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Re: URGENT!! The Wrath of Viacom!
> Paramount/Viacom has trademarked all Star Trek characters and various names
> connected with the show (including terms like "Klingon", "Cardassian",
> etc.). If you write a story using those characters or terms as an integral
> part of the story, you are making unauthorized use of their trademark. It
> doesn't matter that you're not profiting by it - you are potentially damaging
> their trademarks by portraying them in a fashion they haven't approved of.
> Further, you are depriving Paramount of revenue, because you have failed to
> license their trademarks.
That would seem to imply that if I make a negative post about Klingons
(TM) in one of the RAST groups then Paramount has the right to sue me
for defaming their creation? If they don't like what I say about
Klingons (TM) do they reserve the right to stop me from ever venturing
forth an opinion about Klingons (TM)? I can easily write a long-winded
post about how much I hate the Klingons (TM) and how annoying they are
and how unrealistic they are and how goofy their ridged heads are, etc.,
etc. This is not what I actually think of the Klingons (TM), but could I
write such a post? Might someone decide not to watch any episodes or
movies with Klingons because of my opinion and therefore deprive
Paramount of profit?
Paramount has an obvious right to protect their copyright, but just how
far are they going to push this? It sounds like they want to obliterate
fandom...the very thing that has filled their pockets for decades. Is
Paramount going to publish a guide for us so that we know what we can
do?
I have 700+ pages of Star Trek research that I have spend 5+ years
working on. It has never made me a cent or deprived Paramount of any
money (or, for that matter, been seen by more than a few people). I
guess I have to delete the files now for fear of a squad of lawyers
coming to my home and dragging me off to prison.
In fact, this very post is probably illegal and a copyright violation.
Resistance is futile...you will be trademarked!
-------------------------------------------
Robert Oliver (roliver@mint.net)
Steeltown: a Big Country web site
http://www.mint.net/~roliver/bc-mint.htm
Big Country: The greatest Scottish rock band you've never heard
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