New Petition, New Angle

[jjrakman]

The following is a new petition directed at Mr.Richard Hatch, to ask him in kind and respectful words to release the trailer for Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming on his website. It may be the only weapon left that can save the series.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Laurana/petition.html

[jjrakman]

The following is a new petition directed at Mr.Richard Hatch, to ask him in kind and respectful words to release the trailer for Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming on his website. It may be the only weapon left that can save the series.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Laurana/petition.html

[KJ]

See the petition and sci-fi channel Bboard for my responce to the petition JJrakman?

KJ

[michaelfaries]

Richard, as before with Ojai's petition, appreciates the gesture. He may not be able to do anything right now, but that shouldn't stop people from sharing their opinions/feelings on the matter.

Michael
:colwar:

[Micheleh]

Right, it is a good gesture, though I'm sure the fan's sentiments on this one are pretty well known by now. I'd like to see it available myself.

As far as a petition, I reccomend you direct it to the actual rights holders of the property. They have the say as to the uses of the Battlestar Galactica names and images, derivatives, and distribution, not Richard.

[jewels]

JJ-
Ojai started one already a while back. Link is on Nathan's Colonial Newsletter.
Jewels

[KJ]

More is better isn't it? I though getting Richard to agree by petition was the goal Jewels. Both Ojai and JJrakman should be supported, i don't think eiither petition would suffer because there is more than one now!

Long as the end result is gaining Richard Hatch's attention for this request of his "Second Coming" trailer.

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Not that I'm the spokesman for Richard but from talking with him I beleive its in his heart to release the trailer but he is confined by certain legal constraints. Petitioning him to do what he would already like to do probably isn't going to change the situation.

Just my opinion though.

Two-Brain

[Micheleh]

Hi, Sandy!

That's exactly what I've been saying. It isn't really up to Richard, from a legal pov.

[Hito]

Originally posted by Micheleh
I reccomend you direct it to the actual rights holders of the property. They have the say as to the uses of the Battlestar Galactica names and images, derivatives, and distribution, not Richard.

Here is a whole page of shortfilms that fit the same criteria.
http://theforce.net/theater/shortfilms/index.shtml
I dont see why the second coming trailer cant just be called a Fan Film and relased just as easily.

One or two of the projects on TheForce.net even has some of the bit actors reprising there roles from the Star Wars films.

[jjrakman]

big budget fan film since he is not acquiring income from it's production. On another note, what are the copyrigh infringement implication differences between the trailer from which Mr. Hatch receives no income, and the novels he has wrote which I am sure he does receive income. Any copyright lawyers out there?

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Because George Lucas supports fan films. TPTB specifically came after Richard Hatch for what he did. That's the difference.

Two-Brain

[Micheleh]

I've merged that two threads into one.

Hito- usage factors of the rights of a property are variable, and are always determined by the copyright holder. Any usage of copyrighted works must be permitted by the holder, and anything not specifically permitted is specifically denied. If the holders of the BSG copyrights forbid any profiting from their work by any others than themselves, then public performance is illegal without permission.

[jjrakman]

but why didn't they some after him for writing the novels, from which he clearly is making a living?

[Micheleh]

Because the rights were specifically negotiated for the novelizations. Permissions were obtained.

(Can you tell I've worked for several lawyers?) ;)

[Fingers]

He probably could have done at one stage (i.e. at the beginning) but if he signed legal documents i.e. entered into legal agreements - however much the moral argument favors Hatch he is on very, very shaky ground legally surely?

he has also publically acknowledged he doesn't own the property (at a con) so that could be called into evidence. (By the way - that was something that raised my esteem of the man an incredible amount- that was something very *big* to do.) .

Realistically, I think there is nothing legally Richard Hatch can do about the problem at the moment - yes he could release it on the net but what what would it gain? It'd (probably) gain him a law suit, further muddy the name of Galactica and posion any studio's mind against the fandom and Hatch for ever and ever...

I'm afraid we're going to be doomed to seeing it at cons... and sigh guess who won't be making it in all probablity over to LA... :(

Fingers

[Micheleh]

"On another note, what are the copyrigh infringement implication differences between the trailer from which Mr. Hatch receives no income, and the novels he has wrote which I am sure he does receive income."

On teh note of the trailer itself, to the best of my knowledge, specific and stringent rights were agreed to to allow the trailer to be created as a work of non-profiting fan appreciation, generally speaking.

[Micheleh]

"I'm afraid we're going to be doomed to seeing it at cons... and sigh guess who won't be making it in all probablity over to LA... "

It is possible for the rights holders to at a future date agree to the release of the trailer over the net- but they will have to be the ones to grant that right.

[Micheleh]

Note that I say 'the rights holders', because at this point, that could well be a fill-in-the-blank designation. ;)

[Erzengel]

I could've sworn that the second coming trailer was made as a production trailer to be shwon to the studio to get a series made... :confused:

[Micheleh]

...right, I was just pointing out the "don't- make- money off- of- it" part.

[jjrakman]

I think I finally understand. Also,I agree that my petition should be abandoned for Ojai's

http://www.petitiononline.com/RH2002/

Didn't mean to step on any toes here. Just trying to wrack my brain to come up with new actions that could be taken to save this mess. I hate sitting around and doing nothing.

[jjrakman]

"On teh note of the trailer itself, to the best of my knowledge, specific and stringent rights were agreed to to allow the trailer to be created as a work of non-profiting fan appreciation, generally speaking."

So who is the entity that granted him the rights to do this. Surely they did so with certain expectations in mind. Where are they in all of this?

[Micheleh]

Um, the people who own the rights? I'm applying my knowledge and a certain amount of information to the situation. Anyone who has been to the cons has heard Richard's speech on "Don't take pictures, don't film, we were only given liscence to do this provided no one uses it for profit, yada yada...." Not an exact quote, just a best recollection.

When I worked at Renderosity I was up to my nose in rights issues, especially pertaining to multimedia, so I've studied the subject a bit. I can see patterns in how people speak and act on this which is pretty indiciative of the state of affairs, inside information or no.

[TwoBrainedCylon]

You worked at Renderosity???

Two-Brain

[Micheleh]

Yeah, I modded the new C&D when it opened (oh, the stories!!!), plus fractals, printing and mag interact for awhile, and I was the CD manager for the mag for issues 2 and 3. (The ones with the goodies.)

C&D= Off Topic's predecessor. Ironbear and I helped bring it back when they killed it. I was a serious warrior, there, lol.

I'll never forget the time I tactfully expressed a complaint with Steve Cooper's number 2 by saying "Are you on drugs?!?"

[michaelfaries]

Originally posted by jjrakman
but why didn't they some after him for writing the novels, from which he clearly is making a living?
Because Byron Preiss (of iBooks) acquired the "Battlestar Galactica" book publishing rights from Universal directly. That began with "Battlestar Galactica - Armageddon." Mr. Preiss's company is the only licensee of official BG book publishing at present, to my knowledge.

(Worth noting: The book licensing is different from the comic book licensing.)

Btw, I wouldn't say Richard is making a living from those books. No offense to the writing profession: It doesn't generate much $$. It's a labor of love for most, imho... Richard included.

Michael
:colwar:

[jjrakman]

So the book company, in this case Byron Press, can hire anyone they want to pen a tome?

[jjrakman]

Hiring other stars such as Bojay to say, pen the ongoing adventures of the Battlestar Pegasus,etc?

[michaelfaries]

Moderating Renderosity garners a good amount of respect and resolve, esp. since artists do have their opinions. :) And aren't afraid to share them. What a daunting task to manage/moderate.

I believe your absence on the Renderosity magazine CD bundle organizing is felt. I didn't renew my subscription.

Michael
"Trinary" on Renderosity -- not a bboard/discussion area participant, though.

[michaelfaries]

Originally posted by jjrakman
Hiring other stars such as Bojay to say, pen the ongoing adventures of the Battlestar Pegasus,etc?

Two examples of BG actors and the writing question:

- Jack had a fantastic story arc for Bojay within the Realm Press comic books which never saw the light of day. I still have it. Maybe he'd be willing to have it published online.
- Dirk says he's rather not pen the adventures of a licensed character. He'd rather create his own, as he did with "Cahoots." (And how...)

As for the "ongoing" battlestar Pegasus adventures, see Richard's novels. ;) I'll say no more, due to spoilers.

iBooks, for now, seems very content to stick to Richard's BG continuation universe. The sales have warranted ongoing books from Richard. Last year, there was a branch of Image Comics who considered publishing stories from the "Second Coming" universe, either pre-trailer or post-trailer. I think they were discouraged by Universal's licensing costs for the BG property. (I wouldn't blame them. It's very costly.)

Personally, I'd love to see a book published with fan stories. Or a copy of a coffee table version of a BG technical journal/manual. (Speaking of which: Stay tuned for some news on a similar topic later this week. I know Paul/Kingfish (in particular) has been waiting to hear this, like yourself and many others. Except it won't cost you the price of a coffee table book.)

Hey, I'm not pre-announcing! It'll be a surprise. And one which has been waiting to be seen since mid-2000.

Michael
:colwar: ...who's probably going to be lynched as "Mr. Cryptic" for tidbits like this... at least until the information gets clarified in a few days. And it will.

[jjrakman]

to have another star replace what Mr.Hatch has wrote. I meant more in the same way that Star Wars has novels about things such as Rogue Squadron,or Tales of Jabba's Palace. Sort of a on the side story lines to compliment the main story line Mr.Hatch has created.