Paramount & CBS Sues Star Trek Axanar Creator

[Bluce Ree]

I'm kinda sad about this. Axanar IS Star Trek. It's the best looking Star Trek I have seen since Enterprise went off the air, and it actually looks better than any of the Star Trek series episodes. The ships, the space scenes, the battle scenes, the music and the style is all premium and I WOULD pay to see this on a regular basis. If Paramount/CBS are smart, they will force Axanar to give them a run of episodes as payment for infringing on their copyright, and then hand the project and the studios over to them, and accept jobs on the staff. The Kurtzman series does not stand a chance on it's own.

Is the narration done by the same voice as the Galaxy Quest computer? They sound an awful lot alike.

 

[heisenberg]

Maybe. I am almost certain the Kurtzman Trek series is going to fail. I think that because he and Lindelof are the ones who basically crafted the new JJverse of NuTrek, and the other writer Heather Kadin writes only high fantasy, according to her IMdB page. On the other hand, Axanar is neatly slotted in between Enterprise and TOS (you can see 1701 Enterprise in space dock under construction) This is real Trek. The dialogue between these actors was so true to Trek it was amazing to see it brought out like that. The Axanar people have Trek down pat and the production values are superb. Better than the actual TV series and better than Star Trek Continues. If CBS was making it, they would have a hands down winner and a guaranteed new generation of Trekkies.

Stuff like this is what made star trek badass. It didn't need over the top special effects to make it entertaining.



Still, I am looking forward to the new trek despite it being with Kurtzman. I'll give it a shot and make my own conclusion of whether I should waste my time on it or not. I want more science and exploration in star trek than just your weekly battle though.

 

[Jim of WVa]

I like the work of the actor Tony Todd.

 

[Jim of WVa]

Stuff like this is what made star trek badass. It didn't need over the top special effects to make it entertaining.
...

 

[YJ02]

This Peters dude does not know when to quit:

http://trekmovie.com/2015/12/30/sta...paramount-and-cbs-over-copyright-infringement

View attachment 32436



MILLIONS. That is what this could cost these folks. They only had one million. This could cost MILLIONS.

I just see this as corporate overlordship,not allowing anything to distract the public from their nuTrek crapfest

if AXANAR was completed and viewed by millions-and was great-do yo think they would then settle on nuTrek?

I think not

-----------------------------
and, not trying to derail things, but OM, this is a small example of how-when you say the future will bring 'people power' and a rejection of corporate and traditional govt rule,and I say, "no it won't"--

this is but one small example of how corporate greed will NEVER allow anything that does not fattened their wallets and stock prices

 

[Overmind One]

I just see this as corporate overlordship,not allowing anything to distract the public from their nuTrek crapfest

if AXANAR was completed and viewed by millions-and was great-do yo think they would then settle on nuTrek?

I think not

-----------------------------
and, not trying to derail things, but OM, this is a small example of how-when you say the future will bring 'people power' and a rejection of corporate and traditional govt rule,and I say, "no it won't"--

this is but one small example of how corporate greed will NEVER allow anything that does not fattened their wallets and stock prices

YES, and that is also why corporate greed/politics will not last into the future. Everything they say and do is connected to the capitalist system, and when that falls the entire purpose of corporations will disintegrate. Without capitalism, "profits" become meaningless. I think the future of human civilization will rely on a socialistic system, not a capitalist one.

Axanar is what the Trek fans want (at least it's style and universe). I think that the NuTrek thing is going to die very quickly because this will be it's third strike. I also think that Star Trek Beyond will not make nearly as much money as Into Darkness, and will not be well received critically. If that happens, then Paramount will have to look elsewhere for forward movement in Trek and that is not going to come from hacks like Abrams or Kurtzman or Lindelof or any of those types. Trek is not hipster food.

 

[Joelist]

As Overmind stated upthread the Axanar team made this problem themselves. They never went to CBS/Paramount and obtained permission - which all of the other fan-Trek productions have done and were approved for free. Add in their repeated funding drives and other obnoxious behavior and someone stepping in was both inevitable and good. Hopefully if this project continues it will be put under better direction.

 

[YJ02]

YES, and that is also why corporate greed/politics will not last into the future. Everything they say and do is connected to the capitalist system, and when that falls the entire purpose of corporations will disintegrate. Without capitalism, "profits" become meaningless. I think the future of human civilization will rely on a socialistic system, not a capitalist one.

but see

the vast majority of ppl will be swayed-by Paramount and their legal and PR team-by attacks that AXANAR is made by a bunch of gekky-nerdist TREKKIES who are detached from reality

they will do what corporations that feel threatened ALWAYS do to solidify their grasp on a product and the public; attack, demean the "nerds", defend their brand and file so many lawsuits and injunctions that this Alec guy will not even be able to use his own bathroom!

then they will attack, person by person, all of those who stand with the production of AXANAR, they will dig into their financials, their sex lives, their families,etc

this is,as I say, just a small bit of what EVERY company does

so, the capitalist system will never be undone, because everyone who tries to do so will be attacked and belittled and ultimately "unhorsed" anytime they try to attack the system

just look at what the system has done to those who have already tried; Nader-shut out of the convention in 2000; upstart companies whose product or intellectual property threatens bigger companies-they have nearly all been corrupted by the lure of money to sell of their product or idea to the "man" , only to live in regret and intellectual dishonesty
-----------------------

i would guess that there may be a bigger story here?

perhaps once the AXA team started getting a lot more money then they thought and so much attn from fans, that PARAMOUNT maybe tried to buy them out? that is, buy and shelve it-kill it off

and the AXA tptb's stayed true to their ideals and pressed on--then they got sued

 

[Overmind One]

As Overmind stated upthread the Axanar team made this problem themselves. They never went to CBS/Paramount and obtained permission - which all of the other fan-Trek productions have done and were approved for free. Add in their repeated funding drives and other obnoxious behavior and someone stepping in was both inevitable and good. Hopefully if this project continues it will be put under better direction.

Agreed. I think that if nothing else, Axanar has proven that quality Trek can and is produced for relatively little money (that million dollars built a studio, hired actors and produced feature film quality production values. Something that Abrams failed to do with more than 100 million). It presents Paramount with an exit strategy and also gives CBS pause. The Kurtzman show is going to flop, I am almost positive of that.

 

[YJ02]

As Overmind stated upthread the Axanar team made this problem themselves. They never went to CBS/Paramount and obtained permission - which all of the other fan-Trek productions have done and were approved for free. Add in their repeated funding drives and other obnoxious behavior and someone stepping in was both inevitable and good. Hopefully if this project continues it will be put under better direction.

they are not looking to make money from it
as the website says they are just trying to showcase their talent and make something for the fans, paid for by the fans

I would also argue that since they are not doing it for profit-and just going to release it for free, then their use of anything Trek is simply those 'trek things' which have long been public knowledge--in the public domain

or they can just remove all references to trek and make the film--we will all know what it is and where it fits in

if this comp nay can be stopped from putting something on the net, not for profit, then what is the next thing to be shut down by these corp's on the web?

there is nothing else for paramount to gain other then to protect the reputation of its JJ made crap. keep the public thinking that anything 'old trek' is dead and enough will settle on nuTrek to ensure profits

 

[Overmind One]

but see

the vast majority of ppl will be swayed-by Paramount and their legal and PR team-by attacks that AXANAR is made by a bunch of gekky-nerdist TREKKIES who are detached from reality

they will do what corporations that feel threatened ALWAYS do to solidify their grasp on a product and the public; attack, demean the "nerds", defend their brand and file so many lawsuits and injunctions that this Alec guy will not even be able to use his own bathroom!

then they will attack, person by person, all of those who stand with the production of AXANAR, they will dig into their financials, their sex lives, their families,etc

Yeah, they probably will, but what will that do to NuTrek? NOBODY likes a bully, and Paramount might become the target of a massive protest movement. It could bleed into other Paramount projects. I will not pay a single dime for anything associated with NuTrek.

this is,as I say, just a small bit of what EVERY company does

so, the capitalist system will never be undone, because everyone who tries to do so will be attacked and belittled and ultimately "unhorsed" anytime they try to attack the system

It will be undone, trust me on that. It is unsustainable, and every other capitalist system has fallen. Capitalism is relatively new, historically speaking. It cannot survive in a civilization when people decide to stop accepting "currency" for actual goods (this is how it always falls). Capitalism relies upon mutual agreements and nothing more. The most powerful industrial nation on earth (China) is not a capitalist nation. I do not think Communism will work either, but socialism will.

just look at what the system has done to those who have already tried; Nader-shut out of the convention in 2000; upstart companies whose product or intellectual property threatens bigger companies-they have nearly all been corrupted by the lure of money to sell of their product or idea to the "man" , only to live in regret and intellectual dishonesty
-----------------------

i would guess that there may be a bigger story here?

perhaps once the AXA team started getting a lot more money then they thought and so much attn from fans, that PARAMOUNT maybe tried to buy them out? that is, buy and shelve it-kill it off

and the AXA tptb's stayed true to their ideals and pressed on--then they got sued

I think that JJ Abrams has something to do with it. He has tried to get all TOS products killed (yes, him personally). He destroyed Vulcan and changed just about everything he did not like about Star Trek. He did what I think any jealous Star Wars fan might do to Trek if they could get their hands on it. What if Gene Roddenberry had gotten his hands on Star Wars? He might have given a scientific background to all things we see in it, and make the Force something much less fantasy than it is in the movies.

 

[YJ02]

Yeah, they probably will, but what will that do to NuTrek? NOBODY likes a bully, and Paramount might become the target of a massive protest movement. It could bleed into other Paramount projects. I will not pay a single dime for anything associated with NuTrek.



It will be undone, trust me on that. It is unsustainable, and every other capitalist system has fallen. Capitalism is relatively new, historically speaking. It cannot survive in a civilization when people decide to stop accepting "currency" for actual goods (this is how it always falls). Capitalismrelies upon mutual agreements and nothing more. The most powerful industrial nation on earth (China) is not a capitalist nation. I do not think Communism will work either, but socialism will.



I think that JJ Abrams has something to do with it. He has tried to get all TOS products killed (yes, him personally). He destroyed Vulcan and changed just about everything he did not like about Star trek. He did what I think any jealous Star Wars fan might do to Trek if they could get their hands on it. What if Gene Roddenberry had gotten his hands on Star Wars? He might have given a scientific background to all things we see in it, and make the Force something much less fantasy than it is in the movies.

I wouldn't leave Shatner out as well

his legacy is Trek-no matter all of the other things he has done

nuTrek is nearly entirely motivated by the Shatner-portrayed-Kirk; the Kirk played by him and his machismo and his choosing the low tech "manly" solution over any other

NuTrek is nearly a homage to Shatner's Kirk-even though they got Nimoy to appear in it, the whole things oozes Shatner-Kirk!

when I watch nuTrek I see this ideal infecting the performance of nearly every character! Since when was Spock a tough guy in TOS or the films? sure he was no lightweight and would physically engage when needed,but he was no Kirk

there are many ppl who want to see TOS Trek done and over; some because they were never fans (abrams) and some because anything new to that iteration of Trek threatens their legacy and estates
----------------------------------

the capitalism stuff-though I agree with the idea that humanity can never really advance (just because we have tech-always changing, Doesn't me we have actually advanced as a species) under capitalism, I just do not see it being undone for as long as the system can continue to placate the masses by selling new sparkly objects to them and keeping them fed with a (unsustainable) food and non-durable goods production system

so for as long as the "bread" is baled and the "circuses" set up-they are under no threat

we will just have to leave it at that I guess

 

[Joelist]

Or maybe it is exactly what it appears to be - the Axanar crew (who have a laundry list of bad behavior in other areas related to the production) also did not get permission from the copyright holders - who in the past have always given permission at no cost to other fan productions like Phase II and such - to use the Trek setting and characters. Which is what OM posted upthread too.

 

[Overmind One]

Or maybe it is exactly what it appears to be - the Axanar crew (who have a laundry list of bad behavior in other areas related to the production) also did not get permission from the copyright holders - who in the past have always given permission at no cost to other fan productions like Phase II and such - to use the Trek setting and characters. Which is what OM posted upthread too.

I agree, but this was definitely "triggered". Axanar did not just come out of nowhere., It has been in production for some time now, and they have been very out front with the production. I do think that Axanar's biggest mistake was not getting CLEAR permission (or restrictions) from Paramount. They have no chance of winning this lawsuit. Besides the use of copyrighted IP, Alec Peters is arrogant in his response to them when he should be humble and compliant. I think that Paramount and CBS will come to some sort of agreement with them rather than shut them completely down. The whole process of how Axanar went from idea to the Prelude video and it's effects is a winner's story. It is a testament to Star Trek fandom and millions have seen it. To date, 1.8 MILLIOIN views on YouTube and less than 300 dislikes opposed to 22,000 likes proves that they have a winner. Maybe Kurtzman has some butthurt going in this as well?

Kurtzman's Star Trek series is going to be crap. Total crap. CBS could count on at least 2 million viewers to pay for a show that costs less than 1 million to produce per episode? They would be dumb to pass it up.

 

[Joelist]

That's the thing. For all we know (and based on his past behavior I would put no stock in Peter's account of things) there may have been past attempts by Paramount to resolve this short of legal action.

 

[Overmind One]

I wouldn't leave Shatner out as well

his legacy is Trek-no matter all of the other things he has done

nuTrek is nearly entirely motivated by the Shatner-portrayed-Kirk; the Kirk played by him and his machismo and his choosing the low tech "manly" solution over any other

NuTrek is nearly a homage to Shatner's Kirk-even though they got Nimoy to appear in it, the whole things oozes Shatner-Kirk!

Agreed, and that is why they got it wrong! They think that Star Trek fans are following the characters above all else, like Star Wars. But that is not the case. It's the entire universe of Star Trek that has the appeal. That is why several ships, a space station and several captains have become beloved characters in the Trekverse. Abrams does not get this. He thinks that the "iconic characters" in Star Trek are the most important thing and he is dead wrong. I don't like the new Kirk or any of the new characters except Urban's McCoy. They can't fix this Spock because he is broken right from his childhood (which we saw on screen). His mother is dead, his planet is gone, he is illogical and emotional and having sex with Uhura (probably). Uhura, she is just the ship's Head Cheerleader and she is unprofessional and bitchy. Chekhov and Sulu...just lol. Scotty is just comedic relief (with sidekick) now. Dumb jokes and that crusty turd-creature Keenser, he is a HUGE turnoff for me now.

when I watch nuTrek I see this ideal infecting the performance of nearly every character! Since when was Spock a tough guy in TOS or the films? sure he was no lightweight and would physically engage when needed,but he was no Kirk

there are many ppl who want to see TOS Trek done and over; some because they were never fans (abrams) and some because anything new to that iteration of Trek threatens their legacy and estates

I went from Like to Hate from 2009 to Into Darkness. I liked the 2009 movie until Into Darkness came out, then I retroactively came to hate the first film because it represents the first of a horrible trajectory for Trek. I can't even rewatch it anymore.

the capitalism stuff-though I agree with the idea that humanity can never really advance (just because we have tech-always changing, Doesn't me we have actually advanced as a species) under capitalism, I just do not see it being undone for as long as the system can continue to placate the masses by selling new sparkly objects to them and keeping them fed with a (unsustainable) food and non-durable goods production system

so for as long as the "bread" is baled and the "circuses" set up-they are under no threat

we will just have to leave it at that I guess

That's the thing. You can GIVE those shiny things to them in socialism and not sell them. Making society a meritocracy by changing what is valued is an easy thing to do. For instance, promise the first human to create force field technology a beautiful home and access to the shiniest of shiny things (like a trophy). Award property to the first humans to find a way to make deserts fertile again. Along those lines. Capitalism will not last because it can't. It never has. Capitalism is only about 700 years old, and it is a European system like colonialism is. When that paradigm is no longer the dominant one, it will fall and be replaced by socialism, most likely (and not communism).

 

[Overmind One]

That's the thing. For all we know (and based on his past behavior I would put no stock in Peter's account of things) there may have been past attempts by Paramount to resolve this short of legal action.

You think they came to him before the lawsuit? He seemed genuinely surprised by the announcement, and claims he was never contacted directly. I also agree with you that his account of things is dubious at best. I also think that Peters is going to tone it down and become very meek when he realizes that his legal position is non-existent.

 

[Joelist]

I got curious and starting looking for an answer to why Paramount has freely approved and worked with every fan film Trek project - until Axanar.

So far (based on snippets from different places) it seems the key is the other Trek fan productions are non-profit and that the permission from Paramount is based on that. It would of course be nice to see a straight out statement to that effect

If true, that would explain a lot as there is this little item (which engendered fan anger):

http://www.axanarproductions.com/ares-studios-launches/

If they really used any funds obtained in the indiegogo and kickstarter drives to launch this (which their website seems to affirm) and if the use license stipulated non-profit then yes this is a license violation because the funds were obtained through use of the Trek universe elements in the campaign.

Can't be sure but it is a possibility.

 

[YJ02]

Or maybe it is exactly what it appears to be - the Axanar crew (who have a laundry list of bad behavior in other areas related to the production) also did not get permission from the copyright holders - who in the past have always given permission at no cost to other fan productions like Phase II and such - to use the Trek setting and characters. Which is what OM posted upthread too.

but legally,does a non profit "homage" require permission?

guess that is up to the courts

 

[Joelist]

but legally,does a non profit "homage" require permission?

guess that is up to the courts

Note the previous post. There is good reason to believe that the issue is that funds raised for the production are being used for other business uses. Also even if it is non-profit the stuff is still copyrighted so permission is required.