CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[Harvey]

I bid on and won a bootleg of the Star Wars Radio Series once. Didn't know it was bootleg, but after the auction ended, I was notified by eBay, that it was a bootleg and that I wasn't required to pay for it and would not be penalized for the action.
It was a few years ago, so things must have gone downhill since then. Sad to see that.

Buyers have more protections on eBay. If you bought the complete series of Gilligan's Island, for example, and it turned out to be a bootleg, you could probably get your money back and leave negative feedback that would affect the seller on eBay.

But, if I were the rights holder of Gilligan's Island, and I knew the set being advertised was a bootleg, reporting the item and the seller would have no consequences.

 

[jespah]

Buyers have more protections on eBay. If you bought the complete series of Gilligan's Island, for example, and it turned out to be a bootleg, you could probably get your money back and leave negative feedback that would affect the seller on eBay.

But, if I were the rights holder of Gilligan's Island, and I knew the set being advertised was a bootleg, reporting the item and the seller would have no consequences.

I imagine the bigger rights holders would do better to go directly after eBay. Not necessarily in court, but can't the respective bigwigs sit down and have a conversation? One that goes something like:

Bigwig IP holder: Our stuff is being bootlegged on your site. You are making money (indirectly) from sales of pirated merch.
eBay: So?
Bigwig: So we'll sue your ass in federal court for copyright violations, state court for fraud, and then we'll do our best to pierce the corporate veil and haul your board of directors in for criminal fraud and pirating charges.
eBay: You wouldn't dare.
75 other bigwigs: Sure we would.
Department of Justice: Word.*
eBay: Ulp, sorry. We'll start paying better attention to those takedown notices.

*In this scenario, the part of the DOJ is played by Wesley Snipes.

 

[Harvey]

At work, I've been told that the bigger studios have basically given up on going after bootlegs on eBay. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part I strongly advise against buying home video on the site, especially DVD, and especially box sets.

 

[Firebird]

At work, I've been told that the bigger studios have basically given up on going after bootlegs on eBay. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part I strongly advise against buying home video on the site, especially DVD, and especially box sets.

I wouldn't be quite so stringent on that, Harvey. I've never had an issue with buying movies off of eBay in almost 10 years; it just comes down to being vigilant when you're looking at the auction listing. Never go with a listing that only has a stock photo, only go forward if there are actual images of the item you're buying. Avoid auctions out of south Asian countries, as those are usually the close-but-not-quite bootleg covers that fool so many, especially Criterion Collection releases.

 

[trynda1701]

Got an image of RMB holding Alec at the prow. Alec has his arms wide open. Celine Dion is now singing.

I'm off to scream into a pillow. I may be some time.

Great, I take a month off from suffering Axanar burnout, and come back to find this quote? Thanks a bunch, Sir!

Plus, MY EYES!

Department of Justice: Word.*
eBay: Ulp, sorry. We'll start paying better attention to those takedown notices.

*In this scenario, the part of the DOJ is played by Wesley Snipes.

Surely the DOJ would have been played by Madam Justice @jespah?

 

[jespah]

...
Surely the DOJ would have been played by Madam Justice @jespah?

I like to mix it up on occasion.

 

[OtherGene]

There's a weird thing going on in some circles suggesting that the hinted-at timeline of Discovery could have been a factor in the decision to try to bring Axanar to a halt. And I say weird because there's attempts by the Axanar faithful to say, look, this is why they stopped us and then the Pro-CBS side are becoming equally cross-eyed with anger at this and insisting it isn't, it's all about the intellectual property rights.

If it comes to pass that the new show is set during what we should perhaps think of as Alecs' Special Time (shudder) then I'd say the balance of probability is with it being a factor and if you Axanar fans see that as some sort of victory then well done you, but you still won't be getting any perks anytime soon.

 

[jamestyler]

If it comes to pass that the new show is set during what we should perhaps think of as Alecs' Special Time (shudder) then I'd say the balance of probability is with it being a factor and if you Axanar fans see that as some sort of victory then well done you, but you still won't be getting any perks anytime soon.

If thats the case I doubt it bears any relation.

Given Kurtzman's previous interest in wanting a far future show, and with all the decisions seemingly falling into Fuller's lap, it seems more likely that Fuller would be deciding the timeline and setting. Considering Fuller was brought on well after the legal papers were served, it doesn't make sense unless CBS decided around the time of their original statement of displeasure even further back that they wanted a prequel. Which is some very unlikely forward planning.

In fairness it wouldn't matter what timeline they were in, it'd still be used as a deflection for Axanar's failings/flaws/financial tomfoolery.

 

[trynda1701]

I find the name of the new series ironic considering where the lawsuit proceedings currently are at this point in time!

 

[oswriter]

I find the name of the new series ironic considering where the lawsuit proceedings currently are at this point in time!

I would have gone with Star Trek: Summary Judgment myself.

 

[Lynsioux]

At work, I've been told that the bigger studios have basically given up on going after bootlegs on eBay. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part I strongly advise against buying home video on the site, especially DVD, and especially box sets.

Saw a boxed set of Battlestar Galactica on eBay. Great combo of Lorne Green and characters from the reboot. Not sure which series it actually was.

 

[dmac]

Just as an FYI, Parody production Cease and Desist.
I'm not sure these things help matters much.

 

[BobtheGunslinge]

So, if you had to sum up everything for someone who hasn't read the previous thousand pages, where would you say Axanar is right now?

Am I ever getting anything for my $25?

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

Just as an FYI, Parody production Cease and Desist.
I not sure these things help matters much.

No thoughts at this time on that.... but here is a ST fan film that automatically queued up after it called "Chasing The Infinite Sky". To me it is gorgeously crafted, I'd probably have never known of its existence, and would have missed a fan film I will treasure having seen from filmers whose fan film is a seeming homage to ST spaceship flight.... had it not been for the questionably useful parody, so thanks, dmac, for the link!!!!!

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[dmac]

No thoughts at this time on that.... but here is a ST fan film that automatically queued up after it called "Chasing The Infinite Sky". To me it is gorgeously crafted, I'd probably have never known of its existence, and would have missed a fan film I will treasure having seen from filmers whose fan film is a seeming homage, to ST spaceship flight.... had it not been for the questionably useful parody, so thanks, dmac, for the link!!!!!

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Saw that about a week back, nice piece.

 

[carlosp]

So, if you had to sum up everything for someone who hasn't read the previous thousand pages, where would you say Axanar is right now?

Am I ever getting anything for my $25?

Find the latest and the history of Axanar's lawsuit at AxaMonitor.com, including the unfortunate prospects for your promised perks.

 

[jespah]

So, if you had to sum up everything for someone who hasn't read the previous thousand pages, where would you say Axanar is right now?

Am I ever getting anything for my $25?

Nope.

As for where Axanar is right now, the matter is in what's called discovery. This is where documents are exchanged and anyone who is going to be deposed, is (and that can include people not personally named in the suit). The parties have a few months to get this all accomplished. Presumably and hopefully (certainly by Judge Klausner's POV), they are also talking settlement.

Discovery is fairly costly, particularly if folks outside the jurisdiction have to be brought in. These are court costs which are probably not covered by AP's pro bono agreement with Winston & Strawn.

If there is no settlement, then we'll most likely see some more motions (and if they are for summary judgment, then the Language Creation Society will probably file another amicus curiae brief). Assuming nobody wins on motion practice, trial would start early next year.

So, for your $25, you may have purchased part of a deposition transcript.

 

[asurob]

Nope.

As for where Axanar is right now, the matter is in what's called discovery. This is where documents are exchanged and anyone who is going to be deposed, is (and that can include people not personally named in the suit). The parties have a few months to get this all accomplished. Presumably and hopefully (certainly by Judge Klausner's POV), they are also talking settlement.

Discovery is fairly costly, particularly if folks outside the jurisdiction have to be brought in. These are court costs which are probably not covered by AP's pro bono agreement with Winston & Strawn.

If there is no settlement, then we'll most likely see some more motions (and if they are for summary judgment, then the Language Creation Society will probably file another amicus curiae brief). Assuming nobody wins on motion practice, trial would start early next year.

So, for your $25, you may have purchased part of a deposition transcript.

You know, it's been my life-long dream to purchase a deposition.

Thanks Alex.

 

[muCephi]

So, if you had to sum up everything for someone who hasn't read the previous thousand pages, where would you say Axanar is right now?

Am I ever getting anything for my $25?

1. 1000 pages ago.. ok.. to reprise page 277

Kira at Bashi.
Donor, his arms open.
Donor, his eyes closed.
The beast at Ares.
Alec, his army with fists open.
Loeb and CBS, at trial.
Alec, his face black, his eyes red.
Axanar, when the walls fell.
Alec, with sails unfurled.
Donor, his eyes opened!
CBS, his arms open!
CBS and fanfilms, on the ocean.

we are at line 6. we may jump to line 8 if discovery poses too much of a risk to Axanar.

2. you will get entertainment, just not what you thought you were buying.

 

[Sgt_G]

set during what we should perhaps think of as Alecs' Special Time

Between 10-PM and 11-PM, when his Mommy got him out of bed?