"Being allowed to skate" is a loaded term that implies two things, 1) that party A is in the wrong and 2) that party B has decided not to act against party A despite knowing that party A is in the wrong. As eloquently expressed by others already, to the best of our knowledge part (1) does not even apply. Further, without inside knowledge, none of us on the outside could even know whether part (2) would apply; to know that we'd have to actually be in the loop, we'd have to work for CBS, we'd have to be privy to any communications that the fan productions might have had with CBS, and so forth. So, I'd have to say that the only answer is, "No, none of us have noticed any such thing."
We (Project Potemkin) were just finishing a production as the guidelines came out and I believe it became the first release post guidelines.
True fan films really run off of donated talent both in front of and behind the scenes. Many times life simply gets in the way of an important talent and if you loose one too many key contributors, you're done.
Potemkin continues because talent attracts talent. I was a hobby fiction writer but with Potemkin I get to work with David Eversole, who wouldn't? It was the honor of my life. If you want to learn or practice any aspect of film creation, Potemkin is the place.
Guidelines.
I don't know of anyone who said I quit because the Guidelines suck and I might get sued because of them. I do know a few people that backed off and went to other projects.
Personally I like to write fiction other than rewrite Star Trek. That time limit rule doesn't work for me. If I wanted to rewrite Trek in 15 minutes or less just pick one. Say Episode 37. The captain just destroys nomad, time to go home mister Spock except The other Tan Ru appears on the bridge and he looks pissed. That's 12 minutes of your story written for you. It's not creating, it's ripping off of some other persons work. 5th grade level.
The Lawsuit:
Peters had the most incompetent legal team in training ever.
CBS was embarrassed over News outlets reporting fan created material as CBS/P created Star Trek.
Peters' Axanar was anything but a copy of Star Trek. At best it was a copy of other fan creations.
Peters time and again boasted he was going to create the type of trek fans want.
Peters fund raised putting the star trek franchise out front. coffee anyone?
CBS tossed all this in a basket making it seem as if their was no defense.
I feel a good defense could have ripped every point apart one at a time.
Was CBS' legal team directed to go after somebody/anybody and Peters just the squeaky wheel at the wrong time?
Did Ananar at any time release anything remotely resembling a Star Trek production in theme or format?
Did Axanar at any time create the type of Trek that fans want?
Were donors mislead. A point that CBS may have No standing in.Sounds more like a class action suit to me.
I'm no fan of what went on, Some say he should have taken the 1st C&D seriously, scrapped Axanar and filmed "The Aries" (actually my one and only suggestion to him)