I seriously don't think it's that complicated. The underlying message of this whole thing has been: don't over reach.
Look back at how we got to this point. Certain productions had become evermore sophisticated and polished to the point they were being talked about in the broader media. That still mightn't have really registered much beyond the dedicated fan base. NV, STC, Renegades, Horizon and maybe some others were pushing the envelope yet CBS/P still said nothing.
Now along comes Alec Peters with Axanar and he pushes too far. He boasts he is going to best CBS/P at their own game and he decides to make more than a few bucks while he's at it and set himself up to make even more down the road.
What is the real distinction? The other productions took whatever they collected and put all of it into making the features those who supported them expected to see. They also kept their heads down and didn't make too much noise about themselves either. In contrast it seems little of what AP collected actually went into the production Axanar's supporters expected to see. The $1.3 million just seem to evaporate into other things other than making the actual Axanar feature.
AP clearly rang CBS/P's bell and they called him on it. They told him to knock it off and he stupidly ignored them.
CBS/P might have now considered they might have let things get a little too far even while understanding the vast majority of fan productions were well meaning and meant no harm. They appear to have reasoned that while AP had to be taken to task for his blatant crossing the line they would also send a friendly signal to other productions to try preventing any future transgressions like Axanar.
They could have been hardball about it, but they chose a much more sympathetic approach. They don't want to unduly alienate the fan base. So they issue a set of guidelines to convey what they will tolerate from the fan community.
And they are deliberately vague with some of those guidelines and vague on possible repercussions. They are essentially suggesting productions adhere to these guidelines, but they refrain from expressly forbidding anyone from going beyond said guidelines.
The message: tread carefully and don't overreach.
Last edited:
