[Avenger]

Hi Everybody!

I had a random idea and wanted to get a feel for what people thought, would people buy UFPlanets.com merchandise such as T-Shirts and other things of a similar nature at all? Plus I think it would be a great funding stream for the UFPlanets.com community!

I think it would be great to see if people would buy - give me your thoughts! If it's worthwhile I'll put it to the leadership based on the data collected :-)

LLAP!

[Kerry Malone]

Your idea certainly has merit, I commend you for it.

Its been proposed before, and there has been considerable effort to investigate ways of doing this in the past. However, we cannot overcome a very real, very tricky, legal issue. All our logos are effectively copyright of Paramount/CBS, and whilst we're allowed to use them on our site because its not for profit - if we start selling items with the logos on with the intention of making a profit - then we hit a very sticky legal issue.

Just something to think about

[Christopher Halsey]

As Kerry says it is something that has been explored a few times over the last few years but it's nothing we ever ended up implementing.

We did find a supplier that held a Star Trek licence which would have allowed us to use Star Trek imagery legally however since there was just one that didn't give us many options with who we could work with.

Because of the percentage of revenue they would have taken then in order for us to price any products competitively would have meant us making a tiny amount of profit on each sale.

Looking at the types of products we could produce, combined with the likely selling price and the quality we felt that we likely wouldn't generate nearly enough sales to make the time and effort we would need to put in represent good value.

It definitely isn't something we have closed the door on forever though, the last time we looked in to it, which I believe was over a year ago now, the conditions weren't right but things change. If there is a big enough interest from the community it is definitely something that we can review so if people are interested, please do post here!

[Dentari]

Would all division and department logos be in a legally gray area in the same way as the overall UFPlanets logo though? FAB for instance isn't based on any existing organisation in Star Trek (unless it's mentioned somewhere in the books) as far I am aware.

[Christopher Halsey]

Would all division and department logos be in a legally gray area in the same way as the overall UFPlanets logo though? FAB for instance isn't based on any existing organisation in Star Trek (unless it's mentioned somewhere in the books) as far I am aware.

I think that whilst a number of our logos are original creations it could be argued that their style and makeup infringed on copyrighted material.

Whether CBS or Paramount would ever make that argument and whether or not a court would accept it as valid is another thing and I don't think we could ever say with certainty one way or another.

It's a bit like the whole Axanar mess. When you look at some of the examples CBS and Paramount are giving as proof of copyright infringement then by their argument dozens if not hundreds or even thousands of individuals or groups are infringing their copyright.

It all basically comes down to what you can successfully argue in court.

[Avenger]

That's a shame! The other idea I wanted to see if there was any mileage in (being not great in the computer department) is whether it would be possible to make a useable LCARS operating system both for a desktop or a phone?

[Christopher Halsey]

That's a shame!

It is still possible for us to legally sell items using Star Trek imagery it just limits our options as to who produces and sells the items. If there is enough member appetite then it's something we can revisit but to be worthwhile there would likely need to be a really strong interest from members.

The other idea I wanted to see if there was any mileage in (being not great in the computer department) is whether it would be possible to make a useable LCARS operating system both for a desktop or a phone?

In theory yes however the resources required would be considerable and well beyond our means. Depending on what OS your computer or phone run you can get LCARS skins and themes however as far as I am aware no-one has created an actual working LCARS OS.

[Infinity]

Just thought I'd quickly reply to this thread stating my interest in buying some merchandise from UFP. If this ever does manage to go ahead and the CL6's manage to get some stuff made I'd definitely buy some merchandise..

[Christopher Halsey]

One thing I would like to add if possible? When people are voting it would be great if those that were interested in merchandise could maybe let us know what kind of merchandise they might be interested in just so we have a better idea.

If a massive percentage of the community voted they wanted merchandise but those that did only actually wanted stationary and we did it and came out with a range of t-shirts it probably wouldn't be that great so, if you are willing, if you could give more detail about what sort of things you might want to see that would be great.

[Infinity]

One thing I would like to add if possible? When people are voting it would be great if those that were interested in merchandise could maybe let us know what kind of merchandise they might be interested in just so we have a better idea.

If a massive percentage of the community voted they wanted merchandise but those that did only actually wanted stationary and we did it and came out with a range of t-shirts it probably wouldn't be that great so, if you are willing, if you could give more detail about what sort of things you might want to see that would be great.

I agree yeah, most people have lots of clothes and I know I don't really want more clothes. I was thinking maybe something along the lines of Mousemats, Coasters just simple everyday things like that.

[Intrepid]

Mousemats, Coasters just simple everyday things like that.

Agreed on that.

[Avenger]

Yeah I definitely think that the majority of people go for coasters, stationary, mousemats and cups because they are things that people use everyday and are relatively inexpensive