Stage 9 gets cease and desist order from CBS

[TroiFan4ever]

Here's what my plans are:
So I'm currently a 3d Blender modeler in training (meaning I'm watching tutorials on YouTube on how to use Blender and how to model simple basic objects). After i am well experienced in Blender, I plan to start my own Galaxy-class 3d recreation project, and try to model my own versions of the D-Enterprise, a Danube-class Runabout, the Types 6, 7, and 15 shuttles, and some Workbees, and maybe even take a shot at that Deep Space Nine station (exterior only but maybe make it so you can see inside through the windows).

I may not be allowed to share it with people and will probably have to keep it for myself but it's just that I was anxiously waiting to pilot that Danube-class Runabout with every room (including "Timescape's" aft lounge and the fuller cockpit from the later half of Deep Space Nine). The beauty of it is, since it's my own version of it i can include some things i wanted to see in Stage 9! Like the dark emergency light setting from "Starship Mine", "Masks", and "Genesis" but not just that, experiment with other lighting styles and techniques the guys at Stage 9 were as they were about to release v11. Their v11 release had some beautiful lighting!

I just really want to see this through and see all 42 decks of the Galaxy class being recreated in 3d!

 

[Tuskin38]

The DVDs are already borderline unwatchable on a large screen HD set.

I watch it on a 4K TV. It's hardly unwatchable.

 

[mirrormatt86]

I spoke with Rob on today's show.

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[marsh8472]

https://abovethelaw.com/2017/08/the-first-amendment-and-copyright-law-cant-we-all-just-get-along/ you could file lawsuit and say they're violating your first amendment rights and your property rights. It's a form of art that went overboard but you and your team were expressing yourself.

https://libguides.bc.edu/copyright/fairuse

The copyright statute states that the following four factors must be evaluated to determine in whether a use is fair:

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

It sounds like you're good for points 1 and 2 since you're not profiting from it and it's like fan art. The 3rd point you could argue that a lot of dimensions of the rooms were just made up yourselves with your imagination and didn't actually copy them and i'm assuming the surfacing of the objects was done by fans too so shouldn't be a problem there. For the 4th point you argue that it helps increase the popularity of the show and is actually having a positive effect on their products. Then can look up court cases that support your position. Plus it's your website and your digital property. So the government is trying to tell you what to do with your own property which you could fight also.

 

[psCargile]

Not profiting does not make it any less of an infringement of copyright.

 

[marsh8472]

Not profiting does not make it any less of an infringement of copyright.

Yeah it does, the law says there's 4 points to consider when determining fair use rights. That's the first point they list.

 

[fireproof78]

If any money changed hands it can look poorly with regards to fair use. Given that it is a full recreation of copyrighted materials that will be released via different platforms I would say that it infringes upon copyright enough for the law to be satisfied. No matter what, there is no arguing or getting around the fact that it is a work based upon a copyrighted work.

Says nothing about the fans and their insistence that they know the law better than corporate lawyers.

 

[Janeway_74656]

This is so sad. CBS wants to supress the creative talents of Star Trek's devoted fans. To quote the Kazon, they have made enemies today...

I propose that we get as many fans as possible to band together and make as many fan films as we possibly can all at once, if possible. The length or content won't matter, as long as there are a lot of them, and if they break their so-called fan film "guidelines," so much the better. It would be a coordinated effort of sticking it to CBS. They will have so many cease and desist orders to file that they just won't bother. There's more of us than the CBS suits think.

It's a complicated plan, and yes, it sounds naive, but it may work if hundreds of us participate. We can avenge Axanar and others!

 

[marsh8472]

If any money changed hands it can look poorly with regards to fair use. Given that it is a full recreation of copyrighted materials that will be released via different platforms I would say that it infringes upon copyright enough for the law to be satisfied. No matter what, there is no arguing or getting around the fact that it is a work based upon a copyrighted work.

Says nothing about the fans and their insistence that they know the law better than corporate lawyers.

I don't think corporate lawyers know much about this stuff. It's too abstract. The code behind it was probably written completely by them, not CBS. So it's different than a more blatant case of copying and redistributing a piece of work that CBS spent time creating. What's going on behind the scenes is they created a bunch of shapes that are coded to mimic the show and slapped their own images on it to make it look like elements of the show. Even if it is against the law they could get the law amended to legalize it using a constitutional challenge on first amendment grounds and vagueness grounds then set a precedent for consumer rights.

 

[Janeway_74656]

I also think their fan film guidelines are a little too strict in some areas. I can understand the part about them wanting fans to put a "unofficial fan production" label in their opening credits, but the rest are a little ridiculous. Like the one about the costumes having to be officially licensed products is a little unfair imo. What if CBS-licensed products just aren't good or don't look that authentic? And I KNOW cbs doesn't just sell Borg costumes in their official store...

 

[Stephen!]

What would they likely do if they wanted to send someone a cease and desist, but there were no contact details?

 

[fireproof78]

It's a complicated plan, and yes, it sounds naive, but it may work if hundreds of us participate. We can avenge Axanar and others!

Axanar deserves no such avenging. None.

I don't think corporate lawyers know much about this stuff. It's too abstract. The code behind it was probably written completely by them, not CBS. So it's different than a more blatant case of copying and redistributing a piece of work that CBS spent time creating. What's going on behind the scenes is they created a bunch of shapes that are coded to mimic the show and slapped their own images on it to make it look like elements of the show. Even if it is against the law they could get the law amended to legalize it using a constitutional challenge on first amendment grounds and vagueness grounds then set a precedent for consumer rights.

Until the law changes CBS is within its rights as they still own the rights to those shapes and their specific assembly.

If they want to change the law-great and more power to them. But don't expect property rights holders to potentially lose money and/or marketshare, as well as not have control over how their property is being used. Which is really the heart of the issue. Regardless of the time and effort put it, CBS has the rights to this particular product and how it is used.

 

[mirrormatt86]

people who think they know better than lawyers held on retainer by a multi national, multi billion dollar corporation really crzck me up.

1) Profit does not need to be a factor when determining copyright infringement.
2) The fan film guidelines are hardly restrictive and oppressive when you put the Star Wars ones next to them. In fact, it's awesome that they gave out some guidelines at all. It's rather laughable that Alec Peters screamed from the tallest building that he needed guidelines and he's the chief hater of them.
3) Star Trek is owned by CBS and Paramount.
4) There are no constitutional rights broken by this, that chestnut was tried by Alec... and he lost, miserably.
5) Axanar is dead and buried, has been for two years. If it ever actually gets made I'll be shocked.
6) isn't this thread about stage 9?

 

[Jedman67]

You made a thing. The thing looks the same as a thing that was on tv
the thing that was on tv is copyrighted.
if your version of the thing is not licensed, then you are infringing on the thing.
a licensed game is also making something that looks like the same thing.
therefore, the infringer is in breach of copyright laws and subject to "enforcement action" by the people who own the thing.

^I read too much XKCD

 

[Borjis]

anyone here with a vive checked this out?

https://atlas.sansar.com/experiences/roddenberryentertainment/bridge

I wasn't even aware of its existence until today. Just tried it on an HTC Vive setup.
I like the concept but that bridge isn't anywhere close to accurate or real looking.
The museum is kinda neat.
But overall it lacks a generous amount of polish & realism.

This is the lack of quality in a licensed product that so many others have spoken about.
This one is official/licensed by Rod.

 

[Flowrellik]

Sighs. I really do feel bad knowing Stage 9 is out of the picture. You'd think Hot Rod Roddenberry would give this a second chance at actually hiring the project makers on board with this.

 

[fireproof78]

Sighs. I really do feel bad knowing Stage 9 is out of the picture. You'd think Hot Rod Roddenberry would give this a second chance at actually hiring the project makers on board with this.

Depends on their current contracts and how that would work. Contracts are funny things like that.

 

[Silanda]

What would they likely do if they wanted to send someone a cease and desist, but there were no contact details?

They'd probably contact the host of their site. If there was no site, no contact details, and releases were just dumped somewhere or other? No idea.

 

[urbandefault]

anyone here with a vive checked this out?

https://atlas.sansar.com/experiences/roddenberryentertainment/bridge

I wasn't even aware of its existence until today. Just tried it on an HTC Vive setup.
I like the concept but that bridge isn't anywhere close to accurate or real looking.
The museum is kinda neat.
But overall it lacks a generous amount of polish & realism.

This is the lack of quality in a licensed product that so many others have spoken about.
This one is official/licensed by Rod.

Doesn't matter.

Do a fun project for yourself with someone else's IP, fine. Keep it to yourself. Try to distribute it without a license and get shut down, too bad for you.

Don't bother whining and crying about limiting your creativity. Be creative with original stuff and own the rights. Then you can be the big bad and shut down other people, just like the big boys.

 

[Borjis]

Doesn't matter.

Do a fun project for yourself with someone else's IP, fine. Keep it to yourself. Try to distribute it without a license and get shut down, too bad for you.

Don't bother whining and crying about limiting your creativity. Be creative with original stuff and own the rights. Then you can be the big bad and shut down other people, just like the big boys.

no shit sherlock, that wasn't the point.