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GoFundMe Seeks $25K for Seuss-Trek Mashup Defense
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Defendants in the Dr. Seuss-Star Trek mashup copyright/trademark infringement case, including Trek author and Axanar advocate David Gerrold, are trying to raise $25,000 to fund their legal defense .
Seuss v. ComicMix
In Seuss-like verse, the GoFundMe page lays out the defendants’ fair use defense, claiming their case is the bellwether for the legality of creative works that “mash up” the creative works of others.
The case has dragged on since November 2016, brought by Dr. Seuss Enterprises after ComicMix and Gerrold raised tens of thousands of dollars on Kickstarter to create the Trek-Seuss mashup, a book called, “Oh, the Places You’ll Boldly Go!”
The Case So Far
Since the lawsuit was filed, a federal judge noted in June 2017 that the case raised important questions about how legal such mashups might be under copyright and trademark law.
In December 2017, the defendants lost their attempt to have the case dismissed.
Then in May 2018, ComicMix scored a legal victory in having the trademark aspects related to the book’s title (similar to Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”) turned aside, but Seuss’ copyright claims survived.
The Plea
ComicMix’s GoFundMe page lays out their case in Seussian verse:
Now, it’s taken long months, and it’s cost lots of swag
But we’ve gotten rulings about which we can brag
We got judgement on the pleadings, a partial decision
Leaving only what’s left after the court’s excision.
Unfortunately, now the case REALLY gets pricey,
And if we can’t pay, then the outcome gets dicey.
We’re fighting a company with millions of bucks
And we’ve spent most of ours, which truly just… stinks.1)
Progress Toward $25K Goal
In the nine days since it launched the GoFundMe effort has raised $1,540 from 40 people, only 6 percent of its goal. As a crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe is a challenge, with one study finding 90 percent of its campaigns failing.
To its credit, however, GoFundMe listed the campaign as trending on June 22.
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