• 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.
While you can be quite certain that AP will be crowing like a rooster over his "famous victory" the real story will only be told when the settlement goes public. I suspect some of the terms will fall under a confidentiality agreement, but if there are concrete guidelines laid out, I also suspect that they will make few, if any of us, making fan productions of any kind very happy.
That may be so, but I still expect the crowing of victory from AP. He has shown a Donald Trump-like attitude and ego
 
So would I. But I might be willing to make exceptions for contractors such as plumbers or electricians, and maybe carpenters who do set building. But for anyone on-set during filming, they should be fan-volunteers.

The FX people (like Tobias) can't keep pulling down the money they are either. It's become a cottage industry.
 
If part of the settlement is that nobody can talk about the settlement or the terms without getting in trouble and voiding it, then LFIM is going to explode. You know he can't keep quiet.........
 
Interesting. I wonder what the new guidelines will be. I assume they'll probably attach them to all fan productions, including fanfic and maybe even online games.

I wonder if he gets to keep his studio?
 
I think we can safely say that any guidelines put in place, that one of them will almost certainly be that you cannot sell merchandise based on your fan film, even if it doesn't directly use Trek IP.
I hope all this does get sorted out soon. I'm sure there are a lot of fan film makers out there that are watching all this with some concern. Pity this had to happen, but it was going to sooner or later. There's always one that ruins it for the rest. I suppose once it's over, the fan film community will assess the potential damage from the aforementioned guidelines and go from there.
 
Said people would rather dwell on their anger than move on to a more positive future.
Exactly. Star Trek fans enjoy a thriving fan film community, and the news that CBS/P are looking into codifying some fan film 'rules' means that everyone will soon know where they stand.

Like it or not, the coverage of Axanar has got Trek fan-films on the radar, with coverage in mainstream press outlets.

The saga has left a bad taste in the mouth to be sure, but I'm happy that some good might come out of all this. Forget Peters, the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the one.
 
I'm not surprised there's going to be a settlement, the spinning feels weird.
But, because there will be a settlement, there won't be a chipping away of copyright. And that's a good thing.
That said, employees saying Star Trek belongs to the fans, I'm sure has to rankle execs all over Hollywood.
 
Just saw the other thread, they actually reached a settlement? Any idea if or when we'll hear about what's going to happen with Axanar and Alec Peters. I'm a little disappointed he isn't going to get his ass handed to him in court, but I'm thinking is probably a good thing in the long run.
 
Just saw the other thread, they actually reached a settlement? Any idea if or when we'll hear about what's going to happen with Axanar and Alec Peters. I'm a little disappointed he isn't going to get his ass handed to him in court, but I'm thinking is probably a good thing in the long run.
All we know at this point is they're working on a settlement and there's been an indication that guidelines will be issued for fan films.
 
JJ running his mouth probably set some stomach churnings at the C/P attorney's office. He might have been told that Alec was going to get an offer that he couldn't refuse and blabbed about it, without realizing that while any normal person might realize when it's time to quit, they are dealing with someone who has shown no common sense whatsoever during this whole situation. If AP decides to tell C/P to shove their last, best offer, the aftermath could be most entertaining...if you're the sort of person who enjoys watching plane crashes and/or train wrecks.
 
From all the Saturday morning postings, the clarifications are that no deal has been worked out but that settlement talks are underway. They've been going off and on, but with JJ's comment, I think there's some renewed effort in this.

The big question is if Abrams took it on himself to make the announcement or if it was planned. I think he took it on himself, perhaps to force the issue, perhaps to look good. People who were there said Axanar wasn't on the teleprompter. Axanar's own publicist says they were shocked at the announcement. So something unexpected happened last night. Feel free to disagree.

There will be some kind of settlement now, restrictive, but probably not as restrictive as CBS wanted. There will probably be some way for Alec and others to continue to make fan films, under some kind of published guidelines.

I also wouldn't be surprised if CBS and Bad Robot's frosty relationship grows a few more icicles over this. :-)
 
I get the SBS/Paramount Corporate mentality on this:
1) It a fact CBS allowed Star Trek fan films top exists for years without saying a word.

2) They ARE ALWAYS concerned about how negative fan reaction (no matter how small) could affect their bottom line (both with ST:Beyond's box office and the new Stat Trek series on CBS All Access.

3) They are 100% in the right both legally and morally with Alec Peters and Axanar - BUT they probably realize that if they won and went 'scorched Earth' - overall - the negative fan reaction might hamper merchandizing and other aspects over the long run; and COULD be bad for Star Trek franchise business long term.

2) They now figure they've let the fans films run too loose for too long - so they're going to (like Lucas film did) set up strict guidelines that must be followed and gain some control over the situation of Star Trek fan films.

The win for both CBS/Paramount as the Suits see it:
- These Star Trek fan film groups stop badmouthing CBS/Paramount Star Trek efforts (either outright or subtlety.)

- It makes then 'look good' in the overall public mainstream; and maybe wins them some bigger Box Office/All Access Subs in the long run.

- It makes it so they don't have to worry about any trademark abandonment issues - and gives them a clear path to a summary judgement in any Copyright or other Civil suit they bring if a Fan Film group REALLY strays over the new fan film guidelines.

For myself though - after experiencing the attitude of Fan Film producer Alec Peters - I'm saddened that in the end, he will be rewarded for his theft; and depending on whatever settlement in reached - in the years to come , he'll tout himself as the 'savior' of Star Trek fan films; and probably twist the narrative to that being his ultimate goal all along.

As for people saying "Hey why would two major Hollywood studios do this?" Remember:

1) In the end, ALL they care about is the bottom line - and for whatever reason, the suits see this path their following now as BETTER for the Star Trek franchise bottom line (and profitability) in the long run.

2) They're dealt with BIGGER egos/outright assholes then Alec Peters (and often paid/lost more money to said assholes in agreements/legal actions); and in this situation, it's not even their money per se - it's Star Trek fan's money; and they C/P may after this try to market themselves directly - what Peter's and Co. were marketing to the donor store.

And much as I hate to say it - in the end, it IS Star trek fans (like myself who pledged $75) who ULTIMATELY enabled Mr. Peters to do what he did. My mistake was NOT RESEARCHING the man's integrity (IMO he has NONE) before Pledging to his project <--- And again that's on me.

That said, I hope one of the conditions of the ultimate settlement is: Axanar has to fulfill EVERY perk. Why? Because hell, if C/P is going to legitimize the Axanar film, I should at the very least get what I fucking pain for (or a full refund - at this point I'd be okay with either as I dislike the fact I had a hand in enabling Mr. Peters to do what he did and ultimately get rewarded for it.)

[Also, I hope whatever the guidelines are as a result Mr. Tommy Kraft does decide/find a way to do a sequel to his 'Horizons' fan film.]
 
Last edited:
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