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—settlement-progress [2016/08/31 15:59] – [‘Logical, Money-making Solutions’] corrected italics Carlos Pedraza
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 +{{:settlement-conference.jpg|}}
 +{{TOC}}
 +====== Not Much Progress Toward Settlement ======
  
 +[[CBS]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] don't appear willing to cede any kind of business arrangement that would allow //Axanar// to move forward, according to executive producer [[Alec Peters]].
 +
 +In comments posted below Peters' review of //Star Trek Beyond// on the Axanar website,  one fan urged, "Make a deal. … They [CBS and Paramount] have to be willing to let Axanar come about."(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16140|Edward J Cox comment, Axanar blog]], "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))
 +
 +Peters replied on August 14:
 +
 +> We have tried to make a deal and they will have no part of it.(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16141|Alec Peters comment, Axanar blog]], , "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))
 +
 +===== ‘Logical, Money-making Solutions’ =====
 +
 +[{{ :alec_peters.jpg?nolink|Axanar Producer **Alec Peters**}}]
 +
 +This comment marked the first hint about a lack of progress in settlement talks between both sides in the [[copyright_infringement|copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]] against Axanar.
 +
 +Two days later, Peters went further, hinting at a failed effort in negotiations to allow //Axanar// to be produced and would offer a financial incentive for CBS and Paramount presumably based on some kind of Axanar-related revenue stream:
 +
 +> We offered CBS //Axanar// for free 7 months ago, and they refused. They do not care about //Axanar// or what the fans want, and are not open to logical, money-making solutions. They are not working in their shareholders' best interest, nor in a way that makes any sense. This whole lawsuit was ill-advised and a bad business decision. We are just trying to give our 10,000+ donors what they want and donated for.(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16160|Alec Peters comment, Axanar blog]], , "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))
 +
 +Axanar has been criticized for having already created several continuing [[merchandise|revenue streams]], extensively detailed in Axanar's 2015 [[annual_report|Annual Report]]. This commercial operation is likely the "[[direct financial benefit]]" alleged by CBS and Paramount in their legal complaint.
 +
 +==== No Specifics ====
 +
 +Peters offered no specifics on the "money-making solutions" he offered CBS and Paramount, nor what leverage Axanar had for pressing for such a settlement, other than his continuing efforts, directly and through surrogates, to cast the legal dispute as a move by CBS against all fan films. Most other fan films, however, have [[guidelines_backlash|disavowed Axanar]], and accepted ([[guidelines_aftermath|some begrudgingly]]) the new fan production [[cbs_guidelines|guidelines]] released in June 2016.
 +
 +===== About Settlement Talks =====
 +
 +Though the two sides likely had some communication after the suit was filed in December 2015, negotiations seemed to take on new life after the May 20, 2016, announcement at a //Star Trek Beyond// fan event, producer J.J. Abrams that the lawsuit was "going away" in a few weeks.
 +
 +Though widely misreported as CBS and Paramount dropping the suit, that possibility was nevertheless foreclosed one business day later by Axanar's [[answer|counterclaim]] against the plaintiffs, now forced to [[plaintiffs_answer|defend themselves]] from the claim.
 +
 +[{{ :federal-courthouse.jpg?200|**GOING TO COURT** Exterior of the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.}}]
 +
 +==== Going to Trial ====
 +
 +Peters' description of the state of settlement talks followed a podcast interview of //Axanar// director Robert Meyer Burnett, in which Burnett admitted he believed the case would go to trial,(([[http://wordballoon.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/word-balloon-podcast-star-trek.html|Robert Meyer Burnett interview,  "Star Trek Discovery News With Filmmaker Robert Meyer Burnett,"]] Word Balloon Podcast, 8/11/16.)) following his comment in June to the Los Angeles Times:
 +
 +>  I think, unfortunately, the outcome [of the lawsuit] ultimately is not going to be favorable to us and certainly not for our fans and our donors.(([[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-trek-axanar-lawsuit-update-20160617-snap-story.html|"Remember how J.J. Abrams said the lawsuit against the 'Star Trek: Axanar' fan film had been dropped? Not quite]]," Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6/20/16.))
 +
 +<wrap lo>//See also: [[anatomy_of_the_case|Timeline of the Case]]//</wrap>
 +
 +Meanwhile the case continued in [[discovery]], which was due to be complete in November. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}
 +
 +{{page>status}}
 +
 +----
 +**Keywords** {{tag>lawsuit players plaintiffs defendants}}