... (Robert Burnett and I have already acquired the rights to a fantastic book series by David Gerrold.)"

"I am happy to announce that David Gerrold the legendary sci fi writer who wrote "The Trouble with Tribbles", has joined the "Axanar" team as creative consultant. David liked our script and has been helping us move from our second draft to a final shooting script."

"Axanar Fact Sheet & Credits: Creative Consultant - David Gerrold"

Besides those links to their Facebook, e-press website, and production website, in one of the podcasts (8/30/15) Mr. Peters says: " "We found a facility out in Victorville. It was cheap and the space was really good." "And David Gerrold, everyone said 'This place sucks. You need to get better space." "And then we raised $650,000, and we're like Oh.".

Again, Mr. Gerrold can have changed his mind about being close to the production which is fair enough, and backed away from the book/film deal for awhile which is to their advantage during the lawsuit....... but that Facebook post of his reads like none of this ever happened. So, for me now, what Gerrold says will hold the same suspicion with which I read/listen to the rest of the production.

And, Mr. Peters et al., I do not hate you or the production and I am one of your donors. Though just listening to and reading only you yourself, you have now done enough and said enough to make me strongly question what has been and still is going on.

 

[muCephi]

Here's the thing about this whole mess: I for one would still like to see Axanar get made.

I would love it if there was an out-of-court settlement in which CBS allows someone to finish the project, but a couple/few of the key players currently involved may NOT continue with it. Bring in leadership who all have clean hands in the deal.

This is actually the only solution I could see. But the more they shift the money around, the farther from reality even this solution seems. I would be pleased to see a rewrite with about 80% "TNG Sarek" and 20% pewpew (since it seems it has to be there) get produced.

 

[Noname Given]

David "no dog in this fight" Gerrold has commented again on Axanar, and now his comment is no comment.

Regarding Axanar and the CBS/Paramount lawsuit, I will say only this:

Alec Peters and Rob Burnette are both good friends. I know Alec from his participation with James Cawley's New Voyages. I know Rob from his excellent work on the various Blu-ray sets he's worked on.

Yes, they have both expressed enthusiasm for seeing two of my book series translated into film, but we have never gotten beyond conversation. There is no deal in place of any kind. If there is going to be a deal, it will not happen until Axanar has been completed.

No, I am not investor in Axanar. Aside from a set of script notes I gave Alec a couple years ago, and a visit to their studio, I am not connected to the project, nor am I in a position to say anything about Alec Peters' plans.

As for the lawsuit, I have not been asked for my opinion by either side. Nor have I been in the room for any negotiations or discussions--neither has anyone else who's talking about the case.

Those who do know the specifics are not talking -- so all the online conversations are speculation, second-guessing, rumor-mongering, and just plain old-fashioned gossip.

The signal-to-noise ratio on this is deteriorating. I refuse to add to the noise. And I respectfully request to be left out of the discussions.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/david.gerrold/posts/10207787051046590

The TLDR translation of Mr. Gerrold's latest statement:
"To C/P: No, I had never really heard about Axanar per se - and beyond a casual conversation of two am NOT involved. Further, my name isn't 'John Doe' so don't include me as part of the list of twenty possible defendants. Oh, and any comments I made earlier regarding the C/P vs Axanar lawsuit were 100% unsolicited as I have no dog in this fight."

As an aside: I wonder if Mr. Gerrold will now be called a 'Hater' and banned for effectively calling Alec Peter's a liar with regard to Mr. Peters statements about having an agreement in place with Mr. Gerrold to produce a web series based on a book series Mr. Gerrold had written.