Psi Corp Files

[crazyhorse]

Somebody sent me this today,anybody got a clue what it's about?
http://media.putfile.com/Babylon-5-The-Psi-Corp-Files

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

It appears to be an attempt to do a fan film along the lines of that Trek thing that's' been going on - put togehter by some people whose life's ambition is to be bitch-slapped by some lawyers from Warner Bros. Because I'm pretty sure that's exactly what is going to happen with this thing surfacing just as they're negotiating to get a new B5 project on TV.

Regards,

Joe

 

[crazyhorse]

It did look a little low on quality but I wasn't sure if that was just the upload.It was the talk of an animated series that got me thinking.Using the Babylon 5 logo is not a very clever thing to do if you don't have permission.That in itself is more likely to bring WB down on whoever is using it.I've seen a few fan things,mainly along the lines of the Spacebattles series.As far as I can tell these clips are tolerated.Then again they make no pretense at being official.

 

[darth_librarian]

Trek and Star Wars based fan made material is ten a penny, most of it is tolerated by companies. JMS is quite protective of his baby though (and rightly so).

The use of the music, logo and speech directly from the series was a bit off really.

 

[B5TPCF]

Hi there,

I'm the creator of Babylon 5: The Psi-Corps Files. While doing a quick search I found out about this posting. Yes, this is a fan series ala the Star Trek & Star Wars fan films. I am a huge Babylon 5 fan and have participated in making a Star Trek fan series, so I figured I would do the same with B5.

Just to address a few things... I did all the animation in the teaser trailer, including the Babylon 5 and Psi-Corps logo. The video quality is lower then the final product will be. Just like a lot of Star Trek/Star Wars fan films I used the music from the series as my music. The Kosh voice over was just for the teaser, in the actual series the voice of Kosh will be done via an actor. So I won't be re-using that for the series.

While I know JMS is very protective of his stuff, I am operating under the Star Trek/Star Wars fan film principle that it's okay to play in JMS backyard as long as I don't make any money off of it. I was to honor Babylon 5 with a fan series that is excellent and I plan on trying to accomplish that.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me.

Tom
Babylon 5: The Psi-Corps Files

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

I am operating under the Star Trek/Star Wars fan film principle that it's okay to play in JMS backyard as long as I don't make any money off of it.

The only problem is there is no such generally recognized "principle". Paramount, only with regard to Trek, and Lucas - who is in the unusual position for a creator of actually owning Star Wars - have elected to tolerate certain fan activities provided the appropriate trademark and copyright notices are affixed and within certain limits - only one of which has to do with money. (Hell, Paramount has published anthologies of fanfic and paid the writers - some of whom went on to become pros.)

Warner Bros. has historically been less forgiving - and they're the ones who make the call. JMS doesn't own the trademarks and copyrights or the right to make spin-offs or sequels with the sole exception of theatrical films. (Don't ask.) And WB's lawyers tend not to care if profit is involved or not.

Just a head's up.

Regards,

Joe

 

[B5TPCF]

Thank you for the warning, I really appreciate it. I helped develop a Star Trek fan series so I understand this all to easy. We often discuss what would happen if Paramount decided to stop this. What if 'New Voyages' being such out there brings down the wrath of Paramount or some other fool trying to sell something.

I will continue to develop B5-The Psi Corps Files until if or when I get an C&D order from Warner Bros. I hoping that they will be as 'forgiving' as the other but if not, I would comply.

I just hope to make a decent little fan series set in the B5 universe.

Tom
B5-The Psi Corps Files

I am operating under the Star Trek/Star Wars fan film principle that it's okay to play in JMS backyard as long as I don't make any money off of it.

The only problem is there is no such generally recognized "principle". Paramount, only with regard to Trek, and Lucas - who is in the unusual position for a creator of actually owning Star Wars - have elected to tolerate certain fan activities provided the appropriate trademark and copyright notices are affixed and within certain limits - only one of which has to do with money. (Hell, Paramount has published anthologies of fanfic and paid the writers - some of whom went on to become pros.)

Warner Bros. has historically been less forgiving - and they're the ones who make the call. JMS doesn't own the trademarks and copyrights or the right to make spin-offs or sequels with the sole exception of theatrical films. (Don't ask.) And WB's lawyers tend not to care if profit is involved or not.

Just a head's up.

Regards,

Joe