CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar
- Thread starter Richard Baker
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For Alec and Co, every day they can keep the delusion alive is a day worth fighting for.
Thoughts:
1. Their sense of entitlement is incredible.
2. ITD, whether a good movie or not, did discuss issues. Issues about terrorism, assassination, drone attacks, blind obedience, the trade between safetly and freedom. The idea of whether or not Kirk should kill the terrorist or arrest him. Whether it's justifable to have a secret military building a war. Whether we should sit on the border and fire drones at our enemies without declaring a war are all the issues of the day.
3. It seems that in his mind the idea of a gay crewman is tied to having to tell his allegory on aids. It's a very early 90s idea of how to portray gay culture.
4. Once again their legal strategy is hoping to just make a big enough splash on the interwebs that CBS will play nice. But once again, no one cares enough so they have to shoot their own puff peice.
1. Their sense of entitlement is incredible.
2. ITD, whether a good movie or not, did discuss issues. Issues about terrorism, assassination, drone attacks, blind obedience, the trade between safetly and freedom. The idea of whether or not Kirk should kill the terrorist or arrest him. Whether it's justifable to have a secret military building a war. Whether we should sit on the border and fire drones at our enemies without declaring a war are all the issues of the day.
3. It seems that in his mind the idea of a gay crewman is tied to having to tell his allegory on aids. It's a very early 90s idea of how to portray gay culture.
4. Once again their legal strategy is hoping to just make a big enough splash on the interwebs that CBS will play nice. But once again, no one cares enough so they have to shoot their own puff peice.
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Reading @jespah latest blog on this, I thought things would get moving along reading the bit about no surreply being allowed, but then it mentioned a possible Third Motion being possible! At least though, it would be trying the patience of the Court. Thanks for that latest update for a possible timetable of events, @jespah.
Plus, although uploaded on the 13th April, I wonder when it was recorded? And I thought Mr Gerrold had slightly distanced himself from the production?
Have I missed a Kickstarter or Indegogo campaign? Why use that figure? (I can't get the video to play, because I'm on an old Apple, and I don't use Flash Player (it's not recommended as it's not updated anymore on old Apple hardware)).
Plus, although uploaded on the 13th April, I wonder when it was recorded? And I thought Mr Gerrold had slightly distanced himself from the production?
He says that $30 mil is about the least about Paramount would make a movie for or something.
From the comments... My underlining
They forced CBS to drink the Axanar kool-aid, and now CBS is streaming it...
Defendants' goal seems to have dwindled down to this. But is there any face left to save? Even if the Settlement Agreement is confidential, no one is going to believe a word of his spin.
Hold the presses people! The definition of 'fan film' now includes multi-million dollar, officially produced movies made by the holders of the intellectual property.
EDIT: Jerry Goldsmith's score for TMP 'turgid'...
EDIT: Jerry Goldsmith's score for TMP 'turgid'...
yea I saw that equating of the IP owner's actvities with the IP stealer's activities based on both being fans, somewhere else the Axalooters were quoted in the last few weeks, if not before.
Ms. Rowling must be so happy to be invited to be a co-equal author of fanfic for those stories so equally created and owned by everyone before she ever showed up to join in.
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So, are you suggesting that when CBS made the TV show, for example, LIMITLESS based off the movie, they did not need to buy the rights from the movie production company??? And wasn't that movie based on a book? So to further the logic, one doesn't need permission from an author to turn his or her book into a movie or TV show.
Mini-blog FB cross post...
Quality.
Quality is a word that has a wide variety of meanings -particularly in the advertising world - but from the perspective of a business that hires others to create, maintain, and distribute it's salable products, quality is an important consideration.
In some ways the maintaining the quality of the product is a more important consideration than the lowering the cost of production. A quality product can generate significant tangible and intangible benefits to the company whose "name is on the box."
Established entertainment properties like Star Trek, Star Wars, and others have to maintain a higher standard of quality because the core of their business is making something that can be used as a foundation for numerous other products and productions. In addition, even though ancillary projects like novels, toys, and apparel can be held to a lesser standard due to the smaller market, the owners of those properties must supervise their suppliers and make sure internal quality control is in place - no matter whether the product being made is a $1 Yoda Pez Dispenser or a DK $100 "Illustrated Guide to the Galaxy." Contracts are therefore carefully written, and supply agreements carefully negotiated so as to maintain the core quality of the entertainment property in question.
Would an independent, unlicensed, unsolicited film, novel, comic or other product be considered as of sufficient quality to become an officially licensed product? Evidence suggests that such an outcome is unlikely, for numerous reasons.
First, the primary reason that "fan films" are produced independently is that the core story idea is not "good enough" to be made by the IP owners. It may lack cohesion, polish, or some other detail, but usually the core story idea is derivative, sluggish, boring, or "fan wank." The history of the first Jedi - owned fine dining establishment might be interesting to mega-fans, but the general public would be unlikely to buy too many tickets.
Second, amongst the unending waves of fan produced works, there are very, very, VERY few that stand out as being anything other than a selfish indulgence on the part of the fan who created them. So there is little-to-no evidence that a fan created product would somehow bring significant value to an entertainment franchise.
Third, there is a limited market for every company, and that market must be used to its fullest potential. It is difficult for company to devote it's shelf space, it's marketing dollars, or other resources to a supplier, vendor, or creator who cannot demonstrate that they will be able to boost the company to a new level of profitability or help it stand out in crowded marketplace.
Finally, in the business world established relationships matter - relationships between production companies and casting agents, between production companies and suppliers, between directors and scriptwriters, and thousands of other relationships. The majority of those relationships hinge on proven factors including consistent quality, on-time delivery, and/or excellent value. It can be difficult for a new contractor/vendor/ or service provider to break up an established relationship even if what they bring to the table is revolutionary in quality, incredibly good in price, or offers a significant return on investment. Inertia is a powerful force in the business world.
Those factors and others not listed (like how much cheaper it is to have in-house or contracted employees create content than it is to pay someone unknown to start from scratch) contribute to the immense difficulties faced by any independent creator seeking to get his or her "fan" product licensed or purchased by an entertainment company.
It is a comfortable delusion that someday The Powers That Be will recognize why YOUR version of the Adventures of Mary Sue: Jedi Wizard Engineer is worth a multi-million dollar investment, but it is a delusion none-the-less even if it is shared by "thousands" of other like minded fans.
Quality.
Quality is a word that has a wide variety of meanings -particularly in the advertising world - but from the perspective of a business that hires others to create, maintain, and distribute it's salable products, quality is an important consideration.
In some ways the maintaining the quality of the product is a more important consideration than the lowering the cost of production. A quality product can generate significant tangible and intangible benefits to the company whose "name is on the box."
Established entertainment properties like Star Trek, Star Wars, and others have to maintain a higher standard of quality because the core of their business is making something that can be used as a foundation for numerous other products and productions. In addition, even though ancillary projects like novels, toys, and apparel can be held to a lesser standard due to the smaller market, the owners of those properties must supervise their suppliers and make sure internal quality control is in place - no matter whether the product being made is a $1 Yoda Pez Dispenser or a DK $100 "Illustrated Guide to the Galaxy." Contracts are therefore carefully written, and supply agreements carefully negotiated so as to maintain the core quality of the entertainment property in question.
Would an independent, unlicensed, unsolicited film, novel, comic or other product be considered as of sufficient quality to become an officially licensed product? Evidence suggests that such an outcome is unlikely, for numerous reasons.
First, the primary reason that "fan films" are produced independently is that the core story idea is not "good enough" to be made by the IP owners. It may lack cohesion, polish, or some other detail, but usually the core story idea is derivative, sluggish, boring, or "fan wank." The history of the first Jedi - owned fine dining establishment might be interesting to mega-fans, but the general public would be unlikely to buy too many tickets.
Second, amongst the unending waves of fan produced works, there are very, very, VERY few that stand out as being anything other than a selfish indulgence on the part of the fan who created them. So there is little-to-no evidence that a fan created product would somehow bring significant value to an entertainment franchise.
Third, there is a limited market for every company, and that market must be used to its fullest potential. It is difficult for company to devote it's shelf space, it's marketing dollars, or other resources to a supplier, vendor, or creator who cannot demonstrate that they will be able to boost the company to a new level of profitability or help it stand out in crowded marketplace.
Finally, in the business world established relationships matter - relationships between production companies and casting agents, between production companies and suppliers, between directors and scriptwriters, and thousands of other relationships. The majority of those relationships hinge on proven factors including consistent quality, on-time delivery, and/or excellent value. It can be difficult for a new contractor/vendor/ or service provider to break up an established relationship even if what they bring to the table is revolutionary in quality, incredibly good in price, or offers a significant return on investment. Inertia is a powerful force in the business world.
Those factors and others not listed (like how much cheaper it is to have in-house or contracted employees create content than it is to pay someone unknown to start from scratch) contribute to the immense difficulties faced by any independent creator seeking to get his or her "fan" product licensed or purchased by an entertainment company.
It is a comfortable delusion that someday The Powers That Be will recognize why YOUR version of the Adventures of Mary Sue: Jedi Wizard Engineer is worth a multi-million dollar investment, but it is a delusion none-the-less even if it is shared by "thousands" of other like minded fans.
DG giving RMB the right to make his work is perfectly fine and kosher. It's also why CBS is suing -- they didn't give RMB or AP the right to make -their- work.
No way that works. Peters would be blabbing five seconds after signing the agreement.
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