[Stormy]

The real issue here, at least as I see it, is intellectual property rights. If you were a popular singer and people were constantly stealing lines from your songs, you would think intellectual property rights were pretty darn important. You would sue those who stole your intellectual property for theft and demand restitution. Unfortunately that's exactly what fan films are- theft of intellectual property. At least here in the U.S. (I am not criticizing other countries, I just can't speak for them because I do not know their laws) intellectual property rights are considered very important to artists of all types. Those rights must be preserved if studios are to continue to make movies. If I had to choose, I would have to side with CBS/Paramount on this issue.

That being said, while you may not agree, CBS/Paramount actually took Picard's words to heart, drew a line in the sand and said, "This far, no farther!" by implementing the guidelines. They could have easily said no fan films at all which use any part of Star Trek...but they did not. I believe they understood and made allowances for those who were passionate about fan films.

As far as the boycott goes, only a mass total boycott of the film would get any attention whatsoever. Frankly, that's not going to happen. Those who follow fan films are a small portion of Trek fans and movie fans, so it will fail miserably. Personally, I have tickets for Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the closest IMAX theater to my home (1.5 hours away by car away) and I will be there.

[Three of Seven]

I am sorry guys but with a attitude like this the USA would still be British Colony. This is why Hillary Clinton will be President. Even people that will be voting for her say she is not trustworthy but will vote for because they have no other choice. The system has beaten the people down. They know longer believe they can make a different.

I did the Save Farscape and we got a 4 hour movie. Its was a small victory but we got a conclusion. If you don't at least try you will never make a different.

Black Lives Matter movement is raging against the machine. I am not black and don't agree with everything they do; but I respect their courage; risking jail and even the of possibility death. But you guys can't be bother to skip the opening weekend of a movie. Wait 2 weeks. You don't even need to picket anything. No jail, no death.

Oh and there is a call to boycott the new series, and hopefully some CBS programming in the fall. I like Big Bang Theory and NCIS but I will be willing to miss them. But Star Trek Beyond is first thing up. You guys didn't even like the first 2 movies. So why not wait a week or two to see it.

Those are some extreme arguments and I'm seeing a whole bunch of apples and oranges, maybe even a few tomatoes in there being compared with each other. A boycott of a film is no where near on the scale of a war, nor a decision maker of presidential candidates, it's certainly not a big protest movement with any real goal other than not going to the cinema.

You aren't going to save lives, take over countries or save a rainforest by boycotting a film. In the grand scheme of things, it accomplishes nothing except perhaps killing a franchise off, as others have said, if revenue is poor, they aren't going to put money into another Star Trek film in a long time. This isn't a big chunk of income for CBS/Paramount, they have so many other IPs to milk, it's a drop in the ocean.

Boycotts would only work against small companies, unless a lot of people were willing to boycott everything sold by CompanyX, which is unlikely in a global market. In fact, by promoting a boycott, you end up making the thing you are boycotting more popular by giving it free advertising, big companies love a bit of minor controversy, gets the brand out.

[ODST General]

I have to disagree with you Adster, having worked for a major company the bottom line is really their only concern. That really is the only way to speak with a major company when they really don't care about the product they are slinging is by speaking with your wallet. Major companies tend to collapse at the idea of a boycott from consumers. They aren't going to want to talk if some random person comes up and says "Hey I represent Star Trek fans every where and we don't like your fan film guidelines!"

Also your Ferrari analogy is a poor one, because in this case the owner wrecked it right after getting it. The fans then worked to get it repaired, kept it fueled, washed it, etc. Then when the fans asked to borrow it the owner said no. Which while it may be his legal right but it still makes him a knob and is a good reason to avoid that road.

Edit: Now that I am not on my way out the door to go to said major company I can elaborate a bit more. I attempted to research which brands or products were pulled because of a failed boycott instead I found this page regarding recent successful boycotts showing that boycotts can have a positive impact. I understand that a change of policy is not guaranteed and can only work if enough people support the boycott which as far as Beyond goes I don't really see it happening. But perhaps with the new series combined with it being on a paid platform most already don't want?

As I mentioned previously I work for a major company, Walmart to be specific. I see on a daily basis the company does everything they can to avoid conflict despite having some of the best lawyers and businessmen in the world. Discounts given, theft allowed, and more all in the name of keeping business. More so the movie and television industry relies on each movie or show to be successful in order for studios to stay afloat and any risk to that is much more likely to be dealt with swiftly (which is ironically what lead to these very guidelines).

In regards to the importance of this discussion or boycotting paramount and/or CBS, you are correct it isn't as important as those other causes. However those are caused by agendas not a want of profit which makes them much more difficult to stop or sway the people causing them.