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...there are other places to post video. I hope they don't wind up the iTunes of online video.

A friend of mine's Daria fan animations (no they aren't hentai) got taken off of YouTube. Viacom has been approving of fan films in the past, the most elaborate of which being the Star Trek: The Original Series continuation "The New Voyages," hosted at http://www.newvoyages.com/ . The fan films got swept up in the Viacom/YouTube dragnet. This pissed me off because quite a few people from the Daria fandom were involved, and they really were nicely done.

Hopefully an appeal to have the fan films reinstated will be successful.

The screwed thing is that unless you take a lot of trouble with 3rd party apps you cannot download a YouTube .FLV. And the resulting file is pretty crappy looking no matter what you do, because .FLVs are so intensely compressed and lose so much in the lossy compression process. I mean WTF? Big Media is getting FREE PUBLICITY even with the copyrighted stuff. They are using YouTube as a promotional tool on the one hand, then on the other they are screwing the fans.

There are alternatives. Metacafe, Ning, Revver...all excellent choices for showing your stuff. And there is always BIT TORRENT for something a bit higher quality and a bit more permanent.

Big media needs to grow a brain. YouTube needs to grow a spine. Everyone wins when content is up on YouTube. Everyone loses when these silly fights start up.

When the ISPs say "unlimited service", they also have a sort of implicitly-understood agreement with their users.

Remember that guy who took dozens or hundreds of the free (Kinkos I think) boxes and used the to make furniture and got sued? They gave the boxes away, because it's implicitly assumed that you're going to use them to send shit via Kinkos (or whoever).

Likewise, ISPs offer unlimited service with the implicit statement "as long as you don't use every KB of bandwidth every second of every day" because their systems are not built to support such a load from all their users, and never will be as long as the users pay $40/month. I'm an occasional user of Azureus and Gnutella. I use them to download movies and linux distros and occasionally some music. I often leave Azureus on to share until I've uploaded a fair bit more than I downloaded. But I don't download and upload hundreds of gigabytes of crap every month.

In a sense, you can think of current ISP payments as being somewhat socialized: We all pay $40 for a comparable connection, I use probably 5 or 10GB a month, granny uses maybe 25MB for E-Mailing pictures of her grandkids, and others use hundreds of GB sharing their mp3s and warez. What's going on is that ISPs are tiring of the people who use hundreds of dollars of bandwidth and maintenence that the other users have to pay for. As usual, there are a few who just can't play nice and insist on abusing everything until the privilege is taken away from everyone.

Think of it like this: "OK, kids, here's the cookie jar - feel free to take a few cookies." There's nothing to stop any of the kids from taking as many cookies as they can stuff their faces with, but most understand and accept that they should only take a few. There will, of course, be an asshole who will indeed take all he can eat because he isn't explicitly forbidden.

I once had the extreme privilege of having supper with DC Fontana, who said that she believed that all of Hollywood could really use an infusion of new talent into their writing staffs. Unfortunately, I think the same bad writers and other creative people, without a fresh combination of ideas left in their heads, are shuffled from show to show to show and are kept in the fold long after they have outlived their usefulness.

And speaking of fan-created ST, I was really impressed with Star Trek: New Voyages. I think it really captured the essence of what I loved about TOS. The writing and production quality are among the best I've seen in any fan production for any show.

I've already got my personally accepted spinoff continuation of the original "Star Trek," and it's written, produced, and acted by real fans with talent. Those guys produce winning, pro-grade Star Trek while Paramount has displayed a complete lack of knowing what the hell to do with it.

I like the idea too, as long as it doesn't involve the Kirk and Spock actors from http://www.newvoyages.com/
They are cool guys, but their acting wouldn't translate well to the big screen ;-)

It sounds like Paramount has looked at the popularity of the http://www.newvoyages.com/Star Trek New Voyages and realized that it can revive Kirk, Spock, et. al. without Shatner, Nimoy and the old cast. Recasting these characters probably seemed pretty risky before the fan flicks broke down that barrier.
Personally, I would love to see Paramount get behind New Voyages for real and help them crank out some of thier planned episodes.

I like this program. So flexible. Good documentation for all the features as well. You can configure to optimize. Cool graphics of swarms. One nice thing: I chose an unassigned port and forwarded it to Azureus. Did not like to have ten forwarded ports in a known range as with Bitorrent. (Not enough of an expert to know how much this matters, but it seems a bit more secure.) Speeds seem good compared to Bitorrent these days. Noticed also that Azureus was the most common client in the client list, which is why I checked it out. Worked great with Star Trek New Voyages. http://www.newvoyages.com/ All the Linux DVD distros came down in a few hours. Much slower with some public domain movies I went after (few seeds/peers) but they came together.

I also have to wonder about the logic of saying that this will really make firefox take off. The percentage of internet users who use p2p isn't that high, and of those that do, how many of them will like this particular app so much that they'll switch to firefox from IE? And how are they going to try the app if they aren't already using firefox?

BTW, it also looks clear that it's going to be closed source. After the kinds of experiences people have had with closed-source p2p clients on Windows installing spyware, why the &^%*$ should anyone get excited about installing yet another proprietary p2p app? Uh, wasn't the cool thing about firefox supposed to be that it's open-source? Who would have cared about firefox if it had been another proprietary browser?

And finally, there are different p2p protocols for different purposes. This one apparently is only bittorrent. The author talks about sharing his movies with his parents, but that isn't what bittorrent is optimized for; bt is optimized for sharing a single, big file that lots and lots of people want, like a BSD distribution or the "New Voyages" videos.

If you keep in mind that it's a comedy first, and a drama second, then you won't be disapointed. It's not supposed to be Star Trek, it's Star Wreck, another universe, so don't be whining about how it doesn't match Star Trek canon.

The ending kinda disapointed me, but mostly because I wanted more! So overall I think I gave it a [5/10] because for an amateur production it's 10/10, but up against real actors and writers it's more like a 3/10. The special effects are top drawer though, in any league.

For other Star Trek spinoffs, look up http://www.newvoyages.com/ they have two episodes of original Trek available for free by torrent. A third is on the way soon and features Star Trek TOS and Babylon 5 actor Walter Koenig [spelling?] - Chekov / Bester.

If it weren't for his disease (and later, death) I imagine he would have been right there beside Walter Koenig in a fan-produced episode.

While actors like the one that played Spock are much more famous then "the little guys" like Doohan and Koenig (not that they're very little ;)), for me there's something really special about them willing to go that extra mile for their fans (and enjoying it as well) that puts them above others, such as the actor who played Kirk.

Depends on the script. :-) That's the real key, is learning not to make crap. Actually, though, most $30,000 films make back their initial investment these days- if nothing else then in DVD & download sales. One of my examples is actually an extension of a very popular TV show- and they've made enough that they're working on thier third episode, with some big name actors from the original TV show wanting to be involved. I suggest you go to http://www.newvoyages.com/ and do a little research before sticking your foot into your mouth again.

Err, live long and prosper Captain, I mean.

Trek fans should check out http://www.newvoyages.com/ too if you like indie Trek TV.

I certainly was. I was a geek pretty much from the womb! ;) When I started watching Trek in the late 60's, early 70's, Scotty very quickly became my very favorite character. When my brother and I got together with a fellow Trekker friend to play Star Trek, my Bro was Kirk, our friend was Spock, and I was always Scotty. :)

I've been involved in Electronics since about 2'nd grade, and still continue in the field to this day.

Thanks for the memories, Mr Doohan.

BTW, fellow Trekkers- check out this site: http://www.newvoyages.com/

To make a quick correction to the Slashback, you can't yet watch the whole 2nd Starship Exeter film online; they are releasing it one act a week starting with the teaser two weeks ago, and both last weeks and this weeks this weekend (due to some lost footage).

Anways, judging from the teaser, Exeter has improved by leaps and bounds from episode one. Being frank, the it takes great effort for me sit through episode one of Starship Exeter (or the first episode of New Voyages for that matter). However, this episode is written by Dennis Bailey, who wrote an episode of The Next Generation (Tin Man, with Gumtu the space snail), and has actual CG effects (as opposed to an AMT model and horrendously bad play-dough dinosaur, not to mention the acting greatly improving.

And I guess I'll throw in a plug for my other favourite TOS fan film. The next Star Trek: New Voyages episodes will be written by two Deep Space Nine writers (Jack Trevino and Ethan Calk), and the one after that by D.C. Fontana, who wrote 11 original series episodes, six Next Generations, not to mention a load of other great TV show episodes. The fourth episode will also guest star Walter Koenig, whose name is very familier to anybody who has read this far.

I predict the next few years will see a load of flood of fan films on the net, with some of them possibly even being good.

-Clinton

Think of the possibilities! When actors and singers can be recreated through computer reproductions, we could end up putting live actors out of work, or force them to sit in front of a computer or microphone more than they already do to perform in a high-tech production.

We could see a resurgence in the popularity of live stage productions, as people grow weary of computer generated reproductions. And we could see a whole new way of recreating old TV shows like Star Trek. Instead of http://www.newvoyages.com/ having live actors playing the parts of Kirk and Spock, we'd see a computer generated Bill Shatner, and L. Nimoy as they were in the 1960s.

Fans are making a watchable series, with 2 episodes 42minutes long each, available from http://www.newvoyages.com/

Go git 'em, I just saw the first, and it's funny, and definately Trek.

At least with fan films I can still get Star Trek:

New Voyages
Star Trek Hidden Frontier
Starship Exeter
Tales of the Seventh Fleet
Star Trek: Intrepid
USS Hathaway

Audio:

Star Trek: Pioneers
Star Trek: The Section 31 Files

New Voyages
Star Trek Hidden Frontier
Starship Exeter
Tales of the Seventh Fleet
Star Trek: Intrepid
USS Hathaway

Audio:

Star Trek: Pioneers
Star Trek: The Section 31 Files

Some of these are quite enjoyable

If anyone is genuinely interested in seeing how well-done a TOS Trek can be done by fans, you should check out this site:

http://www.newvoyages.com/

Read the BBS, download the episode "In Harm's Way" and you'll see just how much dedicated people with no budget can do! It's quite an accomplishment that is getting a LOT of attention! Numerous TOS actors are starting to line-up just for opportunities to play cameos on the show! What does that tell you? :)

Star Trek is something I have loved since I was a kid. This fan-produced episode was like seeing a childhood fantasy come to life. :)

Yes the original series had campy elements. But someone immitating Kirk's vocal delivery or Spock's "fascinating" just goes over the top right into the realm of pure campiness. As in it becomes unintentional parody.
I suggest viewing an episode of Star Trek New Voyages as an illustration of what I mean. Even with professional actors I doubt it would work.

They've redone Battlestar Galactica, Kojak and War of the Worlds. Give it a few years and they will cash-in on the nostalgia and release a new film.

The cancellation of official Trek is IMO a good thing. It will motivate fans to create their own interpretations, such as the excellent New Voyages

It seems pretty obvious to me that as things continue on the current trend that it won't be too much longer that "videocasting" and the like will start to upset the right people in TV and Cable land . I could easily see that the only thing you have to pay for is bandwidth (which is enough in and of itself) and anyone with a server, the bandwidth, and a video camera could start "broadcasting" their show over the internet. Commercial (I know of the free ones as well, but that is another topic entirely) products like "Windows Media Center" that are sold in stores will make it so that the average user can now watch Star Trek New Voyages on their TV. If you want your fan films to show up, you just have to plug into their API and WAMO! you've got a million viewers (certian assumptions made...like its worth watching). I think the "numa-numa" kid, and the jedi-kid prove that this is where things are heading. The real question is, how much kicking and screaming will the "traditional" broadcasting folk make? or will they jump on the bandwagon?

They should've given the $3M to these guys. (Or, better yet, to these guys!) I bet they could stretch that money a lot farther!

You mean something like these guys: New Voyages? While the quality of the acting and story is debatable the authenticity of the sets and effects are quite stunning. :)

This site http://www.newvoyages.com/ is very impressive. These people have created new Star Trek episodes (2 so far) based on the original series, picking up in the 4th year of the mission. The production quality is extremely good for an amateur production. The acting is fair but still enjoyable. The second episode is much better than the first. They are not recreating the original actor's interpretation so Kirk does not look or sound like Kirk but the dialog is the same. Too much the same in the first episode. Lots of fun.
Only mirror #2 seems to have the 1st episode.

Have you seen this? Two new episodes of TOS, with more on the way.

RTFA- it's more like $36 million when you figure it out. My question though- could these guys bid on the project? At least they've got a Roddenbery on staff, and I bet they could do it a hell of a lot cheaper than the studio can. The two direct distribution STOS episodes they've put out so far have been awesome.

because it makes too much sense.

It'd be an ideal way to get things out - look at the TOS continuation project for an idea of how well those things work. They distribute over BT and it's great.

But you'd be treading in dangerous waters, corporate-speaking, because:

1. Their lawyers would get their panties in a wad over it going out in a format that was easily copy-able, thus proving that file-sharing networks and BT have legitimate uses (which the MPAA is still trying to deny)

2. The marketroids would be shitting in their pants over the fact that decent-quality files were being distributed, rather than crappy-quality Quicktime mini-clips, thus providing a possibility that people wouldn't buy the DVD sets later. Or in the reverse, if the files weren't easily transmutable to DVD, the "fans" (read: hard-core geeks who take that XVID HDTV 5.1 RIP and make a DVD of it) would get all pissy about imagined quality defects even if there really weren't any.

3. There's a real possibility some of the actors would be pissed about it not still going out over the airwaves, and IMDB wouldn't know how to categorize the show anymore.

slashdot uses html like so

Actually You do.

but thats okay, you screwed up the bbcode :) preview please

(was going to post anon but I don't know if slashcode will email replies from anon)

• Overclocked Remix has thousands of video game remixes available for download. Due to the massive amount of bandwidth this takes up, redistribution via P2P is encouraged. In addition, they have bit torrents up of their remixes, with a total amount transferred of roughly five thousand gigabytes.
• Star Trek: New Voyages is a fan made continuation of TOS. With the amount of bandwidth a million episode downloads sucks up, they use and encourage P2P and Bit Torrent redistribution.
• The audio section of the Free Software Foundation's website has many speeches by RMS, Moglen, etc that can be shared via P2P as long as there is no modifications to the recordings. So far I've uploaded about 20 copies of their various speeches.

None of the videos you mention as examples can be legally downloaded without the permission of all the copyright holders.

For example, in the case of Star Trek fan videos, you'd also probably need permission from the holders of the copyright for Star Trek itself (Paramount, IIRC).

Legal, with explicit permission from Roddenbery's estate.

Legal, under parody laws.

Other videos such as "Starship Exeter" and "Hidden Frontier" are of questionable nature for the producers (their copyright), but legal for you to download. Remember, the people you are getting it from have a copyright of their own, which they may exercise. The only issue is that they may liable for infringing on other's intellectual rights.

As for the Presidential Debates, there are several places where you can get them with the full permission of the copyright holder. Same thing with commericals. e.g. As a viral marketing technique, Accenture provided their videos to the public after they changed their name from Anderson Consulting.

You should probably review your list. It's not legal to torrent things unless:

My list generally assumes that the copyright holders are the ones distributing the work. Examples: Xandros Free ISO, Developing for the Mozilla Platform eBook, Firebird Database, and America's Army.

In short, there are plenty of legal uses for BitTorrent. Legal issues still exist, but no more so than any other downloadable content.

(I haven't quite decided if this is a good thing yet...)