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CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

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Just read a bit about the Axanar-proposed guidelines on the open Axanar facebook page. People are intrigued and enthused by the very fair and reasonable proposal that would see fan filmmakers licence their films to CBS/Paramount, allowing the latter to make a certain amount of use of the films. With reasonable restrictions, of course; CBS and Paramount can't just use the whole thing.

Very generous of them to allow CBS/Paramount a licence, I thought. Maybe CBS and Paramount will be allowed to make their own Star Trek movies and TV shows, if the fan film producers are okay with that.
 
Steve Roby said:
Just read a bit about the Axanar-proposed guidelines on the open Axanar facebook page. People are intrigued and enthused by the very fair and reasonable proposal that would see fan filmmakers licence their films to CBS/Paramount, allowing the latter to make a certain amount of use of the films. With reasonable restrictions, of course; CBS and Paramount can't just use the whole thing.
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Wouldn't that be a legal minefield, though, especially regarding writer, director and actor unions?

I mean, if CBS wanted to use a clip of Axanar on an official Trek DVD (though God knows why they'd want to), then you'd have to start factoring in residuals and all that kinda stuff.

Even if everyone involved in fan-films were to sign a waiver, you can bet the unions wouldn't be happy about 'air time' given to free-issue fan footage.
 
Steve Roby said:
Very generous of them to allow CBS/Paramount a licence, I thought. Maybe CBS and Paramount will be allowed to make their own Star Trek movies and TV shows, if the fan film producers are okay with that.
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See, this is the funny thing in this -- and it probably has much more to do with human psychology than anything else -- fans, here, are arguing for their copyright to be respected, honored, and licensed.

I've been very pointed in noting that the CBS and Paramount own Trek. CBS and Paramount have been very generous over the years to allow fans to use something they don't own for free with very little in the way of restrictions. CBS was motivated to act in Axanar's case because of how explicitly and openly their rights were being violated.

In discussing fan films, it's very difficult to get people to see that all the rights they'd like to see for their productions, from support to financial reimbursement, are, legally and I think ethically, what to various degrees they're denying CBS. That human bias to prejudice whomever we see as "us" over "them" is so very much in play here.

The irony is maddening and hilarious at the same time.
 
Steve Roby said:
Just read a bit about the Axanar-proposed guidelines on the open Axanar facebook page. People are intrigued and enthused by the very fair and reasonable proposal that would see fan filmmakers licence their films to CBS/Paramount, allowing the latter to make a certain amount of use of the films. With reasonable restrictions, of course; CBS and Paramount can't just use the whole thing.

Very generous of them to allow CBS/Paramount a licence, I thought. Maybe CBS and Paramount will be allowed to make their own Star Trek movies and TV shows, if the fan film producers are okay with that.
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Nothing in these guidelines are going to go forward, not only because it would require mass amount of policing but there are so many loop holes in these that certain people would be able to exploit and get away with it because all they would have to do it say " well I stuck to the guidelines"
 
Maurice said:
If the guidelines are Draconian enough, the loopholes will be too small to bother trying to squeeze through.
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I have to admit, I sort of hope they are. I know it will screw over others, but if shuts up those who think they own Star Trek, it maybe worth it.

Bring on the Star Wars guidelines, it's what Gerrold wanted. Let's see what he thinks when he gets what he wants.
 
Professor Zoom said:
I have to admit, I sort of hope they are. I know it will screw over others, but if shuts up those who think they own Star Trek, it maybe worth it.

Bring on the Star Wars guidelines, it's what Gerrold wanted. Let's see what he thinks when he gets what he wants.
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I kind of know what you mean. I'm not at the point where I actually want that to happen (it would be sad to see the good-faith acters like STC, NV, Intrepid, etc. get screwed), but if does, there's minor consolation in these loud-mouthed fools getting a reality check.
 
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The Star Wars guidelines don't stop people from making films which don't follow said guidelines. The question really is: if P/CBS issue such guidelines will they in fact enforce them?
 
McCOY: But, dear Lord, do you think we're intelligent enough to... Suppose, what if these guidelines were used where fan films already exists?
SPOCK: It would destroy such creativity in favour of its new matrix.
McCOY: It's new matrix? ...Do you have you any idea what you're saying?
SPOCK: I was not attempting to evaluate its moral implications, Doctor. As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.
McCOY: Not anymore! Now we can do both at the same time! According to myth, the Earth was created in six days. Now, watch out! Here comes guidelines, we'll do it for you in six minutes.
SPOCK: Really, Doctor McCoy, you must learn to govern your passions. They will be your undoing. Logic suggests...
McCOY: Logic? My God! The man's talking about logic! We're talking about universal Armageddon, you green-blooded, inhuman...
 
Maurice said:
The Star Wars guidelines don't stop people from making films which don't follow said guidelines. The question really is: if P/CBS issue such guidelines will they in fact enforce them?
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I feel like they would have to, after going through all of this.... If they didn't what would be the point?
 
CaptGrumpy said:
If I understand correctly, the guidelines have nothing to do with any settlement. Nor has CBS/Paramount asked for anybody's input. So, once again AP is whistling outta his ass. Am I right?
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Yes, you are right, AP is whistling outta his ass (see above). The notion of Alec Peters telling CBS/P what they can or can't do with their intellectual property is hilarious. I mean roll on the floor gasping for breath sides aching funny. It ain't gonna happen.
 
Red Shirt said:
04426ce9e9d40953e0a226d5538f2ae3.jpg
Yes, you are right, AP is whistling outta his ass (see above). The notion of Alec Peters telling CBS/P what they can or can't do with their intellectual property is hilarious. I mean roll on the floor gasping for breath sides aching funny. It ain't gonna happen.
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But it's just another example of his self-absorbed hubris, or whatever you want to call it. He thinks he can control every situation and bend it to his skewed vision of how things should be.
 
I wonder if this all a smokescreen to get people to see the movie, drag it out for a month or two then clamp down on AP after the initial run.
 
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