Star Trek Uncharted...

[Overgeeked]

So I saw this today and I'm wondering what the community thinks.

"Fan asked to pitch Trek TV series to Paramount..."

While I agree with the broad strokes of the concept he has up on his site, I'm not sure about the script.

 

[fireproof78]

A couple of things:

First, isn't CBS the person to pitch for a TV series as they hold that part of Trek right?

Secondly, the whole trying to discover the creators of life was done before (TNG "The Search" I believe) and was attempted by GR himself several times, before scrapping the idea. When Shatner pitched is search for God (or possibly the devil, depending on the draft). I don't see that going well.

Finally, there are too many Prometheus references for the project's own good. That's a problem if you want your concept to stand out as unique and original.

My skepticism on this one is pretty high, from trekmovies banner, to the way it is all set up, I don't find it credible. I could be wrong, but it just doesn't set right.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

TrekMovie is quite trustworthy, fireproof. If that's what you meant -- that they aren't -- then I'm sure most of us here can vouch for them at least broadly. They're good people. Reporting on this is sensible, I think.

The fellow in question has posted here a bunch of times before, by the way. He made a topic about happening to have this domain several weeks ago. Kind of cool watching this all unwind.

I wished him the best of luck and I'll do so here as well, but I think we're all skeptical (himself included, from what I gathered) about what this really means. Odds are it's a token olive branch since they're taking the domain. But it's neat and he's going to do his best regardless.

As for Paramount and not CBS being involved in this, yeah, that's quite odd. Speculation has arisen that perhaps they're looking into streaming venues or there's some deal with CBS going on behind the scenes that we're all unaware of. Probably it's just nonsense, but I've already covered that.

 

[FreddyE]

CBS has the rights to the EXISTING TV-Series....why should that nessecaraly mean that they are the only ones allowed to make a new series?

 

[KennyB]

While I wish him the best......I voiced my concern at TrekMovie that I feared it was a shell game to grab the domain. I just hope that he has a good rep and he does well in the deal. I wish him the best but it seems odd.

 

[Tom]

CBS has the rights to the EXISTING TV-Series....why should that nessecaraly mean that they are the only ones allowed to make a new series?

Because CBS owns Star Trek period. Since the split into 2 separate companies, all ownership rights went to CBS. So it there decision.

That said, CBS can contract with another studios (like Paramount) to make a series, it happens all the time.

 

[Dukhat]

I'm extremely confused. I know Paramount does have a television division (but not a network, so what network would this presumed show be running on?), but they do not own the rights to Star Trek. The only reason why they can even make Trek films is that CBS has given them a license to do so. So the only way this is possible is that CBS has given them a license to make a television show as well (and I'm not enough in the know to know if that's something that's even realistic.) And even if that's true, why on Earth would Paramount ask some fan to pitch a show?

Sounds like a bunch of BS to me.

 

[Tom]

I'm extremely confused. I know Paramount does have a television division (but not a network, so what network would this presumed show be running on?), but they do not own the rights to Star Trek. The only reason why they can even make Trek films is that CBS has given them a license to do so. So the only way this is possible is that CBS has given them a license to make a television show as well (and I'm not enough in the know to know if that's something that's even realistic.) And even if that's true, why on Earth would Paramount ask some fan to pitch a show?

Paramount may 'possibly' propose a new series to CBS as well as renewal of the film rights when there contract is up. Paramount could produce the show in there studios and CBS could distribute it. Seems like a stretch, I know. Bottom-line is the final decision on any TV series comes from CBS.

 

[fireproof78]

TrekMovie is quite trustworthy, fireproof. If that's what you meant -- that they aren't -- then I'm sure most of us here can vouch for them at least broadly. They're good people. Reporting on this is sensible, I think.

The fellow in question has posted here a bunch of times before, by the way. He made a topic about happening to have this domain several weeks ago. Kind of cool watching this all unwind.

I wished him the best of luck and I'll do so here as well, but I think we're all skeptical (himself included, from what I gathered) about what this really means. Odds are it's a token olive branch since they're taking the domain. But it's neat and he's going to do his best regardless.

As for Paramount and not CBS being involved in this, yeah, that's quite odd. Speculation has arisen that perhaps they're looking into streaming venues or there's some deal with CBS going on behind the scenes that we're all unaware of. Probably it's just nonsense, but I've already covered that.

To clarify, I don't doubt there trustworthiness, so much as the whole article just feels off to me. I like TM just fine, but the article just seemed odd to me, that's all. I don't have a better way of describing it than a gut feeling.

I do wish him the best but I have reservations about the concept too. Though, the tech and crew are interesting.

 

[Karzak]

I'd be less cynical if the source of information wasn't just Gummelt. Also, I highly doubt that CBS or Paramount would be in any way actually interested in developing a project based on a 20-year old fan film idea.

More than likely, the suits wanted the domain name for their major motion picture and rather than get into a sticky legal "we're taking the domain back because it's based on our intellectual property" they are entertaining the kid for an hour.

Also, TrekMovie might be "trustworthy" but it's also just a blog, dressed up all pretty like. They wouldn't know actual journalism if it beamed down from orbit and bit their cocks off.

 

[Tom]

Well Anthony Pascale did not write the article. Anthony is great at vetting the truth which gave TM a solid reputation. In the past couple years he has let others run the site, so I'm not show how well things get vetted before there posted these days. I feel the MGummelt is telling the truth, it just a question of Paramount's intentions.

I'd be less cynical if the source of information wasn't just Gummelt. Also, I highly doubt that CBS or Paramount would be in any way actually interested in developing a project based on a 20-year old fan film idea.

Neither Paramount or CBS will ever make a public statement of any pitches that are planned, or are in process. They will only tell you if they are going to have a new show ready. For the parties that are making pitch's it does little to back them up, but that is the way that PR works in the industry.

 

[Ryan8bit]

More than likely, the suits wanted the domain name for their major motion picture and rather than get into a sticky legal "we're taking the domain back because it's based on our intellectual property" they are entertaining the kid for an hour.

Pretty much this. Except he's not exactly a kid though.

Even if they humor him, that doesn't mean they're going to follow through with it. Unless we don't want to take Frakes for his word that they're just not interested.

 

[Karzak]

Neither Paramount or CBS will ever make a public statement of any pitches that are planned, or are in process. They will only tell you if they are going to have a new show ready. For the parties that are making pitch's it does little to back them up, but that is the way that PR works in the industry.

It also does little to inspire much confidence in me.

I've got a meeting with CBS tomorrow morning at 10 to pitch a STAR TREK idea for a new series, too. (They're just bringin' everyone in these days, lol) but sorry, I can't back my claim up with any verifiable proof.

Prove that I'm telling the truth.

All I'm saying is, it's nice that Paramount is doing this, but they probably crunched the numbers and realized it'd be far cheaper to have this guy in to bore them for an hour than to send a legal team to dot their "i"s and cross their "t"s.

 

[Dukhat]

More than likely, the suits wanted the domain name for their major motion picture and rather than get into a sticky legal "we're taking the domain back because it's based on our intellectual property" they are entertaining the kid for an hour.

But as was stated before, CBS/Paramount can just take that domain name, since it has Star Trek in the title, and that would just be tough shit for Gummelt. They don't have to entertain him at all.

 

[Overgeeked]

More than likely, the suits wanted the domain name for their major motion picture and rather than get into a sticky legal "we're taking the domain back because it's based on our intellectual property" they are entertaining the kid for an hour.

But as was stated before, CBS/Paramount can just take that domain name, since it has Star Trek in the title, and that would just be tough shit for Gummelt. They don't have to entertain him at all.

But the process will still take time and money. And lawyers. Or they can just set up a meeting with the guy, smile and nod a bit and get the domain for less time, basically no money... and no lawyers. Not to mention the fan PR nightmare that simply yanking the domain would cause. But frankly I'm surprised CBS/Paramount lets the fans get away with as much as they do, what with all the fan productions and kickstarters using the Trek IP.

 

[Dukhat]

But the process will still take time and money. And lawyers. Or they can just set up a meeting with the guy, smile and nod a bit and get the domain for less time, basically no money... and no lawyers.

But no lawyers are needed, because there's nothing that Gummelt could possibly sue about.

Not to mention the fan PR nightmare that simply yanking the domain would cause.

I doubt there'd be any "fan nightmare" at all, since this is a 20 year old fan proposal from a website that, until today, nobody probably even heard of.

But frankly I'm surprised CBS/Paramount lets the fans get away with as much as they do, what with all the fan productions and kickstarters using the Trek IP.

This is different. Gummelt's site name is the name for the new film, and Paramount doesn't want people going to StarTrekBeyond.com and seeing his stuff. So he changed the name of his site. Whatever else he's talking about is another story.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I asked the obvious question in the Trekmovie comments section:

115. Ryan Thomas Riddle - June 19, 2015
Did anyone at Trekmovie bother to try to contact CBS or Paramount to confirm this?

If not, that’s just shoddy reporting.

 

[Overgeeked]

But no lawyers are needed, because there's nothing that Gummelt could possibly sue about.

You are aware that the guy owns the website name, right? So short of getting lawyers involved and the courts CBS/Paramount cannot simply take the domain name from him. It's his property. Either he hands it over or CBS/Paramount gets lawyers involved to go through the legal process of taking the domain name away from him and the only reason they can even do that is because it uses their IP prominently.

I doubt there'd be any "fan nightmare" at all, since this is a 20 year old fan proposal from a website that, until today, nobody probably even heard of.

When the name of the new film was announced months back / last year people immediately went to the domain name and found this guy's site.

This is different. Gummelt's site name is the name for the new film, and Paramount doesn't want people going to StarTrekBeyond.com and seeing his stuff. So he changed the name of his site. Whatever else he's talking about is another story.

Exactly. The guy owns the site name and has for years. And since CBS/Paramount do not want this guy getting attention because they named their movie the same as this guy's site, they have to do something. And since there are such things as laws they can't simply take the site name away from him, they need either a) his permission, ie him willfully giving it to them; or b) going through the legal process of taking it away from him as it uses their IP.

And it's that second scenario that would create a fan nightmare in the PR department. Think of all the fan sites that would suddenly shit themselves if CBS/Paramount decided to start rattling their lawyers at this one fan site? Yeah, that's a fan nightmare.

 

[Dukhat]

You are aware that the guy owns the website name, right? So short of getting lawyers involved and the courts CBS/Paramount cannot simply take the domain name from him. It's his property. Either he hands it over or CBS/Paramount gets lawyers involved to go through the legal process of taking the domain name away from him and the only reason they can even do that is because it uses their IP prominently.

That's not how it works. His site uses "Star Trek" in its name, which is copyrighted by CBS. So they can take his site name whether he owns it or not.

When the name of the new film was announced months back / last year people immediately went to the domain name and found this guy's site.

Which is exactly what Paramount didn't want, as I just said. Which is why he had to change the site's name.

The guy owns the site name and has for years. And since CBS/Paramount do not want this guy getting attention because they named their movie the same as this guy's site, they have to do something. And since there are such things as laws they can't simply take the site name away from him, they need either a) his permission, ie him willfully giving it to them; or b) going through the legal process of taking it away from him as it uses their IP.

And it's that second scenario that would create a fan nightmare in the PR department. Think of all the fan sites that would suddenly shit themselves if CBS/Paramount decided to start rattling their lawyers at this one fan site? Yeah, that's a fan nightmare.

And as I said before, that's not true. And as for all the other sites using "Star Trek" in their name, yeah, if CBS decided one day that they wanted all that gone, it would be gone. Fan sites mean nothing to them. They exist at CBS's pleasure, because for right now CBS has no reason to go after them, unless it's a special case like StarTrekBeyond. Yes, fans might be unhappy about it but would they stop watching Star Trek? Hell no.

 

[BillJ]

I asked the obvious question in the Trekmovie comments section:

115. Ryan Thomas Riddle - June 19, 2015
Did anyone at Trekmovie bother to try to contact CBS or Paramount to confirm this?

If not, that’s just shoddy reporting.

I simply don't believe the story. Seems unlikely that Paramount would tell him to go start blabbing about a project that may or may not get made.