wonder if they are trying to mindshape their donors towards not-Trek inside their 'donors only' fb, or if they are still acting the hero.
CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar
- Thread starter Richard Baker
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wonder if they are trying to mindshape their donors towards not-Trek inside their 'donors only' fb, or if they are still acting the hero.
Do all of us have access to TNZ? I don't think I do.
I just realized it's an opt-in thing (been too long since I've been a regular here, lol!)
You have to opt-in.
There is a possibility for a lot of "slush" between Axanar and Propworx that is concerning to me. Wages, utilities, rent, phones, insurance, auto, office supplies, new carpet and paint are some expenses that come to mind that Axanar could be paying on behalf of Propworx. Propworx may be paying it's fair share of these expenses to Axanar, but there was no such income listed on the "Annual Report".
I hope that if that's the case then their private books are in good order and not the equivalent of what was in the annual report. CBS is nothing compared to the IRS.
Yeah, I don't think we'll see any settlement, Why? Because I'm 100% sure ANY settlement proposed by Paramount/CBS would include that:
1) The 'Axanar' film can not be made/completed using ANY 'Star Trek' copyrighted elements.
2) Mr. Peters and Co could not make use of the current Axanar studios facilities for ANYTHING (Why? It would effectively be seen as Paramount/CBS allowing him to get financial gain via unlicensed use of the 'Star Trek' IP if they didn't include such a demand.)
And while I do believe Mr. Peters would be fine with 1) (and we'd see 'Star Wolf: AXXINAR' or some variant); there's no way he'd concede to 2) - and he's want his ay in court, now believing this case will re-write copyright law - and he'll be allowed tio finish Axanar his way, and continue to have 'Ares Studios' for other for profit projects.
Also, IF Paramount/CBS was simply interested in seeing 'Axanar' not be made as a Star Trek related project; they would have at least gone the C&D route first before filing a law suit and bringing in the big guns (aka a premier IP law firm.)
I don't doubt their response will just be the standard we acknowledge this (IE names of the clients, etc.) but deny the infringement claims. If they do attempt a countersuit, I'm sure it will be some sort of 'Trademark abandonment' claim; but given this is all Pro Bono - that would mean peters would need to come up with all the court cost and fees to file such a suit from his own pocket.
Regardless of what Peters wants, Winston and Strawn may push for them to settle. I don't think they'll want to waste a ton of time on Axanar if they see it as a lost cause.
True - that said, remember in the end, the actual client (aka Mr. Peters) has to agree to the entire settlement; and as I said, 2) will be something he will never agree to, (because if he wasn't so delusional, and was actually rational, he would have started shutting down - NOT laid new carpet, etc.)
IMO - If he doesn't get what he sees as a favorable settlement offer that allows him to keep and use Ares Studios, he will go to court - regardless of what his legal team tries to tell him, and they'll then go through the motions of trying to 'win' the case (knowing deep down it's a lost cause at that point.)
Time will tell, but I really don't see a settlement - and if I'm wrong, then I'll know Mr. Peters actually isn't as delusional as I currently think he is.
They might push for it, but as long as they remain AP's lawyers, they sorta have to do what he asks. Or, quit the case. Which might also happen.
I think the problem with not settling, is that they will surely lose Ares Studios either way. Because if they don't settle, this will probably drag out a year or more with a likely injunction against using anything that was bought with the donated money.
I don't think he has much of a choice but to settle. Hoping, at best, that CBS is happy with just shutting him down.
Reality has to set in at some point with Peters.
I would think so. No one is THAT insane.
Prof, this whole thread is about the insanity of AP, isn't it?
my speculation:
fight: personal bankruptcy, but perhaps able to continue as long as attorneys are mostly free; and after enough fighting, have some cover for at least saying they tried to defend what the money was for (i.e. a noble loss). let attorneys use the case as a vehicle to argue their concepts, go along for the ride, maybe for a year, long enough for upset donors to be sick of thinking about refunds. but also, dragging employees into the case.
settle: negotiate to shield employees, but holding a bag of donor funds lost (while still wanting to show up at trek conventions). maybe negotiate to be able to give refunds to a percentage of people as a concession for no fight, and start a new fundraiser for starwolf among the true believers.
lose 'studio' either way.
wildcard: one or more angel investors show up for the studio, who dont care about the management team so much as being part of a dream (which seems to be the state of some donors even now).
so how important are the donors and employees?
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Er, how? I miss TNZ.
- Click on your name to the upper right of one the board pages
- On the dropdown select Preferences
- On the dialog that pops up you'll see:
Opt in to TNZ: o No selection o Opt in to TNZ
If you wish to access the Neutral Zone you can grant yourself (or conversely remove your access) via this option.
If you wish to access the Neutral Zone you can grant yourself (or conversely remove your access) via this option.
I wonder, should they ever be in a position to launch a fundraiser again, how many would actually donate at this point. He'll always have his true believers, but are there likely to be enough casual donors left to raise the kinds of funds they'll be asking for?
Interesting, btw, might be if Tobias Richter would still be involved in a new project or if he'd remove himself from the equasion.
However, everything regarding established Space SFX would have to be made from scratch, if something like Star Wolf (Dennis, you made that possible, you Candyman!
) would be the new nom de voyage. I know, Tobias is unbelieably creative, but he might refrain himself from future endeavours with them...
However, everything regarding established Space SFX would have to be made from scratch, if something like Star Wolf (Dennis, you made that possible, you Candyman!
) would be the new nom de voyage. I know, Tobias is unbelieably creative, but he might refrain himself from future endeavours with them...
Arrived Down Under yesterday: "Star Trek: The Latter Fire" (Pocket Books, March 2016) by James Swallow. Acknowledgments on p. 385 includes Filmation's Scheimer & Sutherland, among others, so hopefully there are some fun TAS elements?
Also an acknowledgment to "Alec Peters and the Axanar crew for flying the flag".
Also an acknowledgment to "Alec Peters and the Axanar crew for flying the flag".
What flag? The IP theft flag? I guess people have romanticized pirates to the point that they will give them money to steal other people's stuff.
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