ALT.SF4M

  Star Trek & The Internet don't mix!

   • Andrew Livathinos
     29/12/1996 00:00:000 UTC

     Hi All,

     This is a letter I just sent to a writer at C-Net Central in regards to

     this Viason assault on Star Trek web sites on the net. Let em know what

     you think.

     More information can be found at the following site:

     Star Trek WWW: Anti-Viacom Headquarters

     www.com/viacom.html" target="_blank">http://www.stwww.com/viacom.html

     TTFN,

     Andrew

     ---------------------------------------------------

     re: http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6456,00.html

     Trekkies form rebel alliance

     Dear: Janet Kornblum,

     I found your December 23rd article about Viacoms attempt to ban all

     pictures and movies and video clips from the Internet VERY interesting.

     As the Media Coordinator for ICON XVI (www.iconsf.org) we annually have

     a Star Trek Guest every year. Now that we have confirmed our guest from

     Star Trek does this mean we will be unable to use pictures of the guest

     on our web site? Meaning "in character", what if I purchased the picture

     and later scanned it for the web, would that be a violation? How far

     does this go?

     Since it is quite obvious that Paramount/Viacom are now making money on

     the Internet with MSN they are looking to squelch anything relating to

     Star Trek on the Internet.

     While Star Trek has a VERY LOYAL following, it is THAT fan base will not

     take kindly to being treated in this manner, so Viacom/MSN deal can make

     a profit. It may indeed destroy the solid fan base Paramount/Viacom has

     had by attacking those that financially support it.

     I also sent a letter to Paramount stating this move to make Official

     Star Trek Information an exclusive use of MSN was a BIG mistake. In

     fact, I don't know why they don't take this a step furher and start a

     Boycott of MSN.

     There is no arguement that images, video clips and other such material

     are the property of Paramount but the question becomes, well how much of

     it is open to the public. Its not like anyone is making a profit by

     creating these web sites, its for the enjoyment for everyone.

     The Internet MUST remain FREE to be of ANY use to anyone.

     P.S. The opinions expressed in this letter are the sole opinion of the

     invividual and in no way reflect the opinions of ICON Science Fiction,

     my employer or my Internet Service Provider.

     P.P.S. Censoring yourself really pushes it to the limit. :)

     --

     Andrew Livathinos

     a******l@**.net

     http://www.li.net/~andrewl/

     ICON - Internet & Media Coordinator

     A Member of the HTML Writers Guild

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