Personally I use a text reader. If you make something sound right being read in the cold drab computer voice, an actor can do 10 times better.
CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar 2 - Electric Boogaloo-Fanboys gone WILD-too many hyphens
- Thread starter jespah
- Start date
I've actually done that with this script a couple of times. I suggest that everyone use text-to-speech at least once before having anyone read your material. You can catch a lot of mistakes that way, especially messed up sentences you didn't notice before.
There are some beta groups on Facebook but I admit I'm a member but haven't tried to recruit people. For me, I created my own secret group. For those folks, in exchange for early peeks at whatnot, I ask for feedback. Which isn't always easy to get, but hey, they (and I) try.
Our very own rebel leader. It's always the sexy ones with pie that you would never suspect.
I would give anything for a proper facepalm emoji.
This will have to do.
I think its a crime that we don't have a poop emoji that when you click on it speaks with Patrick Stewart's voice.
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Ooh la la.
And yeah, we are emoji challenged.
FYI in case you haven't seen it yet, an indie games developer is suing CBS and Netflix (and it's the wrong division of CBS, BTW) for copyright infringement, claiming his incomplete game, which was posted on Reddit, supersedes DSC. This includes the use of tardigrades in outer space.
Tardigrades of course are real critters and it's been speculated for years that they could live in deep space pretty easily (it helps if you don't have a backbone and you can be dried out like a shrinky dink).
Other claims of his include a character who is a woman of color with messy hair and a gay couple where the men are of two separate races.
The developer (he lives in Kuwait) is represented by two New York City law firms, one of which has no web presence. The other firm has an old website which still has flash.
Grab the popcorn, kids - it's magic time again!
Oy vey! Good thing we started a new thread! 
Totally! Here is the other topic on it but I'd rather not split my focus. https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/did-cbs-steal-the-tardigrade-idea.290957/
So here's what I've got, sports fans!
The docs from the case are sparse but I do have them (right now, there are only four of them). Want a copy? PM me. I paid for these and have no qualms giving you a copy.
The Complaint
Complaint was filed August 19, 2018, in the Southern District of NY. Anas Osama Ibrahim Abdin v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and Netflix, Inc.
Jury trial demanded. Plaintiff, a resident of Kuwait, claims copyright protection under the Berne Convention. Plaintiff claims his work was published via the Adventure Game Studio Forums.
Plaintiff is looking for $750-$30k per broadcast, plus actual damages and an injunction.
Civil Cover Sheet
Filed August 20, 2018. There are two separate law firms representing plaintiff.
John Johnson & Associates, 25 Broadway, 9th floor, NY, NY 10004
There is no website for this firm! The address corresponds to a co-working space, AKA a virtual office. (See: https://www.wework.com/buildings/25-broadway--new-york-city--NY)
The only thing I could find was this: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/10007-ny-john-johnson-920036.html
Allan Chan, Esq., 30 Wall Street, 8th floor, NY, NY 10005
http://www.chanesq.com/
Notice of Submission
Filed August 20, 2018. This is a notice to the US Copyright Office, informing them that there is pending litigation. Docket #: 18-07543, dated August 19, 2018. Abdin has a copyright registration number: TX0008559280
Request for Issuance of Summons
Filed August 22, 2019. This doesn't necessarily mean service of summons was achieved on that date. Defense has 21 days to answer. Standard operating procedure is to grant at least one extension, often as a courtesy. Some lawyers play hardball this early. My experience with judges in NY (admittedly on the civil, state side, rather than federal) is that they don't play those games.
Results of a copyright search:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...KY3L3Vul3Bn&SEQ=20180825101526&CNT=100&HIST=1
Type of Work: Text
Registration Number / Date: TX0008559280 / 2018-06-28
Application Title: TARDIGRADES.
Title: TARDIGRADES.
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Anas Abdin, 1978- . Address: Kuwait University, College of Computing Sciences & Engineering, Information Science Dept, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, 13060, Kuwait.
Date of Creation: 2017
Date of Publication: 2017-07-12
Nation of First Publication: United States
Authorship on Application: Anas Abdin, 1978- ; Domicile: Kuwait; Citizenship: Egypt. Authorship: text, artwork.
Pre-existing Material: text.
Basis of Claim: text, artwork.
Rights and Permissions: allan chan, Allan Chan & Associates, 30 Wall Street, Floor 8, new york, NY, 10005, United States, (212) 561-5490, achan@chanesq.com
Names: Abdin, Anas, 1978-
Yeah, you may have noticed that registration date, June 28, 2018. The publication date is July 12, 2017. This is Mr. Abdin's sole listed copyright, per the US Copyright Office's search function.
In contrast, there are numerous copyrights for Disco. Here's one.
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...EMZtnUAK6bLFIpwhRpJb&SEQ=20180825101724&SID=3
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: PA0002081927 / 2017-11-15
Application Title: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY - Show # 101 "The Vulcan Hello".
Title: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY : 101, The Vulcan Hello.
Description: Videocassette (Digital Betacam) ; 1/2 in.
Copyright Claimant: CBS Studios Inc. Address: 4024 Radford Ave., Admin Building, Room 390G, Studio City, CA, 91604, United States.
Date of Creation: 2017
Date of Publication: 2017-09-23
Nation of First Publication: United States
Authorship on Application: CBS Studios Inc., employer for hire; Domicile: United States. Authorship: entire motion picture.
Names: CBS Studios Inc.
Note that copyright was filed on November 15, 2017, and it lists a publication date of September 23, 2017. But ... check this copyright out for the music used in Discovery's opening:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P..._UW31o7Dv95U75Zy877P&SEQ=20180825102024&SID=6
Type of Work: Sound Recording and Music
Registration Number / Date: SRu001276588 / 2016-10-17
Application Title: Star Trek Discovery- Opening, et al.
Title: Star Trek Discovery- Opening, et al.
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Cliff Eidelman. Address: 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States.
Date of Creation: 2016
Authorship on Application: Cliff Eidelman; Citizenship: United States. Authorship: sound recording, I am also copyrighting the composition contained in this sound recording. I composed all the music.
Rights and Permissions: Cliff Eidelman, 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States, (310) 395-0501, (310) 395-0501, enotes@earthlink.net
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Basis for Registration: Unpublished collection
Contents: Star Trek Discovery- Opening.
Star Trek Discovery -Opening Alt.
Star Trek Discovery- Klingons/Starfleet.
Names: Eidelman, Cliff
Registration date is October 17, 2017.
Star Trek Discovery: The Mutiny
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P..._UW31o7Dv95U75Zy877P&SEQ=20180825102024&SID=6
Type of Work: Sound Recording and Music
Registration Number / Date: SRu001274217 / 2017-01-10
Application Title: Star Trek Discovery "The Mutiny".
Title: Star Trek Discovery "The Mutiny".
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 1964- . Address: 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States.
Date of Creation: 2017
Authorship on Application: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 1964- ; Citizenship: United States. Authorship: Sound Recording, Music.
Rights and Permissions: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States, (310) 395-0501, enotes@earthlink.net
Names: Eidelman, Cliff Glen, 1964-
Publication date January 10, 2017.
Anyway, here's a link (if for whatever reason it doesn't work, just go to https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...Q=20180825102015&PID=K-1aCVRmWxmsL0eDvH4QmyiU and search for Star Trek Discovery) to all the search results:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...8R1CP2RX--ku&SEQ=20180825102017&CNT=25&HIST=1
So, what does it all mean?
Does Abdin have a case?
Probably not.
Tardigrades, gay couples, facial hair, messy hair, and women of color, do not make for characters considered memorable enough to be distinct under copyright (remember when we talked about this vis a vis Axanar? Same thing here. Spock is memorable, as are Vulcans and Klingons - for example - because they have distinct, recognizable characteristics and aren't just brief sketches).
The complaint also alleges the tardigrade is a big part of the Disco plotline, but that's simply not true. Ripper is found in the following episodes only:
BTW, if a woman with curly red hair is the subject of Abdin's copyright in Natasha (he means Tilly; Natasha is his character's name), then he should be expecting a C&D any moment now from the creators of Merida from Brave. And their copyright dates back to 2012. See:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...gsu2Pd2Vz1c48yD72HrK&SEQ=20180825102916&SID=8
So, we shall see!
So here's what I've got, sports fans!
The docs from the case are sparse but I do have them (right now, there are only four of them). Want a copy? PM me. I paid for these and have no qualms giving you a copy.
The Complaint
Complaint was filed August 19, 2018, in the Southern District of NY. Anas Osama Ibrahim Abdin v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and Netflix, Inc.
Jury trial demanded. Plaintiff, a resident of Kuwait, claims copyright protection under the Berne Convention. Plaintiff claims his work was published via the Adventure Game Studio Forums.
Plaintiff is looking for $750-$30k per broadcast, plus actual damages and an injunction.
Civil Cover Sheet
Filed August 20, 2018. There are two separate law firms representing plaintiff.
John Johnson & Associates, 25 Broadway, 9th floor, NY, NY 10004
There is no website for this firm! The address corresponds to a co-working space, AKA a virtual office. (See: https://www.wework.com/buildings/25-broadway--new-york-city--NY)
The only thing I could find was this: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/10007-ny-john-johnson-920036.html
Allan Chan, Esq., 30 Wall Street, 8th floor, NY, NY 10005
http://www.chanesq.com/
Notice of Submission
Filed August 20, 2018. This is a notice to the US Copyright Office, informing them that there is pending litigation. Docket #: 18-07543, dated August 19, 2018. Abdin has a copyright registration number: TX0008559280
Request for Issuance of Summons
Filed August 22, 2019. This doesn't necessarily mean service of summons was achieved on that date. Defense has 21 days to answer. Standard operating procedure is to grant at least one extension, often as a courtesy. Some lawyers play hardball this early. My experience with judges in NY (admittedly on the civil, state side, rather than federal) is that they don't play those games.
Results of a copyright search:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...KY3L3Vul3Bn&SEQ=20180825101526&CNT=100&HIST=1
Type of Work: Text
Registration Number / Date: TX0008559280 / 2018-06-28
Application Title: TARDIGRADES.
Title: TARDIGRADES.
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Anas Abdin, 1978- . Address: Kuwait University, College of Computing Sciences & Engineering, Information Science Dept, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, 13060, Kuwait.
Date of Creation: 2017
Date of Publication: 2017-07-12
Nation of First Publication: United States
Authorship on Application: Anas Abdin, 1978- ; Domicile: Kuwait; Citizenship: Egypt. Authorship: text, artwork.
Pre-existing Material: text.
Basis of Claim: text, artwork.
Rights and Permissions: allan chan, Allan Chan & Associates, 30 Wall Street, Floor 8, new york, NY, 10005, United States, (212) 561-5490, achan@chanesq.com
Names: Abdin, Anas, 1978-
Yeah, you may have noticed that registration date, June 28, 2018. The publication date is July 12, 2017. This is Mr. Abdin's sole listed copyright, per the US Copyright Office's search function.
In contrast, there are numerous copyrights for Disco. Here's one.
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...EMZtnUAK6bLFIpwhRpJb&SEQ=20180825101724&SID=3
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: PA0002081927 / 2017-11-15
Application Title: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY - Show # 101 "The Vulcan Hello".
Title: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY : 101, The Vulcan Hello.
Description: Videocassette (Digital Betacam) ; 1/2 in.
Copyright Claimant: CBS Studios Inc. Address: 4024 Radford Ave., Admin Building, Room 390G, Studio City, CA, 91604, United States.
Date of Creation: 2017
Date of Publication: 2017-09-23
Nation of First Publication: United States
Authorship on Application: CBS Studios Inc., employer for hire; Domicile: United States. Authorship: entire motion picture.
Names: CBS Studios Inc.
Note that copyright was filed on November 15, 2017, and it lists a publication date of September 23, 2017. But ... check this copyright out for the music used in Discovery's opening:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P..._UW31o7Dv95U75Zy877P&SEQ=20180825102024&SID=6
Type of Work: Sound Recording and Music
Registration Number / Date: SRu001276588 / 2016-10-17
Application Title: Star Trek Discovery- Opening, et al.
Title: Star Trek Discovery- Opening, et al.
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Cliff Eidelman. Address: 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States.
Date of Creation: 2016
Authorship on Application: Cliff Eidelman; Citizenship: United States. Authorship: sound recording, I am also copyrighting the composition contained in this sound recording. I composed all the music.
Rights and Permissions: Cliff Eidelman, 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States, (310) 395-0501, (310) 395-0501, enotes@earthlink.net
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Basis for Registration: Unpublished collection
Contents: Star Trek Discovery- Opening.
Star Trek Discovery -Opening Alt.
Star Trek Discovery- Klingons/Starfleet.
Names: Eidelman, Cliff
Registration date is October 17, 2017.
Star Trek Discovery: The Mutiny
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P..._UW31o7Dv95U75Zy877P&SEQ=20180825102024&SID=6
Type of Work: Sound Recording and Music
Registration Number / Date: SRu001274217 / 2017-01-10
Application Title: Star Trek Discovery "The Mutiny".
Title: Star Trek Discovery "The Mutiny".
Description: Electronic file (eService)
Copyright Claimant: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 1964- . Address: 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States.
Date of Creation: 2017
Authorship on Application: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 1964- ; Citizenship: United States. Authorship: Sound Recording, Music.
Rights and Permissions: Cliff Glen Eidelman, 452 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90402, United States, (310) 395-0501, enotes@earthlink.net
Names: Eidelman, Cliff Glen, 1964-
Publication date January 10, 2017.
Anyway, here's a link (if for whatever reason it doesn't work, just go to https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...Q=20180825102015&PID=K-1aCVRmWxmsL0eDvH4QmyiU and search for Star Trek Discovery) to all the search results:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...8R1CP2RX--ku&SEQ=20180825102017&CNT=25&HIST=1
So, what does it all mean?
Does Abdin have a case?
Probably not.
Tardigrades, gay couples, facial hair, messy hair, and women of color, do not make for characters considered memorable enough to be distinct under copyright (remember when we talked about this vis a vis Axanar? Same thing here. Spock is memorable, as are Vulcans and Klingons - for example - because they have distinct, recognizable characteristics and aren't just brief sketches).
The complaint also alleges the tardigrade is a big part of the Disco plotline, but that's simply not true. Ripper is found in the following episodes only:
- Context is for Kings
- The Butcher's Knife
- Choose Your Pain
- Magic...
BTW, if a woman with curly red hair is the subject of Abdin's copyright in Natasha (he means Tilly; Natasha is his character's name), then he should be expecting a C&D any moment now from the creators of Merida from Brave. And their copyright dates back to 2012. See:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/P...gsu2Pd2Vz1c48yD72HrK&SEQ=20180825102916&SID=8
So, we shall see!
Okay, thanks for all that info, jespah.
Just one question, for anybody:
As I haven't visited the above linked thread, obviously never read this Kuwaiti's work, and refuse by all that's holy to watch Disco, could someone please edumacate me?
What in the actual f--- is a tardigrade???
Seriously, every time I see the word I think somebody's spelling Targaryen wrong (I do it all the time.) and it's making me a little nuts.
Just one question, for anybody:
As I haven't visited the above linked thread, obviously never read this Kuwaiti's work, and refuse by all that's holy to watch Disco, could someone please edumacate me?
What in the actual f--- is a tardigrade???
Seriously, every time I see the word I think somebody's spelling Targaryen wrong (I do it all the time.) and it's making me a little nuts.
Here's a video about the lawsuit. Covers the topic quite well.
Now, i know, and knowing is...nah, never mind.
AXANAR FACT CHECK I am continuing to cover Axanar and related topics. I published a fact-check of Alec Peters' latest production update. Unsurprisingly, his assertions rated a lot of "false," "dubious and "misleading" labels. Read at AxaMonitor »
On AxaMonitor: We're covering the copyright infringement lawsuit brought against CBS by an indie game developer who says Star Trek: Discovery stole his ideas. Read more »
I have to say it...you know Peters and Co. are watching the news of this lawsuit and just beating off to it. "Yeah baby! You sue that corporation! You sue it hard!"
I'm sorry for the Kevin Smith-like description but really, that's just how it hit me. This has got to be the wet dream of everybody with an Axa-suit related grudge against CBS. I guess it's also candy for people who hate Disco for different reasons (like me), but I don't think this will ever result in it being taken out of production, so my happiness is tempered. At best for the plaintiff, there'll be a settlement. Most likely, CBS's lawyers will swat him like a bug and move on with their lives. Either way, (sigh) I predict Disco will continue.
I'm sorry for the Kevin Smith-like description but really, that's just how it hit me. This has got to be the wet dream of everybody with an Axa-suit related grudge against CBS. I guess it's also candy for people who hate Disco for different reasons (like me), but I don't think this will ever result in it being taken out of production, so my happiness is tempered. At best for the plaintiff, there'll be a settlement. Most likely, CBS's lawyers will swat him like a bug and move on with their lives. Either way, (sigh) I predict Disco will continue.
Oh yeah. I use this feature all the time in Final Draft because I can hear all kinds of problems my eyes tend to skip over. I just did this two weeks ago on a producer rewrite done on a feature scxreenplay I rewrote god knows how many times so I could fix all the typos and catch all the loose ends she created in her version. Anyway, after all that, things went pear-shaped and they've reverted to my version of the script after 9 months of this detour.
Ah... development Hell. It ain't for the timid.