STC Ep. 7: "Embrace The Winds" speculation and discussion....

[QuantumMechanic]

But unlike the other productions (so far anyway), STC is a registered 501(c)(3) which means that (a) money given to the organization goes to the organization, (b) it has to have audited financials, (c) those audited financials have to be made public, and (d) they are submitted under the penalties of perjury to the IRS.

So if CBS would like to cut STC a break, they have some meaningful ground to do so, because STC is legally different than all the other productions, has no owners (in the sense that no one can have an ownership/equity interest in it), and it is easy for CBS to verify that no one's getting paid. So while STC might bring in $ off CBS's IP, it's not going into people's pockets the way it could at non-charitable organizations.

That said, I suspect CBS will let STC release Ep 7 but then tell them to either close down or be sued if they don't obey the guidelines going forward.

 

[urbandefault]

But unlike the other productions (so far anyway), STC is a registered 501(c)(3) which means that (a) money given to the organization goes to the organization, (b) it has to have audited financials, (c) those audited financials have to be made public, and (d) they are submitted under the penalties of perjury to the IRS.

So if CBS would like to cut STC a break, they have some meaningful ground to do so, because STC is legally different than all the other productions, has no owners (in the sense that no one can have an ownership/equity interest in it), and it is easy for CBS to verify that no one's getting paid. So while STC might bring in $ off CBS's IP, it's not going into people's pockets the way it could at non-charitable organizations.

That said, I suspect CBS will let STC release Ep 7 but then tell them to either close down or be sued if they don't obey the guidelines going forward.

This is my thinking exactly.

I think that if any of the "series" fan productions are allowed to continue (ahem) in their current long form, it will be STC.

 

[Nightowl1701]

I think that if any of the "series" fan productions are allowed to continue (ahem) in their current long form, it will be STC.

Much as it truly pains me to say it, I'm afraid STC will probably have to be made the most visible example of all; not only shut down, but every episode erased from YouTube and the Internet.

Renegades is all but done anyway, and NV jumped the shark so hard on that last episode that I doubt people are gonna be too upset to see it gone. But STC has done far too good a job over six (presumably seven) episodes in emulating TOS, to the point that many fans are considering it the continuation of TOS (and/or better than VOY and ENT). It's gotten mainstream attention. The new series is just over six months away and will have to be paid for to see; STC is free to view. Like it or not, in CBS/Paramount's eyes, that's competition.

This was probably coming with or without Axanar. Peters just forced the issue. Nothing personal. Just business.

 

[Firebird]

Much as it truly pains me to say it, I'm afraid STC will probably have to be made the most visible example of all; not only shut down, but every episode erased from YouTube and the Internet.

Renegades is all but done anyway, and NV jumped the shark so hard on that last episode that I doubt people are gonna be too upset to see it gone. But STC has done far too good a job over six (presumably seven) episodes in emulating TOS, to the point that many fans are considering it the continuation of TOS (and/or better than VOY and ENT). It's gotten mainstream attention. The new series is just over six months away and will have to be paid for to see; STC is free to view. Like it or not, in CBS/Paramount's eyes, that's competition.

This was probably coming with or without Axanar. Peters just forced the issue. Nothing personal. Just business.

That just seems a little over the top for CBS to come down that hard on STC, especially after how Vic has consistently okayed everything with CBS and stayed on good terms with them. To make STC a sort of sacrificial lamb would seem overly harsh. I just can't rationally see STC being any sort of proper competition with a network - they only put out 2 episodes a year, and make it very clear that they're not telling styles in the "modern" style of Star Trek. That's quite different and niche from the new series.

 

[9gs]

That just seems a little over the top for CBS to come down that hard on STC, especially after how Vic has consistently okayed everything with CBS and stayed on good terms with them. To make STC a sort of sacrificial lamb would seem overly harsh. I just can't rationally see STC being any sort of proper competition with a network - they only put out 2 episodes a year, and make it very clear that they're not telling styles in the "modern" style of Star Trek. That's quite different and niche from the new series.

Agreed. I just hope the silence from STC is because Vic is working behind the scenes along with the 501c to get some kind of slack. That being said no slack will be given until Axanar is officially (in the eye of the court and CBS/Par) dead and buried. So it may be awhile before we hear anything at all (weeks/months).

 

[QuantumMechanic]

That's a good point. Even if CBS/P is willing to cut any of the "good behavior" productions a break (which, sadly, is probably a reach), no way that'll happen until the result of the Axanar case is final. They're not going to want to give Peters any possible legal ammunition at all.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Agreed. I just hope the silence from STC is because Vic is working behind the scenes along with the 501c to get some kind of slack. That being said no slack will be given until Axanar is officially (in the eye of the court and CBS/Par) dead and buried. So it may be awhile before we hear anything at all (weeks/months).

Probably even YEARS. Paramount and CBS is currently producing two projects for the Theaters and a TV series which will be streaming, so they don't want fanfilms claiming to be an extension of their property. So STC is dead, along with every other series who carry the title Star Trek in front of it.

 

[Warped9]

Someone is trying to be active: https://www.change.org/p/cbs-paramo...-star-trek-continues-from-fan-film-guidelines

 

[Philip Guyott]

I just signed this Change.org petition to CBS to provide an exemption for Star Trek Continues. It may not make any difference, but let us hope.

Exempt the web series, "Star Trek Continues" from fan-film guidelines from CBS/Paramount.

 

[Philip Guyott]

Someone is trying to be active: https://www.change.org/p/cbs-paramo...-star-trek-continues-from-fan-film-guidelines

Lol, we posted this at the same time

 

[Firebird]

Both RMB and TrekMovie have tried to imply on Twitter that it's actually STC that's behind the petition, but it appears it's a fan that's organized it.

 

[Danlav05]

Why should Continues get special treatment while others suffer? Very un-Roddenberry

 

[Warped9]

Lol, we posted this at the same time

Yeah, I noticed.

I also signed.

 

[Firebird]

Why should Continues get special treatment while others suffer? Very un-Roddenberry

Considering stories I've heard of Roddenberry during the making of TOS, that's an ironic comment.

 

[wamdue]

Why should Continues get special treatment while others suffer? Very un-Roddenberry

its a fair question, and would only end up undermining the case for needing those rules, if its ok for one production to break them. Heck it would make Star Trek Continues a favoured fan film, something CBS / Paramount can not be seen to have.

There are other productions that are at least as worthy to exist as Continues, im not sure why they would favour it.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Why should Continues get special treatment while others suffer? Very un-Roddenberry

Agreed, but unfortunately we have very selfish knuckle-headed people who don't care about the situation, but rather want to continue to have their climaxes of faux Star Trek films on the internet. It's quite childish and this bullsh*t will only make matters worse.

This is what Alec Peters want. Get a clue!

 

[Firebird]

Agreed, but unfortunately we have very selfish knuckle-headed people who don't care about the situation, but rather want to continue to have their climaxes of faux Star Trek films on the internet. It's quite childish and this bullsh*t will only make matters worse.

And you trolling these people supporting the petitions by calling them stupid or knuckle-headed isn't going to help matters, either.

 

[wamdue]

Just wanted to add to my previous comment, Star Trek Continues maybe a really strong fan film, but it was once the new kid on the block, and it is built on the experience of those that have gone before it, for CBS/Paramount to hand pick a fan film that they will allow, would totally stifle production in terms in creativity, without the rest of the fan film community.

Also dare I say it, CBS may well have been feeling threatened by productions like Continues (and Continues itself) I recall reading that an airline had wanted to include Continues in its in-flight library, that is something CBS/Paramout would take of, and possibly feel that if offers like that are coming along, and as fan films constantly improve, they do need to step in and protect their IP, before someone does make something better than what they can.

 

[Warped9]

I think a point is being missed. If CBS reconsiders things for STC they might well reconsider things for all the fair playing productions.

 

[wamdue]

I think a point is being missed. If CBS reconsiders things for STC they might well reconsider things for all the fair playing productions.

they may well, but at that stage they are right back where they start, with a fan film community who for the most part is well behaved, and one bad apple, those guidelines have come to nothing, other than to shut down the bad apple, which they could do anyways, without these guidelines.