That was 50 years ago...and the tale has grown more hyperbolic every decade since. Times have changed.
In general? No, not really. Look at how many shows have come back from the dead these days. What's really changed is how people feel about Star Trek and those in charge of making it.
Then, maybe you should stop spreading the idea that taking someone else's property is ok because it's only intellectual. Then maybe someone won't be sued.
I never stated that copyright infringement was okay. In fact, I've already stated several times that people should instead seek licenses or put their creative energies into their own projects. I've even warned numerous times that the guidelines provide no true legal safe harbor.
I can argue that two things (copyright infringement and stealing/theft) are different in nature or degree without saying that one of them is right, and I do so because I feel your use of language creates mischaracterizations that are harmful to the conversation in general and create an adversarial tone.
Then don't make a fucking fan film if you are worried that someone is going to steal your character.
Are you really worried about that? Is anyone REALLY worried about that? How often do you think this is happening? Is there a mass stealing of characters from fan films that I haven't hard about?
It's no less likely than someone copying a character from anything else I post on the Internet. In fact, you yourself stated that the Star Trek brand name can be used to attract attention to a project, so the fact it's a fan film would make it MORE likely my characters would be infringed upon, not less.
Um. Yeah. I knew that. I was trying to point out to you the difference between a fan letter campaign 50 some years ago and one from some 10 years ago. You really think there's going to be some sort of furious fan letter campaign that will make them remember the importance of fan films? Fans couldn't save Enterprise.
So basically your argument is that fans are too apathetic to be re-engaged?
You don't need a copyright registration as a precondition to bringing an IP infringement suit if your work does not have a US origin (although it does make life easier for you):
So I just need to move to New Zealand and everything will be okay.
But I would also add: to correct misinformation or misperceptions of IP.
I feel the same.
Limiting copyright creates a chilling effect on the creation of new works. That's why the law exists.
That's also why fair use exists, and it covers far more people. Just look at how many people on YouTube review just one movie.
That's not the mind I'm trying to change, but the ones who might be lurking.
Same here. Wait...
/me walks over to a mirror and sees Professor Zoom!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
It's cheaper to buy you out or change major details like Nic Locarno/Tom Paris.
This is a better argument for rebranding than subjecting one's self to Guideline #9.
Matthew, no one is going to steal your characters from your film. No one.
That's more of a comment on how inconsequential most aspiring writers are than a profound statement on fan films. Why would decoupling your work from Star Trek attract
more people to your work?
If that's your thinking, you really overestimate the actual viewership of fan films and their absolutely neglible impact on fandom, Star Trek, and CBS/Paramount.
Keep in mind that we were talking about being able to copyright your own creations that you might tangentially use in a fan film. STC:Pilgrim of Eternity alone has nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube, and it only takes one person to infringe.
just watch his reaction!!!