CBS/Paramount Sets Phasers To Kill On Star Trek Fan-Fiction With New Guidelines (audioholics.com)

Audiofan writes from a forum post on Audioholics: The Star Trek fan-fiction controversy that resulted in legal battles between CBS/Paramount and Axanar Productions concluded last week. However, CBS/Paramount have finally put forth its long-awaited guidelines intended to clarify acceptable fan-fiction so that it won't get the creative Star Trek fan sued for copyright infringement. But in doing so, it may have launched Star Trek fan-fiction's torpedo casket into space with a solemn salute. To be or not to be is the question which we ask about the future of Star Trek fan film. Some of the new guidelines for avoiding objections when making your own Star Trek movies and posting them to YouTube include: The fan production must be less than 15 minutes for a single self-contained story, or no more than 2 segments, episodes or parts, not to exceed 30 minutes total, with no additional seasons, episodes, parts, sequels or remakes. Part of the non-commercial requirements include: CBS and Paramount Pictures do not object to limited fundraising for the creation of a fan production, whether 1 or 2 segments and consistent with these guidelines, so long as the total amount does not exceed $50,000, including all platform fees, and when the $50,000 goal is reached, all fundraising must cease. The fan production cannot be distributed in a physical format such as DVD or Blu-ray. If the fan production uses commercially-available Star Trek uniforms, accessories, toys and props, these items must be official merchandise and not bootleg items or imitations of such commercially available products.

Comments

Read it like this

[MrKaos]

Your stories can no longer be imaginative and better than our, you must find a way to make them more lame because we don't know how to. Breach these conditions and we will sue you out of existence.

Personally, I think the fan stories are more interesting. I've kind of given up on paramount's version of star trek because it is usually disappointing so I don't see any point in it any more. I think the fan fiction is the only thing keeping their franchise alive simply because CBS make the movies for a wider audience that isn't interested in ST knowing that fans will go for the eye candy.

I think that once CBS lamifies the fan fiction, it's all over for star trek, at least for me, simply because it's just not that interesting or challenging anymore.

Re:Poisoning the well with 1980's IPR policy

[Bruce Perens]

if they do not protect their IP, then under the current laws, that "non protecting" opens up the possibility for others (as in other studios) to use your IP.

This is treated as common knowledge by most people who are not copyright and trademark experts, but isn't really true. It's related to two concepts in law: the concept of trademarks becoming generic, and the doctrine of Laches, which are both a lot more complicated than "if you don't enforce, you lose it". In truth, the studios could allow fan fiction all they want without losing the right to enforce copyrights and trademarks. They would indeed be safer if they licensed the fan fiction outlets.

Re:And the guidelines are

[AmiMoJo]

This. Star Trek Continues is actually better than the original series. Go watch it on YouTube, it's superior in pretty much every way. The latest episode has a rubber suit monster and it's actually /good/.

If the fan series had money to Paramount they probably could. After years of saying it was fine and encouraging them to invest so much time, money and effort into fan series they can't just pull the rug now.