Harlan Ellison Sues Star Trek

[Jan]

Harlan Ellison, multiple award-winning writer of the famed teleplay for the original Star Trek episode, City on the Edge of Forever, sued Paramount on March 13, 2009 for failing to account to, or pay, Mr. Ellison for the merchandising, publishing, or any other exploitations, of the famous teleplay, from inception to date. The suit also names the Writers Guild of America and alleges the WGA failed to act on EllisonÆs behalf after numerous requests.

Here is the full press release and the Court Complaint is here.

Pay The Writer]Pay the Writer is here.

Go Harlan!

Jan

[*Starstuff*]

Thanks for the link to Harlan's page, that document was very interesting to read. I hope things work out for Harlan, it sounds like he was really ripped off.

And I think his fame is something that will help him in this case - he's not a young writer or a nobody that would have neither the money nor the influence to stand up to two such powerful organizations.

Best of luck.

[Marsden]

I used to think Harlan was a crazy old man and shouldn't complain, but I've changed my mind about the complaint part of that. I hope he wins, or at least gets what he wants from it.

[Jan]

I've been reading over at his 'Webderland' site for a while now and I've concluded that Harlan Ellison is a very nice man. It's a joy to watch him go after people who post his work on their websites. Those who've made an honest mistake and who own up to it sometimes end up regular posters and at least friendly acquaintances. Heaven help the arrogant ones who try to hide or defy him, though. Those are the ones who get soundly trounced. As it should be.

Jan

[Doom Shepherd]

I used to think Harlan was a crazy old man and shouldn't complain, but I've changed my mind about the complaint part of that. I hope he wins, or at least gets what he wants from it.

Yep. I've heard some horror stories about Harlan's behavior, but I think he deserves to win this one.

I always love it when the crazy bastard is also right. It gives me hope.

[vakie]

So I guess Harlan won and Paramount had to pay up.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010298.html?categoryId=13&cs=1&cache=false

The fact that the case was settled so quickly only serves to point out how clearly they were breaking the contracts that have been written down. And it's amazing the WGA refused to do anything about it, which would be their job.

[circularREASON]

Star Trek = fail.

[vakie]

A Star Trek MMORPG Star Trek Online is coming out in a couple of weeks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD_DOAWfzrk

What's interesting is that one of the missions in the game apparently involves The Guardian of Forever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq8XQXxdMAQ

I wonder if they managed to notify Harlan this time around, or perhaps future uses were already covered in the previous settlement?