http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/21/paramount-will-end-its-lawsuit-against-star-trek-fan-film/
New Trailer for Beyond, and the announcement that Lin got the Axanar suit dropped.
I’m eager to see these “guidelines” for fan films. I’m sure the rules will be just as crippling to their original script as the lawsuit would be.
I think this situation will probably set the tone for how any future “infringements” are handled by rights holders. The fact that Justin Lin apparently convinced the suits to ease off and J J Abrams was the person to deliver the news makes me feel optimistic about fan films and fan edits too. It’s the faces the public sees and associates with the making of the films and the same ones the studios use to promote them.
I think it’s really all about public relations, the studio won’t want to appear as if they’re harassing the very fans they’ve been trying to cultivate to go see the films they’ve been ripping off in their fan films!
Fan edits might differ slightly because the material is being edited or added to but the bones of them are still the original copyrighted product and not a new creation but I honestly think the same PR mindset will ultimately apply. I think it’s why Disney hasn’t come down on, say, Harmy for his work because they have to be aware of it by now.
Maybe I’m being a bit too optimistic but I can see fan films/edits one day being legitimate and actually embraced by the studios and there to download or view right next to the official versions.
Buy The Wrath of Khan from Paramount and then you have the option to view all fan films or edits or submit your own. It’ll only ever be a niche activity and the average, curious consumer will get a kick out feeling more involved and Paramount will get bonus content and buzz about their product created for free whilst avoiding any bad press by having to chase down John and Joanie Editson for having infringed some copyright.
Everyone’s a winner really… or am I dreamin’?!