CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

I would also point out that the "I Stand With CBS" numbers are probably far and away below the number of actual CBS supporters in the world. I, for one, couldn't be bothered to join that page; it's not worth being publicly affiliated with it. On top of which, openly supporting giant corporations is kinda pointless IMO.

As should be obvious, however, I *do* stand with CBS on this one.

To be fair, there's probably a lot of Axanar supporters out there who also haven't signed up, but I'll bet it's a much smaller ratio. People are much more likely to sign up to defend the little guy.

 

No - CBS/Paramount care VERY MUCH about the money - and realize they make MOST of that money via selling merchandising and licensing rights for Star Trek items that fans buys for years. It's the fact that Axanar is doing such marketing (selling coffee, T-Shirts, ship models and other items) that probably got CBS/Paramount legal to finally drop the hammer on them. But the MONEY (and making sure CBS/Paramout protect their right to continue to be able to license said merchandise) is the main reason for the lawsuit. By making an example of Axanar who have been overly blatant, they hope to send a message to ANY group that would try to market unlicensed Star Trek merchandise in a major way to raise funds.

 

Absolutely. I have to agree with this point. It is about the money, and right now, in an environment when money is tighter, stealing from a corporation by using their IP and doing activities that the IP holder is doing then it appears like competition.

 

"Carol Burnett"

 

Jimm Johnson told me that for Starship Exeter they very deliberately stayed away from (then Paramount's) the Star Trek trademarks, notably not calling it Star Trek Exeter or whatever. They were also careful to never sell DVDs of the show or even offer them as rewards. The only DVDs they'd distribute were behind-the-scenes making of things. That's a smarter, safer route.

 

If you look at the old Exeter site, they never even used the words "Star Trek" when writing about their inspiration for the show - they'd say things like "the look and feel of the Original Series."

 

Heres a great example of a high production value fanfilm that doesn't run roughshod over Trademarks. No "Star Wars" in the film title, and where it does use the Star Wars name it does so in the very clear context "STAR WARS FAN FILM" .

 

To be honest, I haven't joined I Stand With CBS either, mainly because I don't really get on Facebook much so it's not worth it. I mainly just put that in their so somebody else wouldn't come in and try to use that number against me.

 

Well first things first-- we're talking copyrights not trademarks. Big difference.

Second, and i'm no IP attorney here, but i'm fairly certain that the use of the AT-AT, stormtrooper outfit and Rebel "uniform" are all copyrighted assets. The blasters, the insignias on the uniforms and even the use of "Rebel Scum" could be argued as infringement when used as they are, in conjunction with other assets.

That they say "fan film" doesn't make it legal, it just helps identify what it is. All-in-all, still a clear case of copyright infringement if you ask me.

 

It's also about 8 minutes long.

 

Yeah, for me it's more "Axanar isn't right" than "I Stand With CBS." I mean, they don't need me standing with them. They don't care if I do. They've probably done a lot of dick things over the years and I'm not going to align myself with them. It actually seems a bit weird to me to have a group like that. I'm not going out of my way to support or not support anyone, but from what I've read so far, it seems like they're well within their rights. Should I make a group like that? "I think CBS is within their rights to go after Axanar" group? Probably not as catchy ...

 

Whether they "need" your or not isn't really the point.

That's the point. The name is mocking the pretend Spartans who forgot that all the Spartans in Battle of Thermopylae died.

Also, it doesn't fit in the banner.

 

I wasn't claiming it didn't violate IP, I was merely following up on the issue of brand confusion, and thing like labeling a film Star Trek Exaclabiansupership. And what does the runtime have to do with that (Lucasfilm's fanfilm contest guidelines not being the subject)? Or do you mean as opposed to being confused as an official feature film?

 

Damned Downfall meme. Gets me every update. Nice.

Ironic that a bunch of these were taken down due to... Well anyhow- it's a great effort.

If Alec truly was warned in August, and he blogged about it (and the Internet Wayback machine records all) then what law firm would take his case? The longer this goes on- the more of the bunker mentality I'm seeing.

One wonders if David Gerrold knew/knows about the warning. If so- no way do his recent comments make sense. Cognitive dissonance.

Writing was on the wall 'bout all this when Ms. Snodgrass expressed reservations about continuing with Renegades on or about Nov 2nd when the new series was announced. Perhaps her tone changed later- but her first instinct was self preservation. Possibly the ol' lawyer in her.

 

I think it is in reference to what Ion was saying about the numbers. People are more likely to sign up to support someone or something if they feel it's needed. In this case there are probably more people like us who feel like we side with them but haven't signed up because it's not an underdog situation. I was just agreeing with him.

 

That.

Unless they're a massive idiot, I don't think anyone is going to confuse an 8 minute story with a major motion picture. Also, like you've said they've gone out of there way to say it's not official and it's a fan film - whereas Trek fan films try to hide it as much as possible. Almost as if they want to the viewer not to know.


If I were wearing the big boy pants in CBS - that's one of the things that would piss me off the most about Axanar, Renegades, and every other feature-length fan film. "Make your 10 minute vids all you want. If someone wants something more substantial than that then they have to come to us."

 

Okay. Again, I wasn't citing that film as some global example, just that in terms of branding it doesn't even open itself up to confusion as to its official status.

 

that's a lot like hoping that Riker could stop standing at attention.

 

Very good point then-- I think it's important, if I were the brand owner, that all fan films clearly identify themselves as such, with all legal disclaimers. I don't care if its a 30 second scene in a kid's garage or a 2 hour professional quality film with VFX and SAG actors.

As for run time, Pixar, Marvel, The Simpsons and others have done short films before.

 

Yes, the runtime matters, I agree. Axanar even did a "prelude" that was twice as long as the Star Wars short film.