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<fs x-small>MARCH 3, 2019<wrap indent>|</wrap><wrap indent> //UPDATED// MARCH 9, 2019</wrap><wrap indent> | </wrap><wrap indent> 4 MIN READ</wrap></fs>
====== Tardigrades, CBS Attorneys Work Out Discovery Dispute ======

**//CBS lawyers’ delays are making it tough to find connections between Discovery creators and videogame// **

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Lawyers in the Tardigrades lawsuit appeared to have resolved their disagreements by the March 8 deadline set by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

===== Discovery Dispute =====

Attorneys for game developer Anas Abdin had complained to Schofield that CBS lawyers were not complying with her order to allow Abdin’s lawyers to gather evidence.

Abdin seeks a connection between //Star Trek: Discovery// and his videogame on the Steam platform. He alleges //Discovery//‘s creators must have stolen ideas from Tardigrades in 2015.

Meanwhile the lawyers on both sides asked the judge to cancel the March 12 status report she wanted.

===== Looming Deadline =====

Faced with a looming March 19 deadline for game developer Anas Abdin to [[:tardigrades_third_complaint|show a connection]] between //Star Trek: Discovery//‘s creators and the videogame from which he says they stole his ideas, his lawyer asked the judge to intervene.

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In that February 27, 2019, letter to Schofield, attorney John Johnson accused defendant CBS’ lawyers of stalling in [[:tardigrades_discovery_extension|turning over evidence]] to meet that deadline.

<WRAP center 90%> <fs smaller>**//See also: [[:tardigrades_steam|Judge Wants Evidence Discovery Creators Saw Game]] and\\
[[:tardigrades_third_complaint|Copyright Lawsuit Names Discovery Writer as Possible Link]]//** </fs> </WRAP>

==== Judge Admonishes Lawyers ====

Schofield admonished all the lawyers to follow her court’s rules: //You better confer in good faith over discovery disputes.//

In a March 4 statement, Schofield ordered them to talk it out by March 6. If that didn’t work then CBS was to give her a written explanation by March 8.

<WRAP right round download 320px> <fs smaller>**READ THE LETTER** from Tardigrades attorney John Johnson to the judge asking her to {{:60_johnson_letter_to_judge.pdf|intervene}}  in CBS stalling tactics.\\
**Attachments:** \\
• {{:60-1_exhibit_request_to_resolve_isssues.pdf|Email exchange}}  between the two lawyers.\\
• What the plaintiffs are {{:60-2_exhibit_documents_interrogatories.pdf|looking for}}.</fs> </WRAP>

=== The bottom line ===

CBS believes Abdin’s lawyers are going on a fishing expedition in a desperate attempt to show //Discovery//‘s creators stole from the game developer. Abdin’s attorney says the judge allowed them to investigate and has told CBS it had better [[:tardigrades_discovery_extension#motion_to_compel_discovery|cough up the goods]].

[{{ :judge_shofield.jpg|**Judge Lorna G. Schofield**}}]
===== Judge Orders Meeting =====

Either way, Schofield orderd the attorneys to appear before her on March 12 to report on the case status.

  * **Meanwhile, a motion by CBS**  to [[:tardigrades_dismissal_motion|dismiss the case]] remained pending.
===== Discovery Dispute =====

Abdin’s lawyers were trying to find CBS employees who were also members of the Steam platform who also developed //Discovery//, and who also [[:tardigrades_steam#greenlit|voted in Steam's Greenlight]] program for his Tardigrades game.

  * **CBS objections**: In a March 1 letter, Abdin lawyer John Johnson complains CBS’ attorneys have objected to the subpoena he wants to serve on [[:tardigrades_steam#steam-y_discovery|Steam's owner]], Valve Corp. CBS says many employees about whom Johnson inquires are no longer employed by CBS.
  * **CBS had agreed**  to provide evidence but hadn’t by the agreed-upon date, according to emails Johnson filed in court.
==== Motion to Compel Discovery ====

Johnson hoped the judge would force CBS to provide the evidence he wanted:

  * **IP addresses**: Johnson wanted Information about IP addresses of various CBS-owned domains.
  * **Connections to Steam**: He wanted Steam user account information about anyone involved in developing or producing //Discovery//, as well as accounts registered by anyone from CBS Broadcasting, All Access, Netflix, Living Dead Guy Productions, Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment or Pinewood Toronto Studios.
  * **Steam subpoena**: From Steam, Johnson hoped to obtain the voting record, and user information about anyone involved in developing or producing //Discovery//  who [[:tardigrades_third_complaint#proving_access|voted]] on the Tardigrades game.
  * **Discovery creators and staff**  Johnson was interested in included Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman, Nicholas Meyer, Aaron Harberts, Akiva Goldsman, [[:tardigrades_third_complaint|Erika Lippoldt]], Gretchen J. Berg, John Eaves, Jonathan Frakes, Kirsten Beyer, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth. More are listed in court documents. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?direct&}}
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**Keywords**

{{tag>Tardigrades_lawsuit Star_Trek_Discovery copyright infringement}}