====== Erin Ranahan Interview ======
{{crains.jpg  |}}

{{page>understanding}}

Axanar attorney‭ [[Erin Ranahan]] gave an **interview** published January 26, 2016, to Crain's Chicago Business journal‭, ‬in which she explained why her firm‭, [[Winston & Strawn]], ‬took on the case [[Winston & Strawn#pro bono representation|pro bono]] (i.e‭., ‬not charging for the attorneys‭' ‬time‭):‬
[{{ :ranahan_3.32.06_am.jpg|Axanar's pro bono attorney, Erin Ranahan}}]

> ‬Ranahan's practice focuses on copyright‭, ‬new media‭, ‬entertainment‭, ‬trademark‭, ‬right of publicity and false-advertising litigation‭. ‬The firm took the case "to get great experience‭, ‬get good exposure and hopefully help shape the law," she said‭.‬‭(([[http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160126/NEWS04/160129860/winston-strawn-lawyer-to-represent-moviemaker-funded-by-star-trek-fans|Crain's Chicago Business: Winston & Strawn Lawyer to Represent Moviemaker Funded by Star Trek Fans, 1/26/16]]))

==== Avenues for Defense ====
Ranahan told the Chicago paper she saw two possible avenues for Axanar's [[legal defense|defense]]:

> ‬Axanar's defense hinges on two key legal points‭, ‬Ranahan said‭: [[fair use]] and [[waiver]]. Fair use doctrine allows works to be reproduced without obtaining permission under certain circumstances related to the nature of the work‭, ‬how much is copied and how it affects the work's market value‭.\\ \\ ‬The issue of waiver arises because Paramount and CBS‭, ‬which own the‭ "‬Star Trek‭" ‬copyrights‭, ‬have historically tolerated fan-generated work not produced for profit‭, ‬including a short film put out by Axanar Productions‭.‬

----
**Keywords**
{{tag>players lawsuit defendants}}