Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
shenzhou_kickstarter [2018/07/08 00:55] – [The Risks] adds lb to dollar equivalent Carlos Pedrazashenzhou_kickstarter [2018/08/22 16:08] (current) – [Kickstarter Campaign Launches for Fan-Published ‘Discovery’ Book] updates with successful conclusion of Kickstarter Carlos Pedraza
Line 3: Line 3:
 ====== Kickstarter Campaign Launches for Fan-Published ‘Discovery’ Book ====== ====== Kickstarter Campaign Launches for Fan-Published ‘Discovery’ Book ======
  
-**//In the Wake of the Axanar Lawsuit, Fans Wonder if CBS Will Clamp Down on Publishing Project//**+**//In the Wake of Axanar Lawsuit and Fan Film Guidelines, Fans Wonder if CBS Will Clamp Down on Project//**
  
 {{TOC}} {{TOC}}
Line 10: Line 10:
 An ambitious U.K. Kickstarter campaign may test whether CBS' safe harbor for otherwise copyright-infringing fan films will also extend to fan-published books. An ambitious U.K. Kickstarter campaign may test whether CBS' safe harbor for otherwise copyright-infringing fan films will also extend to fan-published books.
  
 +<WRAP round important>
 +<wrap em lo>UPDATE</wrap> <wrap lo>The Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter campaign ended August 20, 2018, having reached [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|128 percent]] of its goal, for a total of £2,574 (USD $3,324) from 68 backers.</wrap>
 +</WRAP>
 ===== Star Trek: Shenzhou ===== ===== Star Trek: Shenzhou =====
  
-The project, "[[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Star Trek: Shenzou]]," describes itself as a "Star Trek: Discovery fanbook … styled as though 'Star Trek: Shenzhou' was a 1974 spin-off from The Original Series," featuring  almost 200 pages of fan art and stories.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.))+The project, "[[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Star Trek: Shenzou]]," describes itself as a "Star Trek: Discovery fanbook … styled as though 'Star Trek: Shenzhou' was a 1974 spin-off from The Original Series," featuring a planned 170 pages of fan art and stories.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.))
  
 [{{ ::shenzhou_concept.jpg?direct&400|**SHENZHOU CONCEPT** art likely to appear in the Shenzhou fan book is featured on the book's Kickstarter campaign page. //Click to view larger image// <wrap indent><wrap lo>//Art/Shenzhou Kickstarter//</wrap></wrap>}}] [{{ ::shenzhou_concept.jpg?direct&400|**SHENZHOU CONCEPT** art likely to appear in the Shenzhou fan book is featured on the book's Kickstarter campaign page. //Click to view larger image// <wrap indent><wrap lo>//Art/Shenzhou Kickstarter//</wrap></wrap>}}]
Line 18: Line 21:
 ==== Backer Rewards ==== ==== Backer Rewards ====
  
-The campaign, posted on July1, 2018, aimed to raise £2,000 (USD$2,657) to pay for publishing a hard copy volume. Backers needed to donate at least £20 (USD$27) to receive a copy. Other rewards included specially commissioned character art, topping out at a £200-level (USD$198) donation.+The campaign, posted July 1, 2018, aimed to raise £2,000 (USD$2,657) to pay for publishing a hard copy volume. Backers needed to donate at least £20 (USD$27) to receive a copy. Other rewards included specially commissioned character art, topping out at a £200-level (USD$198) donation.
  
 ==== Progress to Goal ==== ==== Progress to Goal ====
  
-The campaign started out strong, raising more than 20 percent of its goal on Day 1. As of this posting date (July 7), the Kickstarter stood at 40 percent funded, with the Kickstarter-monitoring website [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Kicktraq noting]] the campaign trending toward an eventual funding level of £5,923 (USD$7,871) by the time it was to conclude on August 20 — nearly 300 percent of its goal.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Kicktraq page for Star Trek: Shenzhou]], retrieved 7/7/18. Kicktraq cautioned that its trends are not projections.))+The campaign started out strong, raising more than 20 percent of its goal on Day 1. As of this posting date (July 7), the Kickstarter stood at 40 percent funded, with the Kickstarter-monitoring website, [[https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Kicktraq, noting]] the campaign trending toward an eventual funding level of £5,923 (USD$7,871) by the time it was to conclude on August 20 — nearly 300 percent of its goal.(([[https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook|Kicktraq page for Star Trek: Shenzhou]], retrieved 7/7/18. Kicktraq cautioned that its trends are not projections.)) 
 + 
 +<WRAP right round important 50%> 
 +<wrap lo><wrap em>NO COMMENT YET</wrap> **AxaMonitor** contacted campaign leader En Gingerboom for a comment but he had not responded before this article was posted. Should he reply, this article will be updated accordingly.</wrap> 
 +</WRAP>
  
 ==== Limited Run ==== ==== Limited Run ====
  
 However, in an effort to escape the possible ire of Star Trek's owners, campaign leader En Gingerboom (possibly a pseudonym) of Newcastle, U.K., capped the number of books to be produced at 100. However, in an effort to escape the possible ire of Star Trek's owners, campaign leader En Gingerboom (possibly a pseudonym) of Newcastle, U.K., capped the number of books to be produced at 100.
- 
-**AxaMonitor** contacted Gingerboom for a comment but he had not responded before this article was posted. Should he reply, this article will be updated accordingly. 
  
 [{{ ::en_gingerboom.jpg?250|**ALTER EGO** Graphic artist and Star Trek fan En Gingerboom created the artwork slated to appear in the fan-produced book, "Star Trek: Shenzhou." <wrap lo>//Image/nattherat.co.uk//</wrap>}}] [{{ ::en_gingerboom.jpg?250|**ALTER EGO** Graphic artist and Star Trek fan En Gingerboom created the artwork slated to appear in the fan-produced book, "Star Trek: Shenzhou." <wrap lo>//Image/nattherat.co.uk//</wrap>}}]
Line 40: Line 45:
 Gingerboom encouraged prospective backers to donate before the limited number of book copies were ordered, adding he hoped for a second campaign would allow for another printing if he could stay "within the allowed crowdfunding amount, but I can't guarantee that second printing."(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.)) Gingerboom encouraged prospective backers to donate before the limited number of book copies were ordered, adding he hoped for a second campaign would allow for another printing if he could stay "within the allowed crowdfunding amount, but I can't guarantee that second printing."(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.))
  
-[{{https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook/minichart.png|**TRACKING THE KICKSTARTER** The stats website, Kicktraq keeps tabs on the progress of the "Star Trek: Shenzou" book publication project. The £2,000 goal is equivalent to USD$2,657.}}]+[{{https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook/minichart.png|**TRACKING THE KICKSTARTER** The crowdfunding statistics website, Kicktraq, keeps tabs on the progress of the "Star Trek: Shenzou" book publication project. The £2,000 goal is equivalent to USD$2,657. //This graphic updates upon refresh//.}}]
  
 ==== Running Afoul of CBS Guidelines ==== ==== Running Afoul of CBS Guidelines ====
Line 52: Line 57:
 === Only Fan Films === === Only Fan Films ===
  
-In explaining the limits of the fan film guidelines, CBS' vice president for licensing, John Van Citters, said the [[guidelines-podcast#questions_and_answers|podcast interview]] "apply only to video presentations, including animation and even slide shows." Audio dramas and fan fiction fell outside the purview of the guidelines.+In explaining the limits of the fan film guidelines, CBS' vice president for licensing, John Van Citters, said in a 2016 [[guidelines-podcast#questions_and_answers|podcast interview]] they "apply only to video presentations, including animation and even slide shows." Audio dramas and fan fiction fell outside the purview of the guidelines.
  
 Consequently, the crowdfunding limits Gingerboom referred to do not apply to his book project, putting the ball in CBS' court about whether to take action. Consequently, the crowdfunding limits Gingerboom referred to do not apply to his book project, putting the ball in CBS' court about whether to take action.
Line 70: Line 75:
 ===== Other Crowdfunded Star Trek Fan Books ===== ===== Other Crowdfunded Star Trek Fan Books =====
  
-"Star Trek: Shenzhou" is not be the first crowdfunded fan-produced book, however.+"Star Trek: Shenzhou" is not the first crowdfunded fan-produced book, however. 
 + 
 +==== Fender's ‘Four Years War’ Series ====
  
 Author Stephen Fender ran a series of Kickstarter campaigns from 2014 to 2015, publishing four unauthorized novels and technical manual chronicling "The Four Years War" — the conflict between Star Trek's United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, as well as a series of novels about Earth's Romulan War. Author Stephen Fender ran a series of Kickstarter campaigns from 2014 to 2015, publishing four unauthorized novels and technical manual chronicling "The Four Years War" — the conflict between Star Trek's United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, as well as a series of novels about Earth's Romulan War.
  
-Fender's [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1910450936/star-trek-the-four-years-war-technical-manual|most recent Kickstarter]] effort, in 2015, raised $18,968. In total, his crowdfunding raised more than $35,000.+Fender's [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1910450936/star-trek-the-four-years-war-technical-manual|most recent Star Trek Kickstarter]] effort, in 2015, raised $18,968. In total, his crowdfunding raised more than $35,000.
  
 [{{ :captain-peters-1.jpg?nolink|**ALEC PETERS**}}] [{{ :captain-peters-1.jpg?nolink|**ALEC PETERS**}}]
  
-==== The Axanar Connection ====+=== The Axanar Connection ===
  
 Fender's "Four Years War" is the same one that was to be tackled in the unmade feature, //[[Axanar]]//, produced by OWC Studios head [[Alec Peters]], who has cited Fender's novels as part of his inspiration for //Axanar//. Fender's "Four Years War" is the same one that was to be tackled in the unmade feature, //[[Axanar]]//, produced by OWC Studios head [[Alec Peters]], who has cited Fender's novels as part of his inspiration for //Axanar//.
Line 84: Line 91:
 A "making of //Axanar//" behind the scenes video that was to have been produced by Peters featured an interview with Fender. In the wake of CBS' and Paramount's [[copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]] against Peters and his [[Axanar Productions]], however, Fender distanced himself from Peters and his project. A "making of //Axanar//" behind the scenes video that was to have been produced by Peters featured an interview with Fender. In the wake of CBS' and Paramount's [[copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]] against Peters and his [[Axanar Productions]], however, Fender distanced himself from Peters and his project.
  
-Also, Fender deleted his Kickstarter account,(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1910450936/star-trek-the-four-years-war-technical-manual|The Romulan War and Four Years War Tech Manual Kickstarter campaign]], retrieved 7/7/18.)) though his Kickstarter campaigns' pages remain on the crowdfunding site.+Also, Fender deleted his Kickstarter account,(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1910450936/star-trek-the-four-years-war-technical-manual|The Romulan War and Four Years War Tech Manual Kickstarter campaign]], retrieved 7/7/18.)) though his [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1910450936/star-trek-the-four-years-war-technical-manual|Kickstarter campaigns]]' pages remain on the crowdfunding site.
  
-===== Mixed Fan Reactions =====+[{{ ::ladies_of_kirk.jpg|CBS allowed this fan publication on condition the author never sell Star Trek merchandise again. <wrap lo>//Image/'Ladies of Kirk' Kickstarter//</wrap>}}]
  
-While "Star Trek: Shenzhou"'s Kickstarter fared well in its first week, it garnered few comments from donors. On other forums, however, Star Trek fans wondered about "Shenzhou"'s likelihood to attract a "[[copyright_infringement#what_does_copyright_protect|cease and desist]]" letter from CBS' attorneys.+==== ‘The Ladies of Kirk’ ====
  
-On Facebook's Fan Film Forum, a generally pro-Axanar discussion group, former fan producer Kelly Rhodes, forced to have "scrapped my plans due to the fan film guideline restrictions, I think the guidelines should either apply to all Trek fan productions or none. It is infuriating that all Trek fan production media but films can call it Star Trek and offer incentives to backers. The guidelines target and attack one fan medium.  I know CBS and Paramount do this because their medium is live action productions and that’s all they really care about. Still, its frustrating when other Trek fan production mediums can still do what Trek fan film makers have been told they can’t do."(([[face>groups/fanfilmforum/permalink/741438512863517/?comment_id=741953422812026&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R1%22%7D|Kelly Rhodes comment, Fan Film Forum]] Facebook group, 7/7/18.))+A 2015 Kickstarter-funded fan publication, "[[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/336065921/ladies-of-kirk/description|The Ladies of Kirk]]," by Kelley McMorris, raised $11,253 before CBS' attorneys stepped in.  
 + 
 +The book was advertised as "an illustrated guide to all the women Captain Kirk ever kissed."(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/336065921/ladies-of-kirk/description|'The Ladies of Kirk' Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/8/18.)) 
 + 
 +CBS allowed McMorris to fulfill the promised rewards for the book on one condition, as McMorris explained to backers: 
 + 
 +> Unfortunately there will be no more Trek-related projects from me. A few weeks after the Kickstarter ended, I was contacted by CBS' legal team about my unauthorized use of the copyrighted Star Trek content. They graciously allowed me to fulfill my promises to my Kickstarter backers if, basically, I agreed not to sell any more Star Trek stuff. On the bright side, that means that all your Ladies of Kirk copies are super limited edition!(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/336065921/ladies-of-kirk/posts/1395605|Ladies of Kirk Kickstarter page]], Update #13, 10/27/15.)) 
 + 
 +===== Mixed Fan Reactions to ‘Shenzhou’ ===== 
 + 
 +While the "Star Trek: Shenzhou" Kickstarter fared well in its first week, it garnered few comments from donors. In other forums, however, Star Trek fans wondered about "Shenzhou"'s likelihood to attract a "[[copyright_infringement#what_does_copyright_protect|cease and desist]]" letter from CBS' attorneys. 
 + 
 +On Facebook's Fan Film Forum, a generally pro-Axanar discussion group, former fan producer Kelly Rhodes, forced to have "scrapped my plans due to the fan film guideline restrictions," said he believed "the guidelines should either apply to all Trek fan productions or none. It is infuriating that all Trek fan production media but films can call it Star Trek and offer incentives to backers. The guidelines target and attack one fan medium.  I know CBS and Paramount do this because their medium is live action productions and that’s all they really care about. Still, it's frustrating when other Trek fan production mediums can still do what Trek fan film makers have been told they can’t do."(([[face>groups/fanfilmforum/permalink/741438512863517/?comment_id=741953422812026&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R1%22%7D|Kelly Rhodes comment, Fan Film Forum]] Facebook group, 7/7/18.))
  
 ===== Publishing Experience ===== ===== Publishing Experience =====
Line 96: Line 115:
 Gingerboom explained he has been successfully self-publishing books since 2010, and has led successful crowdfunding campaigns in the past, funding his original projects, "What Is It Katy?" on Indiegogo, and Twenty Thirty Three via preorders.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.)) Gingerboom explained he has been successfully self-publishing books since 2010, and has led successful crowdfunding campaigns in the past, funding his original projects, "What Is It Katy?" on Indiegogo, and Twenty Thirty Three via preorders.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/engingerboom/star-trek-shenzhou-a-star-trek-discovery-fanbook| Star Trek: Shenzhou Kickstarter page]], retrieved 7/7/18.))
  
-"I'm experienced in self-publishing books like this," Gingerboom said, "and anticipate no difficulty in this regard. I have and will continue to be transparent about the progress of the book."+"I'm experienced in self-publishing books like this," Gingerboom said, "and anticipate no difficulty in this regard. I have and will continue to be transparent about the progress of the book."  {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}} 
 + 
 +<WRAP tip 75%> 
 +<wrap em>COMMENTS</wrap> \\ 
 +Discuss this article in [[face>groups/axamonitor/permalink/422126701635516/|AxaMonitor's Facebook group]]. 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +**Keywords** {{tag>crowdfunding Facebook book lawsuit copyright}}