Axanar - Crowdfunded 'Star Trek' Movie Draws Lawsuit from Paramount, CBS

BlobVanDam said:
I do hope that these are just the safest of guidelines under which you're guaranteed to be safe, more than strict rules, and that they'll judge this on a case by case basis so that for example Star Trek Continues can finish off their remaining episodes.
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In all seriousness, I think your thinking is correct on this point. To my mind, here’s why the rules are so restrictive - CBS says at the outset that they “will not take legal action” against a fan-film that follows these rules. They are NOT saying they WILL take action if the film doesn’t follow those rules - but those fan-films that DO follow the rules have something darn close to a legally-enforceable bar against a suit by CBS. That’s a pretty big “give”. If CBS is willing to offer that kind of shield "sight unseen", they have to make it as small a shield as possible to avoid giving up legitimate rights when someone tries something novel to find a way around the rules”. Doesn't mean they will attack every fan-film that doesn't abide by each rule to the letter - only they they are reserving heir rights to take action for non-compliance when and as they see fit.

M
 
Well, my series had people drinking alcohol. It also had a two-hour (in two parts) episode with a series-long arc. We also have a crew that consists of some professionals even though we were not being paid to work on the production. Well heck, we broke almost all the rules with Osiris.

And there goes our second series we've been working on pre-production for the past year...
 
mkstewartesq said:
In all seriousness, I think your thinking is correct on this point. To my mind, here’s why the rules are so restrictive - CBS says at the outset that they “will not take legal action” against a fan-film that follows these rules. They are NOT saying they WILL take action if the film doesn’t follow those rules - but those fan-films that DO follow the rules have something darn close to a legally-enforceable bar against a suit by CBS. That’s a pretty big “give”. If CBS is willing to offer that kind of shield "sight unseen", they have to make it as small a shield as possible to avoid giving up legitimate rights when someone tries something novel to find a way around the rules”. Doesn't mean they will attack every fan-film that doesn't abide by each rule to the letter - only they they are reserving heir rights to take action for non-compliance when and as they see fit.

M
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Yes, that's how I interpret it at this stage.
They already gave a friendly heads-up to Star Trek Horizon not to do a second film, but Star Trek Continues went ahead with their recent Indiegogo without incident yet, so hopefully it's more about minimizing abuse and escalation of production with a baseline set of rules. I actually think their crowdfunding guideline is quite generous, especially given the restriction on time and series. I doubt they're going to instantly sue every fan film that steps slightly outside of the guidelines, because it's not worth the time and effort, but it's now very clear they won't tolerate another Axanar.
 
mkstewartesq said:
Well, the official Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines are out. If you are a fan-film maker, you can thank Axanar . . . :wacko

M

(edit to correct to "if you were a fan-film maker . . ." - because most current fan films are likely pretty much dead in the water under these guidelines.
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Yikes. Those are pretty rough in a couple of places.
The content in the fan production must be original, not reproductions, recreations or clips from any Star Trek production. If non-Star Trek third party content is used, all necessary permissions for any third party content should be obtained in writing.
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No more music clips from the show soundtracks, no more TOS sound effects, and certainly no "borrowed" video.

If the fan production uses commercially-available Star Trek uniforms, accessories, toys and props, these items must be official mercandise and not bootleg items or imitations of such commercially available products.
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No more making your own props and costumes if they're otherwise available as licensed items. Fan films must use things like the Anovos costumes and the Diamond Select, Wand Company, and JLong props. CBS apparently won't be licensing tricorder replicas anytime soon because of the X-prize, so I think fanpros are stuck with the DST ones for the foreseeable future. Technically, I think the sets may still be safe, since the licensed captain's chair is no longer available (but the licensed wall comms still are).

Of course, it depends how broadly CBS/PMT define "commercially-available." Does that just mean still shipping from the original seller, like the Wand stuff (which would be a narrow interpretation), or does that include even some yutz on eBay selling off his cache of JLong communicators (which would be quite broad)?

I'm assuming they mean it as broadly as possible, as big companies nearly always do. Since they're "guidelines," and there's a disclaimer, CBS/PMT are the ones who'll decide what that means at their "sole discretion." Kinda the way the IRS has the ultimate say on whether you've done something wrong with your taxes, regardless of your intent or circumstances. Just me, but I have no desire to roll that hard six.

I think it's time to cue up The Rains of Axanar. Who wants first crack at a YouTube cover? :p


 
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These guidelines are just astounding.

"Videos must not include profanity, nudity, obscenity, pornography, depictions of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or any harmful or illegal activity, or any material that is offensive, fraudulent, defamatory, libelous, disparaging, sexually explicit, threatening, hateful, or any other inappropriate content."​

And I thought Gene's Box was bad.
 
Nothing "threatening?" Really?

Even TMP couldn't live up to those standards, and it was practically rated "G."

I do appreciate Paramount's willingness to develop some standards for fan films to follow, but the restrictions seem way too broadly defined in some cases. (And brutally strict on format,)

Edit:
asalaw said:
I think it's time to cue up The Rains of Axanar. Who wants first crack at a YouTube cover? :p
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Someone REALLY has to do that. :D

Also:


Releasing more videos while still being sued shows gall. Worf may approve, but I doubt Paramount will.
 
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I am just so done with Paramount/CBS. I will not subscribe to "All Access" so why even watch the first episode? I just cancelled my Anovos Velour tunic orders also. No more feeding the monster. I'm done.

By the way anyone looking for some Star Trek collectibles?
 
glunark said:
Well see if they are hiring, making actual star trek has to be better than working on a fan film.
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Not really.

The reason we make fan films and fan series stuff is so we can play in that sandbox on our terms. It's the adult version of saying 'Sure, you can play paintball, but you can never shoot someone on the other team more than once and only on the left arm oh and while you're at it you can never talk smack about the other team.' You spend so much time and effort into NOT doing things that you lose part of the fun of it.

We WANT to play in Star Trek. We want to do it on our own terms. We aren't all based in a location where working on a network series or studio film is going to necessarily happen so we just make it ourselves and have fun with it. It's when someone tries to monetize 'Hasbro's GI Joe Vs Barbie Paintball Slaughter 2016' that you run into problems.

chrisd said:
By the way anyone looking for some Star Trek collectibles?
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No, but I know of someone who will help you auction them off and ship them out... :D
 
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Maybe Anton agreed to be in a fan film and became an "Example". Gotta admit there are worse Conspiracy theories...Yeah I'm calling you out Randy-HollywoodStarWhackers-Quaid.
 
Ryan Kairalla has some ideas to expand on these guidelines.

  • "Fan films are permitted as long as they are ridiculously short, woefully underfunded, and utterly terrible."
  • "We reserve the right to send @Jonathansfrakes to your set to eat all your craft services."
  • "Your film is not allowed to feature space, ships, or any trekking through stars of any kind."
  • "The setting of all fan films must take place prior to the invention of jet propulsion"
  • "The dialogue must be entirely in Klingon, however no Klingon characters may ever appear."
  • "All fan films must be no less than 5 minutes, and no more than 4 minutes"
  • "Plotlines must only involve characters meekly going where people have gone before"
  • "All plotlines must exclusively center around the Wesley Crusher/The Traveler story arc"
  • "Only 1 fan film shall be approved. Winning director will be chosen by bat'leth deathmatch"
  • "Acceptable fan film costumes exclusively limited to Picard's Risa vacation clothes."
  • "Phaser sound effects prohibited. Actors must make "pew pew" sound with their mouths instead"
  • "Libations at fan film wrap parties limited to synthohol beverages."
  • *Retweet from Metal Dave* "Any transportation used in the production of the film may not come from Enterprise Rent-A-Car."
  • *Retweet from Metal Dave* "No references to impulse or warp engines may be used. All propulsion must be by oars."
  • "Characters drinking Earl Grey tea on screen must do so at room temperature or lower."
 
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:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

*No actors may wear toupees.

*Medical characters may only say "He's alive, John."

*Pornography is permitted only if commercially available toys are used.
 
Thanks Axanar, you just HAD to keep poking the bear.

If you're a fan of New Voyages, or Star Trek Continues, or any of the good fan productions, you'd better download their episodes now, cos the new rules have nixed 99% of their work.
 
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