The Star Trek fan movie Axanar files a motion to try to stop CBS’ copyright infringement claim against them.
The Star Trek fan movie Axanar has had a bumpy run so far. There have been many delays, arguments between the production staff and talent, and a lawsuit from CBS. Today it looks like Axanar is trying to overcome one of those hurdles.
Last year CBS sued Axanar because they claimed that the fan made and crowdfunded project used “innumerable copyrighted elements of Star Trek, including its settings, characters, species, and themes.” Now Anaxar has filed a motion to dismiss the CBS lawsuit.
Anaxar is hoping that at least one of these three points will stick:
First Anaxar is saying that CBS’ claim of “innumerable copyrighted elements of Star Trek” is unfair because Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and all the Star Trek movies constitute different unique properties. If a judge were to side with Anaxar on this point it might have a huge effect on what fans are allowed to do with the series they love.
Next Anaxar is asking CBS to prove using a chain of evidence that they legally own the rights to Star Trek. This may not be as easy as it sounds since Star Trek’s rights have been passed around multiple times and by companies that are no longer in existence.
Finally Anaxar says that CBS can’t sue them because they haven’t actually made the movie yet.
Will any of Anaxar’s arguments work? We don’t know, but it they do it could be an interesting development for fans who want to create new works in the universes of their favorite properties.
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