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CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

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JD said:
I agree, it is really frustrating that pretty much all of the media coverage is only getting Axanar's perspective. I can understand CBS/P not wanting to discuss a ongoing law suit, but you'd still think they could at least approach Christian Gossett, or Carlos P, or someone else who would be willing to speak out against Axanar.
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CBS and paramount are the smart ones with regard to that as if the lawsuit does go all the way to a Jury trial; it would be a boon to the Plaintiffs case if they could call Christian Gossett to the stand to testify about the production aspects he knows first hand. Remember "Prelude to Axanar" is a part of the "Axanar Works" referred to in the complaint. So it's better to have him speak on the stand under oath then say anything publically Erin Ranahan might be able to try and twist as she cross-examines him.

I also firmly believe at this point that thanks to the interference of Justin Lin/JJ Abrams Paramount (and perhaps CBS) is really trying to settle the case (even though it's pretty clear that baring some real twist/'smoking gun' type scenario, CBS/Paramount would receive a favorable Judgment and Damages award from a Jury trial); and probably the ONLY stumbling block is Alec Peters himself, refusing EVERY settlement offer because Mr. Peters now believes the ONLY WAY his actions will be vindicated and Axanar made is by going to trial and winning. (Yeah, like that will be the outcome.)
^^^
Yes, that sounds ridiculously insane to me to; but lets be honest in that given where things are at this point; a sane person would have taken the first settlement offer and faded into obscurity. A sane man wouldn't file a ridiculous counter claim the weekend after a high profile Hollywood producer/director involved WITH the franchise in question stated "We've spoken to the studio and I have been told in a few weeks the lawsuit would be going away.." <--- But that's exactly what Alec Peters and Erin Ranahan did.

Edited to add:
Starfury said:
http://www.axanarproductions.com/fan-film-friday-want-to-send-a-loud-message-to-cbs/

This is a nightmare
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^^^
Holy crap. While STILL in the middle of a lawsuit, and in Settlement talks, Axanar does something like this? As I said, insane.
 
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I agree, it is really frustrating that pretty much all of the media coverage is only getting Axanar's perspective.
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Awhile back, a publication I used to contribute to ran an article about this case, specifically the Klingon language amicus brief. It was disappointing to see the writer focus on a peripheral issue. And while I recognize the superficial appeal of standing up for “free speech” against perceived corporate bullying, I think there are more substantive problems raised by this entire affair.

Indeed, the interview with Mr. Gossett was especially insightful with respect to these problems. First, he explained how a number of established industry professionals provided services below-cost to complete “Prelude.” He noted the short film’s budget would have been significantly higher had the producers had to pay market rates. This is hardly a revelation, but it highlights a critical point: This is a case of someone trading on the goodwill generated by another company’s IP to obtain professional benefits. That, and now whether the fictional Klingon language is copyrightable, is at the core of the lawsuit.

Second, Mr. Gossett addressed the lack of proper financial controls following the second crowdfunding campaign. As I said yesterday, it is clear that the main reason CBS and Paramount issued their fan-film guidelines was to preempt any such campaigns in the future. Again, this is about trading on the goodwill generated by another company’s work to raise business capital—and possibly compromising that goodwill by failing to follow accepted industry accounting standards.

Crowdfunding, after all, is basically an unregulated securities market. Anyone can propose a project and seek contributions. But the “investors” in a crowdfunding campaign do not have the same legal right to information as someone investing in a public offering. Nor are the people who accept such funds bound to follow any particular standards of conduct.

I think companies have every right to intervene when a third-party tries to appropriate their IP as part of a crowdfunding campaign. Indeed, CBS and Paramount owed a legal and ethical duty to their shareholders to put a stop to this practice. To me, that is the story here; everything else is just window dressing.
 
wamdue said:
fair enough, but I have been referring judgement until the end of the process, so im playing catch up.

Cant help but fell I should be turning Kirk down and going to science vessel, with all my catching up to do.
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Hey, only a light greeting! Don't expect anyone except a google robot to plow through all that :hugegrin: It boils down to the same themes as today, but a bit less concrete final proof. And concern about possible outcomes, rather than today's anger at real ones.
 
muCephi said:
Hey, only a light greeting! Don't expect anyone except a google robot to plow through all that :hugegrin:

It boils down to the same themes as today, but a bit less concrete final proof. And concern about possible outcomes, rather than today's anger at real ones.
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those poor Google robots, what have they ever done to deserve the fate of reading this entire thread.

Todays announcement is why ive not been reading this thread a whole lot, too much speculation on the internet these days.
 
oswriter said:
Crowdfunding, after all, is basically an unregulated securities market. Anyone can propose a project and seek contributions. But the “investors” in a crowdfunding campaign do not have the same legal right to information as someone investing in a public offering. Nor are the people who accept such funds bound to follow any particular standards of conduct.
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its amazing there has not been a very high profile scandal concerning those websites, I made a small donation to Star Trek Continue via Indie Gogo, I was aware the time I was simply giving them the money, and if something went wrong I would never see it back. At this point in time ive had 6 episodes from them, so I dont think they owe me anything, even if I still want to see episode 7 ;)
 
muCephi said:
Reporters are eventually going to start listening to someone besides RMB, Alec, and Mr. Bawden. Like... everyone else professionally involved in Trek.
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To which I originally replied:
One would hope, [but] I don't have confidence that they will. The production is very active in speaking to places that are more and more seeming to have a wider 'general' population readership and that will repeat their talking points as if that is the whole picture of this debacle.

Their talking points and energy are readable to a general populous............... Which entertains the casual reader of popular journalism.
..................................................
Now from the vantage point of facts and truth in what is going on in this matter there are three active players who are being exceedingly diligent in documenting and dispersing this information for easy access. But the general populous numbers reading them are not matching the numbers this production is now going great lengths to court.
.......................................
the production has some very talented people spinning their stories to the people in media they are courting who will repeat it as is to a much wider populous.
.................................
Unless something changes, something much bigger than we have going on, regarding this production and the facts and truth being soundly researched and supported by the smaller group who is not courting the much more widely dispersed media outlets to get this story told.. repeatedly... [I fear] the facts and truth in this matter will [not] be much sought after and will end up more a footnote when all this is said and done.
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But....
I have just finished listening to the G&T Christian Gossett episode and found myself struck by his telling the story from his first person vantage point. It is an audio eye opening 'page turner'. And this is the first time I've heard this years' long story from beginning to end.

'This' is a narrative that I believe would read well in the Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, BuzzFeed, Variety, TrekNews, and the news media Mr. Bawden chose for spinning the production's narrative.(etc) Which holds the possibility of some those reporters and casual media readers comparing the two versions of the events and becoming interested in learning more about this matter. For which AxaMonitor, 1701 News, and G & T stand ready to give these reporters and general populous readers access to the facts that have been meticulously gathered by them.

I would think Josh Rottenberg (LA Times), Eriq Gardner (The Hollywood Reporter), Adam B. Vary (BuzzFeed), Kyle Hadyniak (TrekNews), Dave McNary (Variety), and whomever interviewed Mr. Bawden might find an interview with Mr. Gossett both quite interesting as well as engaging to their readership.

Christian Gossett: "If this is a David & Goliath Story couldn't it be said that David is the other fan productions and Goliath is Axanar who has brought this down on everybody? That's the David & Goliath story that I see from having had a relationship with this film since its very beginning. That's the David & Goliath story that I would argue is more valid and more accurate."


RedForman said:
I went back and listened to that interview with Christian again a second time because it's just that good
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The G&T Christian Gossett full interview can be found on their YouTube Channel and in iTunes.
 
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ThankYouGeneR said:
I have just finished listening to the G&T Christian Gossett episode...
'This' is a narrative that I believe would read well in the Los Angeles Times, the news media Mr. Bawden chose for spinning the production's narrative, The Hollywood Reporter, BuzzFeed, Variety and TrekNews. (etc) ...
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oooo yes. see the shoreline water receding before...
 
LFIM's followers show up on other FB discussions as well as other sites I frequent where they continue to argue for and defend AP against the "evil" CBS/P.

Powerful Kool-Aid.

Their take is if you're against AP then you're just sucking up to CBS/P.

Fucking idiots.

No one around here could possibly accuse me of sucking up to TPTB. :lol:
 
wamdue said:
its amazing there has not been a very high profile scandal concerning those websites, I made a small donation to Star Trek Continue via Indie Gogo, I was aware the time I was simply giving them the money, and if something went wrong I would never see it back. At this point in time ive had 6 episodes from them, so I dont think they owe me anything, even if I still want to see episode 7 ;)
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There have been consumer protection lawsuits over failed projects. You may be looking at the project that meets your stretch goal :rofl:, time will tell. That and perhaps the California state government.

TREKZONE.org said:
so, I've been away for a while - what have I missed. :P.
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Jespah is spinning off Semantic Shenanigans.
 
The official Potemkin Pictures response to the new Star Trek fan productions guidelines:

We are all deeply aware that CBS and Paramount have been put in an untenable position in order to protect their intellectual property. The guidelines are what they are. Fortunately, almost all of our productions to date fall in line with almost all the restrictions placed upon fan films.

Potemkin Pictures and its productions will continue to work within the new guidelines as we understand them to the best of our ability. We love Star Trek, and we continue to look forward to sharing our adventures with our fellow fans.
 
Warped9 said:
LFIM's followers show up on other FB discussions as well as other sites I frequent where they continue to argue for and defend AP against the "evil" CBS/P.

Powerful Kool-Aid.

Their take is if you're against AP then you're just sucking up to CBS/P.

Fucking idiots.

No one around here could possibly accuse me of sucking up to TPTB. :lol:
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I spent a rather long discussion with one on STC's FB group last night. No matter what evidence I could provide from Axamonitor and boxoffice grosses for STID, his final stance was "I don't care what facts you have, I've made up my mind." :vulcan:
 
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