Anyone Looking Forward to Star Trek: Axanar?

Was Glover not paid for BttFII or something?

I was also unfamiliar, but googling gave me all the info. Glover wanted more money, so they signed a different actor for BttF2. But then they used an impression of Glover's face to make prosthetics for the replacement actor, who was essentially hired to play Glover performing George McFly. Glover sued, arguing that they were using his likeness without permission. The relevance to Dayton's question is that such digital fan creations would make illegal use of Shatner's likeness.

Bingo. Of which Dayton is unable to understand or figure out. But then he did say he doesn't care about such things.

And not only that, but would also be using IP for profit since the person would be charging for the privilege to see such a creation where they are using the IP and likeness of a person for profit, which exceeds the fair use definition.

How did Star Trek: Renegades avoid this kind of trouble with CBS?

IIRC, Renegades had outright stated that their purpose was to offer the completed production as a "possible series for CBS".

* The producer of Renegades, Tim Russ, did not pay himself a salary when producing Renegades. Alec Peters, the producer of Axanar, paid himself 38K a year, and his girlfriend a 38K a year, as salary. Now, 38K a year isn't a whole lot, but any amount of money like that is bad juju.

* The people at Renegades didn't start a crowdfunding campaign for a fan production of an IP they didn't own, and then build a for-profit studio with that money (Ares Studios). That is seriously bad juju.

* Renegades didn't start their own convention using trademarks and intellectual property they didn't own, to promote a film based on an IP they didn't own. Axanar did this with AxaCon.

There's more, but that is enough to get the point across, I think. The thing is, CBS warned them last August that they didn't approve, but Peters said everything was okay. Clearly it was not.

$38k isn't a lot by itself, but he clearly has other business interests so it's likely a top up.

It's more than enough to be considered making a profit from it. And then paying his girlfriend a salary also hurts his case. The Star Trek Continues Series as far as I know and can tell is self funded and supported by the guy who plays Kirk. And I believe all the work is volunteer without anyone being paid for their contribution.

I think there's probably a line between "hobby or hobby business" and "business". By "hobby business" I mean fans that buy and sell oddball things at conventions, not factories that mass produce action figures and ship models or studios that produce comic books. If it's your day job, you've gone too far.

I think this likely comes down to the guy in charge who's obviously had things inflate his ego to enormous proportions. His IMDB is pretty much blank except for Axanar and he keeps talking smack. If he'd have packaged the whole thing as a pitch to CBS and Paramount he might have gotten a lot more leeway. Heck, they might have hailed him as a creative genius who came up with a new way to fund productions. Instead they're going to stomp him.

Also, Renegades sucked ass.

No argument. Don't understand how it ended up so bad. Poor concept I suppose.

Well that's just asking for it.

I find it curious that they don't punctuate their own films consistently.

I wondering if there is anything Peters can do at this point to "make nice" with CBS?

Likely not. CBS was at the "play nice" stage back in August, when they very publicly warned Axanar they didn't approve of what they were doing. I would call this the "Peters is fucked" stage, and recommend anyone in his employ to get the hell out because there are still 21 John Does CBS has yet to specify.

Earlier I posted a paragraph from the lawsuit that seemed to imply that anyone associated with the production (including actors) would be screwed from ever doing anything Trek related again. That could well mean "stop that idiot or no more cameos or recurring guest roles for you!"

Aren't all the actors involved in Axanar pretty unlikely to work in an official Star Trek production anyway?

Not related.

But anyone heard the rumor about Michael Dorn being cast in the January 2017 Star Trek series though probably not as Worf?

Well, they probably would. Try to get a job as an actor in any role when you've been hit by a big corporation like CBS for copyright infringement. Thus the 21 John Does. I've also got money on one of those John Does being Alec Peters' girlfriend, who was getting at least 38K. I say at least because we don't know how much more because her salary had been deferred by Peters. It just looks like there's some shady as fuck dealings going on, and CBS got wind of it.

A possibility that flows from that one is that some of those involved got a little worried that something might be very shady and mentioned it to friends, and their worries were expressed to some people at CBS.

Just speculating here, but it may be that some people thought their friends or clients were going to get burned, perhaps badly. In these fan films, are there actual contracts that have been gone over by agents and lawyers? Probably not. I imagine it's more like doing some summer stock for fun. So if Axanar somehow ended up making real money, say several million to perhaps tens of millions, would some of the actors get screwed?

CBS's action could be a combination of "This guy is a royal ass and he's trying to get rich off our property - and he's likely going to screw some of our old friends over in the process. We need to shut this down hard."

Oh, there's no doubt this is all about Alec Peters. They named him specifically, so no matter what happens his ass is going to get stomped in court.

Haven't read the complaint but they may not be able to get trial by jury of the relief sought is only equitable.

They're seeking damages as well.

I'm wondering if the announcement of a new Star Trek series on CBS in 2017 is connected to this. Giving CBS a chance to show that Axanar is actually going to cause the network to suffer damages..

If Axanar is forced to fold, will CBS actually go forward with a new Trek series?

CBS is going ahead with the series whatever Axanar does.

I was more commenting on the use of "demand" in connection with anything Star Trek

In this corner, eating the hearts out of puppies and intimidating the Stig, we have Jonathan Zavin for the team of Loeb & Loeb fighting for CBS!
http://www.loeb.com/attorney-jonathanzavin




And in this corner, eager to please, fresh from law school, and capable of being in a court room, it's Andrew Schmidt fighting for Axanar Productions!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-schmidt-60135465





Jesus Christ, this will be a blood bath. It will be like sending a puppy into a room of sharks with laser beams attached to their heads.

I saw this on Facebook. I really don't like the idea of pointing and laughing at the younger guy. Inexperience doesn't always mean someone will lose. A lot of the time you're only as good as your case (which admittedly isn't strong for him, but that's besides the point).

I'm not laughing, I'm actually feeling really sorry for the guy. This will likely be his first major case, and it's a HUGE one, and he is going to lose. They don't hold that against new lawyers, do they?

Of course not - and a case of this size is not only great for experience, but will look good on his CV even if he tanks.

Well then in that case I wish him luck. This may work out for him after all. I mean, not the case, but a boost to his career.

You can never be sure what a jury might do.

They're not going to pick a jury who will decide on the case due to "space battles".