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====== The Does ======
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{{page>understanding}}
//Doe// is short for **John or Jane Doe**, placeholder names often used in legal documents indicating individuals yet to be named. The [[summary_of_the_lawsuit|legal complaint]] filed by [[CBS]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] names the defendants as follows:
> [[AXANAR PRODUCTIONS]], INC., a California corporation; \\ [[ALEC PETERS]], an individual, and \\ DOES 1–20 , Defendants. ((Complaint, Paramount v. Axanar, p. 1, line 20)) [//emphasis added//]
UPDATE According to the court's May 10, 2016, scheduling order, both sides had until May 25 to "to join other parties or to amend the pleadings" in the case. That date passed with none of the Does named.
==== Why Weren't Any Does Named? ====
This section, **Why Weren't Any Does Named?** features opinion and informed speculation.
In their May 2, 2016, [[joint statement]] to the judge ahead of the case's [[scheduling conference]], both sides indicated a reluctance to adding parties to the suit.((Rule 26 Joint Report by Plaintiffs and Defendants, p. 2 line 12.))
If you assume the plaintiffs are suing in order to make an example of how Axanar went too far, they'll only go as far as they need to make that point. For every new defendant they add to the case, CBS and Paramount would've had to prove with a preponderance of evidence that each one participated in at least one of these activities:
* Writing scripts
* Produced or directed the films
* Design or oversight of design of:
* Sets
* Costumes
* Props
* Other elements in works derived from the Star Trek copyright. This may include merchandise Axanar sells in its Donor Store.
The plaintiffs would also have needed to demonstrate that each co-defendant is responsible in some way for the allegations in the legal complaint and harm to CBS and/or Paramount, and that they acted "in concert," with all each new defendants' alleged acts "authorized, approved, and/or ratified by each of the other defendants."((Complaint, Paramount v. Axanar, p. 3 ¶12))
Such activities seemed to point to higher-level creative and management activities, and the plaintiffs may have decided instead to focus their efforts only on the activities of the named defendants.
It's also possible that the possibility of being named a defendant, therefore financially liable for some measure of the [[summary of the lawsuit#statutory damages|damages]] sought in the lawsuit, may have persuaded possible Does to offer testimony against Axanar and Peters in exchange for being dropped from the case.
===== Who Were They? =====
The plaintiffs may not know which specific 20 individuals took part in Axanar's alleged [[copyright infringement]], but they know what types of personnel were likely to be involved. Revealing their names is a likely part of the pre-trial activity ordered by the judge.
To that end, the legal complaint does identify these persons in this way:
> "The Doe Defendants include, among others, those persons who aided in the writing of the scripts for the Axanar Works or producing or directing the films, and those persons who designed or caused to be designed the infringing sets, costumes, props and other elements in the Axanar Works that infringe copyrighted Star Trek elements." ((Complaint, Paramount v. Axanar, p. 3 ¶10)) [//emphasis added//]
PRODUCTION DOWNGRADE As of March 18, 2016, the production status on [[imdb>title/tt3302086/|Axanar's public IMDb listing]] was changed from 'pre-production' to 'in development,' rendering its cast and crew list visible only to IMDb Pro subscribers.(([[imdb>title/tt3302086/|Axanar (2016)]], retrieved 3/17/16.))
According to {!IMDb:the Internet Movie Database}}, unless noted otherwise, these are the people who filled the positions described in the lawsuit:
{{ :view-charts.png|Rotate mobile device for best view of chart}}
//Please note: Just because a person appears on this chart does not mean they will be named as a defendant, nor are the jobs listed necessarily the only positions to be named in the suit.//
^ Job ^ In //Prelude//(([[imdb>title/tt3572740|IMDb entry, Prelude to Axanar]], retrieved 3/10/16.)) ^ In //Axanar//(([[imdb>title/tt3302086/|IMDb entry, Axanar]], retrieved 3/10/16.)) |
| Director | Christian Gosset | Robert Meyer Burnett |
| Set Design | Scott Cobb((credited as production designer)) \\ Nathan Lay((credited as Art Director)) | John Eaves((credited as concept artist)) \\ Lee Quessenberry((credited as concept artist)) \\ Sean Tourangeau((credited as concept artist)) |
| Costume Design | Patty Wright((credited as costumer)) | Kate Bergh((Named as wardrobe designer on [[http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-march-5th-2016/|Axanar Productions website, Captain's Log]], 3/10/16.)) |
| Prop Designer | //No one is specifically credited with this title; may be someone else in the art department.// ||
| Screenwriters | Christian Gossett \\ Alec Peters \\ Alec Peters (story) | //See 'Changing cast of writers' below// |
| Producers((Not all producers listed on IMDb may have engaged in the activities alleged in the legal complaint)) | Ryan T. Husk (associate producer) \\ Nicholas Cooper (associate producer) \\ Neal Fischer (co-producer) \\ Diana Kingsbury (associate producer) \\ Terry Alan McIntosh (co-producer) \\ Alec Peters (executive producer) \\ Carter Smith (co-producer) \\ Mark Smith (associate producer) \\ Jhennifer Webberley (co-producer) | Horace Austin (associate producer) \\ Alan J. Hayes (associate producer) \\ David A. Hernandez (associate producer) \\ Diana Kingsbury (co-producer) \\ Michael J. Lai (associate producer) \\ Terry Alan McIntosh (co-producer) \\ Alec Peters (executive producer) \\ Bill R. Watters (associate producer) |
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==== Changing Cast of Writers ====
The title and writing credits for //Axanar// have changed over time, according to [[imdb>title/tt3302086/|IMDb]].
^ Date ^ Project Title ^ Writers (credits) |
| 2013 | //Star Trek: Axanar// | Dave Galanter((requested his name be removed from IMDb)) ... (story editor) \\ David Gerrold ... (creative consultant) \\ Christian Gossett ... (screenplay) \\ Alec Peters ... (screenplay) \\ Alec Peters ... (story) |
| July 2015 | //Axanar// | Dave Galanter((requested his name be removed from IMDb)) ... (story editor) \\ David Gerrold ... (creative consultant) \\ Christian Gossett ... (story editor) \\ Alec Peters ... (screenplay) \\ Alec Peters ... (story) |
| March 2016 | //Axanar// | David Gerrold ... (creative consultant) \\ Christian Gossett ... (story) \\ Bill Hunt ... (screenplay) \\ Alec Peters ... (screenplay) \\ Alec Peters ... (story) |
Writer [[amzn>1UmdMJR|Dave Galanter]], a Star Trek author at Pocket Books, asked Axanar to remove his story editor credit on IMDb, saying his involvement with the script was only peripheral:
> I didn't get to edit any story and neither asked for nor wanted any credit for giving [Alec Peters] comments and notes on his first draft as he wrote it. I never even saw anything more than that very first draft and since [Axanar director] Rob Burnett says the current script has no resemblance to the draft that was leaked (which I have seen and recognize as the draft into which I made comments) the listing of me as Story Editor is erroneous. \\ \\ Peters was trying to "thank me" for giving him some comments early on, but had this been a professional endeavor of mine, the script would have had to have been licensed and approved by CBS or Paramount, and I'd have needed to be paid. The input I gave was the same I give to beginning writers at writing workshops I take part in for free.((Private Facebook message from Dave Galanter to **AxaMonitor** editor Carlos Pedraza, 3/2/16.)) [emphasis added]
Peters had previously described Galanter's involvement as more substantial:
> I have been working on "Axanar" now for almost two years, slowly writing the script with John Muenchrath((previously portrayed Dr. McCoy on Star Trek: New Voyages)) and now Dave Galanter. … The script is now almost done. Dave Galanter and I have been working it for 6 months now.(([[http://www.trekbbs.com/threads/star-trek-axanar.189130/|Alec Peters, TrekBBS post]], 9/24/12.)) [emphasis added]
===== Role of the Does =====
The suit alleges that each of the Does is "responsible in some manner for the occurrences alleged herein and Plaintiffs’ injuries."((Complaint, Paramount v. Axanar, p. 3 ¶11))
It further claims all the defendants "acted in concert ... and all of the acts alleged herein to have been done by each defendant were authorized, approved, and/or ratified by each of the other defendants."((Complaint, Paramount v. Axanar, p. 3 ¶12))
[{{ ::sean-t-ares.jpg?nolink&250|**ARES DESIGNER** Sean Tourangeau says he's been blacklisted from professional Star Trek work because of the Axanar lawsuit.}}]
==== Blacklisting ====
One of the potential Does went public, describing that his involvement with Axanar resulted in him being blacklisted from any professional Star Trek-related work.
Though not named as a Doe, designer Sean P. Tourangeau is among the class of people described by the lawsuit as potential additional defendants. He is the designer of the U.S.S. Titan for the licensed Pocket Books series by that name.
On April 18, 2016, he began to describe on Twitter how working with Axanar hurt him personally and professionally:
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[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722228092991737856|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 5:59 PM - 18 Apr 2016 \\
@trekbbs I need to stop reading Axanar thread makes heart since that I was ever apart of that production. Only good thing I did was the Ares \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722228867855822848|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 6:02 PM - 18 Apr 2016 \\
While I am happy for the new @StarTrek series next year. Sad that I am blacklisted because of Axanar and the crap that it has put us thru \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722875845778415616|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 12:53 PM - 20 Apr 2016 \\
@AxaMonitor @StarTrek was told a conflict of interest. Which sucks since I made no money on that project. Just a fan wanting 2 create 4 trek \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722876921105625088|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 12:57 PM - 20 Apr 2016 \\
@PhilsStalkers I am not throwing stones at anyone. I just want this nightmare to be over \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722878834194821120|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 1:05 PM - 20 Apr 2016 \\
Hey all I am not asking for sympathy because of Ax what is done is done. I want Trek to be good again. I just want 2b a fan \\
\\
[[twit>https://twitter.com/SeanTourangeau/status/716720069301002241|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 1:12 PM - 3 Apr 2016 \\
Really to the point where I don't know if I like @StarTrek anymore. Blacklist for working on a fan film kinda takes the fun out of it. \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722887891236487168|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 1:41 PM - 20 Apr 2016 \\
@oahu63 @Gary_Sebben I know. It is just a crappy result of jumping on board what at the time I thought was a good looking fan project. \\
\\
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/722895254093897729|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 2:10 PM - 20 Apr 2016 \\
Kinda feel like the show the Internet ruined my life. Just substitute a production.
Tourangeau's displeasure began with this April 10 {!subtweet:(on Twitter) a post that refers to a particular user without directly mentioning them.}}, apparently aimed at Axanar producer Alec Peters:
[[twit>SeanTourangeau/status/719373695290974209|Sean P. Tourangeau]] 8:57 PM - 10 Apr 2016 \\
In case anyone cares I am not part of a certain project anymore. Tired of defending a certain person who can care less about the help
Tourangeau appeared to express more Axanar regrets in another subtweeted exchange — this time with [[CBS officials|John Van Citters]], vice president of product development at CBS Consumer Products.
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**Keywords**
{{tag>defendants copyright players lawsuit does}}