Harlan Ellison sues Paramount for "City" royalties

[ramsey37]

I would make the basic point that Star Trek merchandising was really an afterthought in the 1960's. There were a handful of items available then, but it wasn't really until the 1970's that the floodgates began to open. I have a really hard time believing that anyone connected to Star Trek outside of Roddenberry ever had any kind of deal to cash in on toys, posters, etc. There's no way Ellison "owns" the characters created for that one episode.
George

[trekman101]

This is old news......every couple of years he tries to get some royalty's

[Gorn Captain]

I think he should use the Guardian of Forever, go back in time, and get a copyright on the name Star Trek....

[samurainoir]

There have been COTEOF action figures (Kirk and Spock in 30's outfits and Edith Keeler) as well as other stuff like a Guardian of Forever Diorama with Kirk and Spock jumping through, a Hallmark ornament with the same type of scene. The Guardian of Forever has popped up in the animated show, Trek novels and comics.

The Hallmark ornament appears to be one of the items of merchandise mentioned in articles discussing the lawsuit. Not sure if the action figures are the implied other merch that he is looking for a cut of.

[Mikey]

About 15-ish years ago I remember Hallmark having pop-up Star Trek birthday cards and one of them was the Guardian of Forever

[fallensaviour]

I have read quite a few star trek tos novels that revolve around the use of the Guardian of forever as well so if they are using it as a plot in another book then yeah he should be compensated.
My personal belief is he is old and feeling forgotten and just wants to be remembered as the greatest sci-fi guy ever...LOL
The guy is a class A jerk-off,But if it was my idea I would want my money as well.

[Eric]

With every news story I read about him, Harlan continues to perfect the art of bitter.

[Mikey]

To be honest, I never cared for City on The Edge of Forever.
To me, it seems to be hack writing at it's finest.

Kirk goes back in time and falls in love.
Girl must die to save the universe.
Poor Kirk feels bad for about a half-hour.

I don't understand why this is such a popular episode

[Mikey]

Kirk --- "I believe i'm falling in love with Edith Keeler"

Spock --- "here we go again"

[MysteryWho]

Yeah, it ain't war and peace. His stories/books are better, but the TV stuff is what he's known for, Outer Limits and all that. Still, you gotta figure the money he'd get is peanuts anyway. For an executive, it would mean that he may have to buy a smaller yacht or cheaper coke. Isn't that C2 stuff more expensive? Or is it Diet that's gone up?

[ctc]

>Harlan Ellison is an *******, and so is Paramount.

I agree. I think. It's tough to tell with the edit, but I really suspect I agree.

Y'know, I never really liked Ellison's stuff. He's okay, but I think he was luckier than he was good. Even with the "Terminator" case. I don' think it and "Soldier" are that similar at all, really.

But somehow he's become the Uber-Nerd

Don C.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Ellison smells a resurgence and Trek, and he ain't getting any younger, so he's making one final grab. Plus, Trek is free and clear of anyone ever connected with Roddenberry, so maybe he figures they'll cave and give in to him.

I respect him as a writer, and I respect his love for the Golden Age comic characters, but he's always been so bitter he makes Alex Toth seem like Mother Teresa!

Chris

[Bill]

93-ish, Harlan was supposed to deliver the dinner speech at the Diamond event in Baltimore. I really, really wanted to be punched in the face by Harlan, or something close, just for the enjoyment of it. I love that guy. Frank Miller delivered an amazing speech before dinner, it was the year Jack Kirby died. I think the memory of an eloquent Frank was much better than fisticuffs with Harlan... maybe.

[david_b]

Has there ever been City on the Edge of Forever action figures?

Yea, I have a few of the smaller ones --- wanna buy them ?

Obviously there were the Playmates ones in both sizes, but why wouldn't each of the writers claim the same shtick and demand royalties..? Harlan's a scifi snob, but yes he also just wants attention..

[mego73]

Obviously there were the Playmates ones in both sizes, but why wouldn't each of the writers claim the same shtick and demand royalties..? Harlan's a scifi snob, but yes he also just wants attention..

They will if Harlan's successful in this, one of the reasons why Paramount will want to quash it (by, perhaps a settlement that doesn't establish that for hire writers can gain more royalties than originally contracted for even if they get more money than expected from them)