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CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

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JD said:
Could Abrams and Lin supporting Axanar have an effect on the chances of them working with CBS and/or Paramount or at least in the Star Trek franchise again? I could definite see supporting the other side in a lawsuit pissing off the studios enough to not want to work with them again.
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Hundreds of millions of dollars of profit are involved per film with these folk. I don't think anyone is going to tell them to go away.

OTOH, I don't think the studios will pass up a chance to erect a firewall against "independent, """"no profit"""" " productions using new media tools and distribution techniques.

I suspect the guidelines may, as others have suggested, be a preapproval case by case basis within a tight set of boundaries, to retain studio's right to use discretion rather than be forced into guidelines. I suspect Axanar's guidelines are going to be don't slam the door after you shut off the lights, and take your stuff cause it won't be there tomorrow.
 
JD said:
Could Abrams and Lin supporting Axanar have an effect on the chances of them working with CBS and/or Paramount or at least in the Star Trek franchise again? I could definite see supporting the other side in a lawsuit pissing off the studios enough to not want to work with them again.
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$$$$ has a way of smoothing things over.

Beyond would have to bomb in epic proportions before the relationship would fall apart.
 
Something that caught my eye when reading the Answer.

Page 6, paragraph 32 states:

"Defendants deny that they have filmed any other scene from the Axanar motion
picture aside from the “Vulcan Scene.” Except as otherwise answered, Defendants
deny the allegations in paragraph 32."

However, in a blog post on axanarproductions.com dated March 30, 2016 (written by the helpfully named bloggers "Dim n Wit - the Fairy Brothers") the following information is provided:

"As it turned out, this was not even the “cool stuff” he had been referring to. As we take seats in his appropriately kooky and futuristic chairs, Rob proceeded to give us a behind the scenes walk through of the visual special effects scenes that had already been created, but could not be shared with anyone because of the lawsuit. As he explains each scene he is about to show us, I’ve got goosebumps on my goosebumps just from the descriptions. I can’t give any details because of the lawsuit, but I can tell you that the battle scenes, special effects shots, and even the music that has been written for Axanar is beyond amazing. So much has already been done and so much work and love and creativity has been put into this project, it will truly be a shame if none of it ever sees the light of day."

So, which is it?

The link in question:

http://www.axanarproductions.com/a-tour-of-axanar-productions-with-dim-n-wit/
 
Ah, but see ... those special effects scenes were not "filmed". They were all CGI creations. No actors were put in front of a camera. And if you want to get technical, nothing is "filmed" anymore, nor is it "taped". I guess you could say it's "chipped".
 
muCephi said:
I suspect the guidelines may, as others have suggested, be a preapproval case by case basis within a tight set of boundaries, to retain studio's right to use discretion rather than be forced into guidelines. I suspect Axanar's guidelines are going to be don't slam the door after you shut off the lights, and take your stuff cause it won't be there tomorrow.
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I don't see this happening. Do you know what it would entail to have each potential fan film scrutinized. They would have to hire staff to do this. For a multi-billion dollar corporation, I think getting directly involved would more trouble than it's worth for them
 
JD said:
Could Abrams and Lin supporting Axanar have an effect on the chances of them working with CBS and/or Paramount or at least in the Star Trek franchise again? I could definite see supporting the other side in a lawsuit pissing off the studios enough to not want to work with them again.
Click to expand...

I know nothing about the industry, but my guess is that there are four possible scenarios:

1. The most likely (to me): Paramount and CBS knew he might say it and thus don't care.

2. Second most likely: They didn't know, he's wrong, and it all blows over. Nothing happens.

3. JJ's comments piss Paramount off. This starts the very long process of finding his successor. You would never be able to equate cause with effect, because nothing would happen at least until the current contract is up, and maybe not even then. It could take years; the "beginning of the end" if you will.

4. Paramount ignores JJ's comments and continues with the suit. JJ gets pissed at Paramount and decides to take his ball and go to another studio for the next contract. The likelihood of this scenario would depend on Abrams' personality; don't know anything about him, and certainly not enough to comment.

As noted, my money is on either #1 or #2 proving to be the case in the end.
 
I'd say 1 = 0.2%, 2 = 80%, 3 = 9.9%, and 4 = 9.9% chance of being right.

Oh, by the way, over on another blog, someone mentioned it seems Alec Peters wasn't on the invitation list but rather was there as someone's "plus one" guest. So to say that Paramount and/or Abrams planned this as a surprise for Alec Peters seems unlikely because there was no way for either of them to know he'd be there.
 
Jedi_Master said:
Something that caught my eye when reading the Answer.

Page 6, paragraph 32 states:

"Defendants deny that they have filmed any other scene from the Axanar motion
picture aside from the “Vulcan Scene.” Except as otherwise answered, Defendants
deny the allegations in paragraph 32."

However, in a blog post on axanarproductions.com dated March 30, 2016 (written by the helpfully named bloggers "Dim n Wit - the Fairy Brothers") the following information is provided:

"As it turned out, this was not even the “cool stuff” he had been referring to. As we take seats in his appropriately kooky and futuristic chairs, Rob proceeded to give us a behind the scenes walk through of the visual special effects scenes that had already been created, but could not be shared with anyone because of the lawsuit. As he explains each scene he is about to show us, I’ve got goosebumps on my goosebumps just from the descriptions. I can’t give any details because of the lawsuit, but I can tell you that the battle scenes, special effects shots, and even the music that has been written for Axanar is beyond amazing. So much has already been done and so much work and love and creativity has been put into this project, it will truly be a shame if none of it ever sees the light of day."

So, which is it?

The link in question:

http://www.axanarproductions.com/a-tour-of-axanar-productions-with-dim-n-wit/
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whooo, someone's roller coaster seat just became detatched
 
Sgt_G said:
Well, yes and no. I find it funny how even legal experts who are following this closely are being surprised at every turn. But I really do want to hear what they think about this latest event.
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It was certainly different - but it kind of makes sense that they (defense) would file on the heels of the Abrams-Lin statement/ad-lib/announcement/buncha words thrown together.

The AP story is directed solely at the fans. I have not gotten deep enough into it but I doubt it would fly at all in court.

I've just gotten up to it and I already have - eek - over 9,000 words drafted.

Sorry. This is a monster, but I'm also trying to compare complaint to answer so people don't have to refer back and forth too much.
 
Sgt_G said:
I'd say 1 = 0.2%, 2 = 80%, 3 = 9.9%, and 4 = 9.9% chance of being right.

Oh, by the way, over on another blog, someone mentioned it seems Alec Peters wasn't on the invitation list but rather was there as someone's "plus one" guest. So to say that Paramount and/or Abrams planned this as a surprise for Alec Peters seems unlikely because there was no way for either of them to know he'd be there.
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Two words: "bad penny." :lol:
 
CaptGrumpy said:
I don't see this happening. Do you know what it would entail to have each potential fan film scrutinized. They would have to hire staff to do this. For a multi-billion dollar corporation, I think getting directly involved would more trouble than it's worth for them
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They're already being scrutinized. That's why Alec is being sued and Horizon's followup project was shut-down. That's what copyright enforcement is all about. Having guidelines only moves the goalposts from "We'll sue you at our arbitrary disgression" to "We won't sue you as long as you follow these rules". Either way, people are put in charge of policing things.

So you could make a case that it's LESS bothersome for CBS/P to setup guidelines than to have projects fumble around in the dark not knowing how far is too far to cause them to sue. Once there are concrete rules, most projects will abide by them. But as it is now, people can kind of spin their own self-serving rationalizations: "Gee, it's just coffee. CBS/P won't care."
 
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I don't think you guys are giving full credit to how much clout Abrams has in Hollywood and the industry in general right now. He's easily the hottest director working in this town right now, and certainly has proven himself with having reinvigorated not one, not two, but three separate franchises over the past decade, and this year alone directing the biggest film of the year already. This isn't scrawny Jeffrey Abrams who wrote "Regarding Henry" or spunky JJ who created "Felicity" and "Alias" anymore. Sure, he can say whatever he wants, but much as it pains me to admit it, even if he was speaking out of turn the likelihood that there will be any measurable backlash from CBS or Paramount against Abrams and Lin is nil.
 
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mos6507 said:
They're already being scrutinized. That's why Alec is being sued and Horizon's followup project was shut-down. That's what copyright enforcement is all about. Having guidelines only moves the goalposts from "We'll sue you at our arbitrary disgression" to "We won't sue you if you don't follow these rules". Either way, people are put in charge of policing things.

So you could make a case that it's LESS bothersome for CBS/P to setup guidelines than to have projects fumble around in the dark not knowing how far is too far to cause them to sue. Once there are concrete rules, most projects will abide by them. But as it is now, people can kind of spin their own self-serving rationalizations: "Gee, it's just coffee. CBS/P won't care."
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I agree that guidelines would be easier than having to pre-approve everything. That would be a nightmare. And I also believe having pretty strict guidelines would make it even easier. (As in short time limits, no fundraising, etc)

But up until this point, there haven't been any problems. Up until Axanar, everyone did well without guidelines. No one was sued. It was a system that worked well until someone opened a donor store and decided to pay himself and call the work a professional film.

It took one person to bring it all down.
 
Professor Zoom said:
I agree that guidelines would be easier than having to pre-approve everything. That would be a nightmare. And I also believe having pretty strict guidelines would make it even easier. (As in short time limits, no fundraising, etc)

But up until this point, there haven't been any problems. Up until Axanar, everyone did well without guidelines. No one was sued. It was a system that worked well until someone opened a donor store and decided to pay himself and call the work a professional film.

It took one person to bring it all down.
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Alec wanted rules. He's going to get them.

Neil
 
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