Slashdot Mirror
Firefly Fans Fight Back Against Universal
Gossi writes "What happens when a film studio and a fanbase get into bed? Fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly, and the movie by Universal Studios — Serenity — are not amused. After being encouraged to viral market Serenity, the studio has started legal action against fans (demanding $9000 in retroactive licensing fees in one case and demanding fan promotion stop), and going after Cafepress. The fans response? Retroactively invoice Universal for their services."
Sorry but the fans are wrong in this one. Viral advertising doesnt mean stealing intellectual property and copyrighted material to show your "love" for whatever is being promoted. I liked firefly alot (have the box set and serenity on dvd) but browncoaters are just about the nuttiest tv fan club out there, even Joss thinks they are a bit off.
The efforts to save firefly were valiant and managed to get a movie done but fans are out of excuses. No one (outside the fans) watched the first run, numbers didnt grow for the second well advertised and announced run on Sci-Fi and Serenity made only $25 million in the US (It cost $40 million to make). To put in into perspective..for every single person who went to see Serenity, four people went to see that steaming pile of poo called The Pacifier.
This "franchise" is dead, many are stating that universals actions are a good sign and that they are trying to protect what they see as a valuable property. Perhaps they are just trying to recoup their losses by going after the ones who convinced them they would make buckets of cash in the first place. The cast has moved on so should the fans, you fought a good fight but its over.