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Harlan Ellison sues Paramount for "City" royalties

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  • ramsey37
    • Jun 18, 2001
    • 0

    #16
    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

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    • trekman101
      Persistent Member
      • Feb 6, 2009
      • 1432

      #17
      This is old news......every couple of years he tries to get some royalty's
      "Thats the ticket laddie"

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      • Gorn Captain
        Invincible Ironing Man
        • Feb 28, 2008
        • 10549

        #18
        I think he should use the Guardian of Forever, go back in time, and get a copyright on the name Star Trek....
        .
        .
        .
        "When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party."

        Comment

        • samurainoir
          Eloquent Member
          • Dec 26, 2006
          • 18758

          #19
          Originally posted by mego73
          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.
          My store in the MEGO MALL!

          BUY THE CAPTAIN CANUCK ACTION FIGURE HERE!

          Comment

          • Mikey
            Verbose Member
            • Aug 9, 2001
            • 47258

            #20
            About 15-ish years ago I remember Hallmark having pop-up Star Trek birthday cards and one of them was the Guardian of Forever

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            • fallensaviour
              Talkative Member
              • Aug 28, 2006
              • 5620

              #21
              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.
              “When you say “It’s hard”, it actually means “I’m not strong enough to fight for it”. Stop saying its hard. Think positive!”

              Comment

              • Eric
                Museum Patron
                • Jan 11, 2008
                • 146

                #22
                With every news story I read about him, Harlan continues to perfect the art of bitter.

                Comment

                • Mikey
                  Verbose Member
                  • Aug 9, 2001
                  • 47258

                  #23
                  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

                  Comment

                  • Mikey
                    Verbose Member
                    • Aug 9, 2001
                    • 47258

                    #24
                    Kirk --- "I believe i'm falling in love with Edith Keeler"

                    Spock --- "here we go again"

                    Comment

                    • MysteryWho
                      Persistent Member
                      • Dec 16, 2008
                      • 1047

                      #25
                      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?

                      Comment

                      • ctc
                        Fear the monkeybat!
                        • Aug 16, 2001
                        • 11183

                        #26
                        >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.

                        Comment

                        • Earth 2 Chris
                          Verbose Member
                          • Mar 7, 2004
                          • 32977

                          #27
                          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
                          sigpic

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                          • Bill
                            Parminant Memble
                            • Oct 20, 2002
                            • 4139

                            #28
                            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.
                            Last edited by Bill; Mar 17, '09, 7:52 PM. Reason: idiot

                            Comment

                            • david_b
                              Never had enough toys..
                              • May 9, 2008
                              • 2305

                              #29
                              Originally posted by type1kirk
                              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..
                              Peace.. Through Superior Firepower.

                              Comment

                              • mego73
                                Printed paperboard Tiger
                                • Aug 1, 2003
                                • 6690

                                #30
                                Originally posted by david_b
                                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)

                                [email protected]

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