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====== Not Much Progress Toward Settlement ======
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<WRAP>
//**__ __**// <wrap lo>**By [[user>cpedraza|Carlos Pedraza]]**</wrap>
</WRAP>

[[CBS]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] don't appear willing to cede any kind of business arrangement that would allow //Axanar// to move forward, according to executive producer [[Alec Peters]].

In comments posted below Peters' review of //Star Trek Beyond// on the Axanar website,  one fan urged, "Make a deal. … They [CBS and Paramount] have to be willing to let Axanar come about."(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16140|Edward J Cox comment, Axanar blog]], "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))

Peters replied on August 14:

> We have tried to make a deal and they will have no part of it.(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16141|Alec Peters comment, Axanar blog]], , "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))

===== ‘Logical, Money-making Solutions’ =====

[{{ :alec_peters.jpg?nolink|Axanar Producer **Alec Peters**}}]

This comment marked the first hint about a lack of progress in settlement talks between both sides in the [[copyright_infringement|copyright infringement]] [[lawsuit]] against Axanar.

Two days later, Peters went further, hinting at a failed effort in negotiations to allow //Axanar// to be produced and would offer a financial incentive for CBS and Paramount presumably based on some kind of Axanar-related revenue stream:

> We offered CBS //Axanar// for free 7 months ago, and they refused. They do not care about //Axanar// or what the fans want, and are not open to logical, money-making solutions. They are not working in their shareholders' best interest, nor in a way that makes any sense. This whole lawsuit was ill-advised and a bad business decision. We are just trying to give our 10,000+ donors what they want and donated for.(([[http://www.axanarproductions.com/star-trek-beyond-was-a-blast/#comment-16160|Alec Peters comment, Axanar blog]], , "Star Trek Beyond was a Blast!", 8/16/16.))

Axanar has been criticized for having already created several continuing [[merchandise|revenue streams]], extensively detailed in Axanar's 2015 [[annual_report|Annual Report]]. This commercial operation is likely the "[[direct financial benefit]]" alleged by CBS and Paramount in their legal complaint.

==== No Specifics ====

Peters offered no specifics on the "money-making solutions" he offered CBS and Paramount, nor what leverage Axanar had for pressing for such a settlement, other than his continuing efforts, directly and through surrogates, to cast the legal dispute as a move by CBS against all fan films. Most other fan films, however, have [[guidelines_backlash|disavowed Axanar]], and accepted ([[guidelines_aftermath|some begrudgingly]]) the new fan production [[cbs_guidelines|guidelines]] released in June 2016.

===== About Settlement Talks =====

Though the two sides likely had some communication after the suit was filed in December 2015, negotiations seemed to take on new life after the May 20, 2016, announcement at a //Star Trek Beyond// fan event, producer J.J. Abrams that the lawsuit was "going away" in a few weeks.

Though widely misreported as CBS and Paramount dropping the suit, that possibility was nevertheless foreclosed one business day later by Axanar's [[answer|counterclaim]] against the plaintiffs, now forced to [[plaintiffs_answer|defend themselves]] from the claim.

[{{ :federal-courthouse.jpg?200|**GOING TO COURT** Exterior of the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.}}]

==== Going to Trial ====

Peters' description of the state of settlement talks followed a podcast interview of //Axanar// director Robert Meyer Burnett, in which Burnett admitted he believed the case would go to trial,(([[http://wordballoon.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/word-balloon-podcast-star-trek.html|Robert Meyer Burnett interview,  "Star Trek Discovery News With Filmmaker Robert Meyer Burnett,"]] Word Balloon Podcast, 8/11/16.)) following his comment in June to the Los Angeles Times:

>  I think, unfortunately, the outcome [of the lawsuit] ultimately is not going to be favorable to us and certainly not for our fans and our donors.(([[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-trek-axanar-lawsuit-update-20160617-snap-story.html|"Remember how J.J. Abrams said the lawsuit against the 'Star Trek: Axanar' fan film had been dropped? Not quite]]," Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6/20/16.))

<wrap lo>//See also: [[anatomy_of_the_case|Timeline of the Case]]//</wrap>

Meanwhile the case continued in [[discovery]], which was due to be complete in November. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}

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