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.
Well, you answered all my questions by posting that link. THAT is the issue right there, and I 100% side with Paramount and CBS now because of it.
The Axanar team is happy to announce that we have signed a lease on 16,000sf warehouse in Valencia, CA. The new home of Axanar Productions will be called “Ares Studios” and you are all part of it because of your donations to the Axanar Kickstarter. We intend to turn this warehouse and office space into a fully functional sound stage. This will allow us to not only make “Axanar” but other Star Trek projects after Axanar and other Sci-Fi projects. (Robert Burnett and I have already acquired the rights to a fantastic book series by David Gerrold.)
The leasing of this warehouse is due to YOU the donors, and thus you are all part of this project. And, it enables us to not only produce “Axanar”, and other Star Trek and Sci-Fi projects, but to bring you Sci-Fi Film School and Axacon, the coolest Star Trek convention ever, where you will actually get to be part of your own film on the Axanar sets.
The first thing to do is retro-fit the office to meet production needs and the warehouse to be a sound stage. Stay tuned for info on the progress.
As donors, all of your names will also be posted on the Sound Stage wall, and you will be invited to the Ares Studios’ Open House when we officially open the studio for business!
You nailed it with this post. NO WONDER they are being sued. What an arrogant, short-sighted, dumb move they made by leasing that space and trying to call themselves independent when their entire existence owes itself to a concept and property which is copyrighted by another studio. Now, I side with the studios, and I hope they grab all the CGI models, all the footage and animation and use it in their own project. Perhaps they can hire the Axanar CGI crew to do something. Whatever the case, Alec Peters and his non-thinking crew need to be dumped.
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