Got word alongs the wave that the Alliance (Universal) is out to get you. This is quoted from a friend on another site. If you're doing any work, keep it off the waves.

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Hey guys! It was suggested I post this here, so...

Remember when "Serenity" was coming out, Universal was all supportive of guerilla marketing and campaigning and fans and fansites? Universal is now sending C&Ds to "Serenity"-related fansites and shops.

First up, the report from Whedonesque from earlier this week:

Universal Licensing LLC closing Serenity/Firefly fan shops. Fans getting C&D orders, Cafepress have removed all search results for Firefly and Serenity. 20th Century Fox closed another site earlier in the month. Edit: Chris says 'Some shopowners have gotten notices from Universal's legal people about infringement, with some serious language (not just Cease and Desist).' Edit: Black Market Beagles closing. (read more)

Next, a statement from 11th Hour, posted to the Firefly boards:

The Demand continues, and includes such stipulations that within 72 hours I must agree to: pay a retroactive $8,750 licensing fee; the permanent closing of my shop; turn over any merchandise referring to the Universal Property; and provide the last 12 months complete sales records... there's more, but that's the gist... oh, except for the threat of federal court and the statutory damages thingy of $150,000 per infringed work... don't want to go leaving that part out. (read more)

There is interesting commentary resulting from that at Whedonesque, including whether or not it would be worth it to boycott Universal.

See also, the Open Letter to Browncoats at Serenity Stuff:

After years of the careful and unspoken "we won't notice fan-made stuff as long as it doesn't compete with our own merchandise, should we ever get around to making any" attitude from FOX and Universal, a conflict has arisen and a heavy hand is making itself known. No longer will fans get away with their own Serenity logo T-shirts or barely-Photoshopped crewmember designs. It's not worth the hassle and Universal is well within their rights to block such things, even though in the real world I suspect this will end up costing them a lot in good will and fan backlash.

Finally, there is The Browncoat Invoice. Fans have been asked to write in and submit the total number of hours they have spent promoting and marketing "Serenity." Billable hours so far stand at 20,257 with a estimated amount due being $1,519,275.

Dave

Pvt.
D.Wong
A12/TQ1.0.12144E2

MySpace

My Costumes and Props

Outstanding. Now all we need is a deck of cards.

Boy, that friggin' sucks bigtime!! Scum suckin' dirtbags...

So... what's that mean? they paying fans for their time, or charging them?
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Fear is funny. You wouldn't think you could jump five inches using only your ass as a propulsion device..

Not shiny...not shiny at all:(
Chris

<span style="color:orange;font-size:large;]"Long live the fighters!"

I've heard of Fox sending out C&D's to the Firefly sites but 'Serenity' is owned by Joss Wheedon and not Universal.

I've also heard many of the C&D's being sent out at by e-mail. Unless it is in paper format and has explicit instructions on who to contact with regards to the legal implications then it is a fake.

...but Fox doing that..........doesn't really surprise me.
[img]http://www.colonialmarines.net/Banner.jpg[/img]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that paragraph
explains how the backlash has already started.

I read it as....
"If they are going to C&D us, we're going to bill them for the hours we spent promoting their show!"

Ah, I'm braindead today. ^^;

Couldn't tell if the Company asked them to, or if it was a fan based idea.
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Fear is funny. You wouldn't think you could jump five inches using only your ass as a propulsion device..

I wonder if QMX woke a sleeping dragon?

Unshiny

Oh, juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean-jan!

Miserable bastards all. I don't care if they are legally within their rights. There's such a thing as decency.
But who am I kidding? These big companies wouldn't know decency if a Reaver beat them over the head with some...
Cpl Saincantin, J. A07/TQ0.0.82143E1

It will cotinue, items will be sold........the forums will remain and that is where the products lie. Just no direct website links now.
It goes underground
[img]http://www.colonialmarines.net/Banner.jpg[/img]

I still aim to misbehave...I hope the vendors do too.
Cpl. Swartzell
A05/TQ1.0.72150E1

"He's just a Grunt, no offense." "None taken..."

I'd think Universal (Paramount?) would make more money suing all the Trekies....
Dave

Pvt.
D.Wong
A12/TQ1.0.12144E2

MySpace

My Costumes and Props

Outstanding. Now all we need is a deck of cards.Edited by: [url=http://p220.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=dsw777>dsw777[/url]  at: 11/2/06 11:59 am

From 11th Hour:



Ripper

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"He understood how; he did not understand why" -1984