W&S probably doesn't yet realize that everything in Trek eventually gets picked apart in every detail and memorialized for posterity. All this gummyspider stuff they are throwing at the wall will get itemized as a list of their knowing lies, and nailed on their company door by future documentaries and articles NOT by Axanar Productions. This is not just noise they are making in court that will go away as soon as the case settles. Axamonitor should be giving them fair warning by its very existence.
CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar
- Thread starter Richard Baker
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W&S probably doesn't yet realize that everything in Trek eventually gets picked apart in every detail and memorialized for posterity. All this gummyspider stuff they are throwing at the wall will get itemized as a list of their knowing lies, and nailed on their company door by future documentaries and articles NOT by Axanar Productions. This is not just noise they are making in court that will go away as soon as the case settles. Axamonitor should be giving them fair warning by its very existence.
I just received an response from the Federal Trade Commission to my earlier Freedom of Information Act request for any investigatory records related to Axanar. Here's what we got:
The FTC has received three complaints against Axanar Productions, Inc., and LFIM. All three complaints were made through the Commission's online complaint assistant. The FTC provided the records to me in spreadsheet form, which I've posted here. The FTC redacted the names, addresses, and identifying information of the complaintants, which I think is reasonable and consistent with the FOIA statute. The FTC's assistant general counsel also cautions that "the enclosed complaints have not been verified" by the Commission. These are merely public records of complaints received.
The first complaint was filed on June 21, 2015, six months before the lawsuit:
The second complaint was filed on September 10, 2016, and relates to the use of Axanar donor emails by Propworx:
The final complaint was filed on October 25, 2016, and refers to LFIM's attempting to censor donors in exchange for receiving refunds:
The FTC has received three complaints against Axanar Productions, Inc., and LFIM. All three complaints were made through the Commission's online complaint assistant. The FTC provided the records to me in spreadsheet form, which I've posted here. The FTC redacted the names, addresses, and identifying information of the complaintants, which I think is reasonable and consistent with the FOIA statute. The FTC's assistant general counsel also cautions that "the enclosed complaints have not been verified" by the Commission. These are merely public records of complaints received.
The first complaint was filed on June 21, 2015, six months before the lawsuit:
The second complaint was filed on September 10, 2016, and relates to the use of Axanar donor emails by Propworx:
The final complaint was filed on October 25, 2016, and refers to LFIM's attempting to censor donors in exchange for receiving refunds:
So the FTC is clearly aware of Axanar. Whether they are going to do anything about it remains to be seen.
I'm slowly reading through these documents. I am honestly stunned this financial info @Jody Wheeler linked to was in the defence.
This has my favourite part so far;
I can just hear Gosset's exasperation in my head. "Repeatedly."
This has my favourite part so far;
I can just hear Gosset's exasperation in my head. "Repeatedly."
I wish somebody would just send Peters back to mopping up the soup kitchen.
There is no way this guy can even be defined as a "Fan Film" and yet who (for better or worse) has constraints strapped on them? Fan Films.
Sorry I'm just frustrated. A year ago, a Facebook Post of a new episode (edit: whoops, can't call them episodes anymore) would net a quick 500 views with at least 50 clicks, now it's like 50 with 2 - 3 clicks. It once felt like with every new production a few new people discovered the world of fan films.
Okay, I know that is not only about getting views and reading posts from people who enjoyed the work but still everyone involved still likes to see them.
Besides it's nice to see what people come up with when it's not an event driven by cash flow and yet I can't but feel this whole Ananar scam has cast a dark shadow over the good people who work tirelessly to create real fan films.
Week after week Peters has done nothing but make excuses for his actions like he has been nothing but some gift from the heavens. Please Stop Helping!
True, creative people will adapt, pick up the mess and move on.
There is no way this guy can even be defined as a "Fan Film" and yet who (for better or worse) has constraints strapped on them? Fan Films.
Sorry I'm just frustrated. A year ago, a Facebook Post of a new episode (edit: whoops, can't call them episodes anymore) would net a quick 500 views with at least 50 clicks, now it's like 50 with 2 - 3 clicks. It once felt like with every new production a few new people discovered the world of fan films.
Okay, I know that is not only about getting views and reading posts from people who enjoyed the work but still everyone involved still likes to see them.
Besides it's nice to see what people come up with when it's not an event driven by cash flow and yet I can't but feel this whole Ananar scam has cast a dark shadow over the good people who work tirelessly to create real fan films.
Week after week Peters has done nothing but make excuses for his actions like he has been nothing but some gift from the heavens. Please Stop Helping!
True, creative people will adapt, pick up the mess and move on.
Even after the motions for summary judgements have been filed, could Peters still settle?
Sure, you can settle at any time, even after a case is tried and there's a verdict.
By chance is that what's known as coughing up the dough?
I just realized I think I never posted these here (and if I did, I blame creeping senility and a serious pie deficiency):
- Axanar Defense Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (might have already posted this one?) http://www.semanticshenanigans.com/axanar-defense-opposition-sum-judgmt/
- Axanar Plaintiffs Objection to Defense SJ Motion
http://www.semanticshenanigans.com/plaintiffs-objection-defense-sj-motion/ - Axanar Defense Declarations/Leave to File Doc under Seal (hot off the virtual presses)
http://www.semanticshenanigans.com/defense-declarations-leave-file-doc-seal/
And we appreciate all your hard work on our behalf, keeping us informed. Pies, on their way!!
Holy cow, there's an actual piemobile! I do love how the name is in reverse lettering on the front, so you can read it in your rear view mirror. You know, like ambulances do.And we appreciate all your hard work on our behalf, keeping us informed. Pies, on their way!!
Because you never know when there'll be an actual pie emergency.
A rectocraniotomy, I presume?
That's what I thought. I do wonder if Peters might reconsider. Every filing he looks more and more like a crook.
Probably a more common occurrence than we're led to believe...
I was intrigued by the notice "Pie - Sweet and Savory" on the side of the truck. Imagine having a nice hot meat pie, followed by a small pecan pie. Maybe throw in an apple turnover and some pumpkin pie to get your fruit and vegetable allowance. They deliver whole meals! Ain't America terrific?!
Had there been a fifth season of Enterprise, we would have learned that a pie emergency triggered the Earth-Romulan War.
Honestly, why would he settle? As long as his lawyers continue to enable him, he has no reason to put an end to this. In theory he could keep this case tied up in appeals for a couple more years. And any monetary judgment can be disposed of in bankruptcy. The only thing that would prompt a settlement is fear of imminent regulatory action (e.g., FTC or California Attorney General).
Ah. See I was thinking like a normal ethical human being. Not like Peters.
I have to wonder just how much of the funds pledged to Axanar from the Kickstarter and Indegogo campaigns ultimately went to pay the Discovery phase of this trial; and further if there's a little 'something on the side/under the table' that W&S are also receiving from Alec Peters because the billable hour being lost to Pro Bono have got to be really adding up at this point.
All the funds for Axanar's portion of Discovery and filing fees had to come from somewhere as I doubt W&S was footing any part of the Video Testimony, Transcription. and other up front hard costs and court fees related to the Discovery Phase.
In for a penny, in for a pound. I believe that W&S are looking forward to all the trial coverage on the news networks as well as Entertainment Tonight (if that's still around) and the like. There's no such thing as bad publicity at this point.
Let's keep things in perspective. W&S earns over $800 million per year in revenue, which is about $1 million per attorney employed by the firm. The Axanar case isn't making a dent in their bottom line. And Ranahan gets to burnish her reputation as a leading voice on IP and new media. The biggest risk is that LFIM turns around and sues for malpractice if (when) he loses, but he'd hardly be the first client to do that.
I have to wonder how much of the money in total went into making the studio viable. The money had to go somewhere.
800 attorneys at a corporate annual get together. The mind boggles.
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