Broken Sea Audio Gets Bullied Over Licensing

It seems one of our wonderful audio drama groups is in a pickle. A pickle they do not deserve to be in.

From Jesse at SFF Audio:

Broken Sea Audio Productions, headquartered in New Zealand, has shut down all their Robert E. Howard projects after receiving another threatening letter from the lawyers for Conan Properties International LLC (aka Paradox Entertainment).

CPI is the limited liability company that claims all licensing powers over works by Robert E. Howard worldwide.

The whole situation is absolutely rotten. CPI is muscling a non-profit audio drama fan group that makes audio dramas and audiobooks, for fun, out of public domain stories, all so it can defend it’s trademark on “CONAN: The Barbarian” (the stories for which are in the PUBLIC DOMAIN).

Things might look different were it not for the horrendous new legislation set to be implemented on February 28th, 2009 March 27th, 2009 in New Zealand. The new NZ law makes websites that are accused of infringement subject to arbitrary-ISP pulldowns.

Here is the most recent letter from CPI/Paradox Entertainment |PDF| in its entirety.

What make this all the worse is that its an echo of a fight BSAP, in NZ, had thought it had already won. See, back in August 2008 BSAP received a similar cease and desist letter from the same firm. In that letter CPI threatened a lawsuit over the use of “CONAN” (for which they claim a trademark)…

In response to it BSAP removed their unique, but still offending, “CONAN” logo and the CPI lawyers sent a follow-up letter. Saying…

After that, with the Conan audiobooks and audio dramas no longer displaying any “CONAN” label, all seemed well for the non-profit audio drama group. Paul Mannering, and staff, continued to cast Conan fans as voice actors and work on the script for a new audio dramatization based on another Robert E. Howard public domain work, Hour Of The Dragon.

Later, in November 2008, something rather cool happened. Paul Mannering got an email from the CPI/Paradox’s branding department offering BSAP a free “CONAN” license. It was to be a “royalty free” license too, that would forever keep a threat of lawsuit from CPI/Paradox at bay and allow BSAP to brand its Conan audio as “CONAN” audio.

But then, just yesterday, an unexpected email from the CPI lawyers arrived…

…dashing the possibility of a license AND renewing the threat of a lawsuit…

…

It seems to me that given that the Robert E. Howard stories are PUBLIC DOMAIN, that Howard is 73 years dead, had no spouse, nor children, that Broken Sea is giving away their productions to Conan fans alike - only one judgment is reasonable:

CPI LLC/Paradox Entertainment is being an asshole.

And that’s the situation as it now stands. All future BSAP audiobooks and audio dramatizations based on the PUBLIC DOMAIN writings of Robert E. Howard are canceled - or at least it’s all put on hold until someone can offer some legal advice to Paul Mannering and the Broken Sea creative team.

---

Simply put Jesse says, "An intellectual property company has been harassing fans that were making audio versions of public domain Robert E. Howard CONAN stories.

"They'd keep going, but the new fucked up New Zealand copyright law will shut down their whole operation if the company complains."

Fucked up indeed. It seems they are simply bullying without any real justification. What does that prove? They have a trademark they can enforce? Is that supposed to be what true copyright protection is about?

Timeline

Please show your support of Broken Sea Audio by reposting this wherever you can!

~Dani

Misadventures Of Sherlock Holmes

What does it take to crash a website? One really great audio drama! Season 1 of Dream Realm Enterprises summer hit The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes is complete, and awaiting your download!

UPDATE! Now this very popular series is being podcast! Get caught up and subscribe now!

http://dreholmes.blogspot.com/

This isn't your normal Sherlock Holmes mystery series. This series comes from the viewpoint of Doctor Watson, and the view isn't always positive when the light is shined on Mr. Holmes (or himself, actually). It's fun, witty, VERY well written (by Vince Stadon!), and still full of mystery and surprises!

The website also has interesting Sherlock Holmes history when you click on each episode.

Make the site crash again- head over and check it out today! ;-)

Dream Realm's Doctor Who series now podcasting!

Attention Doctor Who fans! Due to an increasing demand for their shows, Dream Realm Enterprises has created a podcast feed for their series! Now you can have all the goodness that is DRE and Doctor Who with just a couple clicks, all nestled snug and neat in your podcatcher!

Podcast feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/dredoctorwho

Or as always, just click the subject line to head to the blog page!

There are many wonderful stories by many many groups out there (it's by far the most popular fan audio out there I believe)- leave a link to your Doctor Who fan audio(s) in the comments!

~Dani

Buffy Between The Lines Coming October 6th

The Joss Whedon world is buzzing with anticipation of the very first Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan audio drama! October 6th is when it hits everyone's ears!

It's also the second Joss fan audio drama ever created, beginning with Sonic Cinema's Firefly: Old Wounds audio drama.

Update 1: (Note: Buffy Between The Lines is not affiliated with Sonic Society. There was some confusion about that.)

One of the writers/producers of this fan audio, and extreme Whedon fan girl Tabitha Smith, had this to say about the upcoming release:

"I'm more then a little bit thrilled that this project is coming to our listeners. With 65 cast members, 35 crew members and 12 episodes, it's been a massive undertaking... but now we're finally ready to release our first episode and I couldn't be prouder of our team!"

You can subscribe now, so as not to miss the premiere!

Update 2: I was one of the lucky ducks who received an advanced copy of episode 1, although silly me waited like a week and a half to listen.... bad Dani. I must say though- it is really great! You do need to know the Buffy series to understand what is going on, however. I felt a little lost in that respect.. trying to connect with characters who are all ready established. (There are definitely some DVD rentals in my future, I think.)

The acting was really well done too- no one sounded dry or stale. Wonderful readings. Great sound effects- and the music! They sure scored a big one getting the Beatnik Turtles to write their theme song. You can really tell all the hard work that is going into bringing this audio drama to fan's ears.

The only complaint I have, (and really, it's a small one) is the promos. My personal preference is the beginning and/or the end of a podcast. They have promos all throughout, like commercials. I felt myself reaching for the remote to fast forward! (Yes I am a slave to TiVo.*wink*) I also understand that every show has its style. I don't know for sure, but I bet they were just trying to keep it like a TV show.

So- 7am is the time tomorrow when everyone can get their ears on this, so sync your mp3 players and download Episode 1! I don't think you will be disappointed, I know I wasn't!

Fan Fic Goodness for the Joss Whedon Addict

A few weeks ago I told you about auditions for a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer audio drama. While you are waiting for that audio goodness to hit your ear buds, there is something that could help keep the Joss Whedon fan sane in the meantime.

Strangely Literal is hosted by the ultimate Whedon fangirl Tabz, and she brings you the most fanTABZulous fan fiction in the Whedonverse. Many are written by her, but several are also written by other Whedon fans (see the site for info on how you can submit your stories).

Now, my only Whedon outlet so far has been Firefly (yes, I'm slow- I even saw Serenity before watching Firefly!). It was this podcast and catching up on past episodes that really has made me want to go and check out other shows like Buffy! That Tabz, creating fan people wherever she goes!

The most recent episode? One of the best, if I do say so myself... heheheeeeeee... ;-)

Check out Strangely Literal, and tell Tabz her BTF sent you!

Casting Call for New Fan-fic Audio Drama!

This looks to be fun- Buffy Between the Lines is now having open auditions for their new audio drama!

"Buffy Between the Lines is a serialized, podcast fanfic audio drama written, produced and created by fans for fans. Each season will bring you 12 (or so) episodes in classic radio drama fashion. "

Head over to the link and get all the details today! Auditioning goes until July 18th.

Summer fan fiction audio continues

Courtesy of the Radio Nostalgia Network, the Sonic Society is continuing to bring you the best in fan fiction this summer. Last time it was more from Broken Sea Audio with Logan's Run, and this week it will be Circus 13 and their fan audio of X-Men!

Pretty neat stuff- check out both of these great production companies for more of their great work!

There is also a plethora of old time radio shows and dramas on the Radio Nostalgia Network too- so browse around there for awhile as well! Radio drama/Audio cinema will never die as long as they are around!

Three neat-o podcast hits

Tee Morris's new pod-book, "Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword", takes the podiobook to the next level. Sure, you get straight narration of the story. The twist is in the added sound effects, music, and even a cast! It's a great fantasy twist on the old private-dick theme. The 9th chapter just went up, so you can start listening and don't even have to have lag time in-between chapters!

Why have I waited so long to bring this up? Why, because I was waiting for my debut, that's why! LOL!

What's funny is, I had several audio things that I did at different times, and it's all coming out at the same time. It's quite hilarious to me, but the little stroke of the ego is kinda nice too... heheheh. I've been a long-time listener to the Variant Frequencies podcast. So when Rick asked if I'd like to read a flash fiction piece, I was like uh, hell yeah!

And I got to be creepy... me likey. I hope you do too! Though I couldn't do it without an awesome story to begin with, written by Anne Stringer. (See? Matt Wallace doesn't take up the WHOLE podcast... ;-) )


And finally... me thinks I should finally watch Buffy and see what the hub-bub is all about.

Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

Oh wow, check this out. Yet another audio production company, Broken Sea Productions, bringing awesome remakes and fan fiction your way!

When I'm finished with the Mark Time/Ogle listening, this will be next on the list to check out!

They are also preparing to do Logan's Run in a six-part series. Awesome.

It gets more and more difficult to deny I'm a sci fi fan... ;-)

Take a Leap!

How cool is this? Quantum Leap as an audio drama?
Check it out- it's so much fun!
Oh Boy!

Firefly Old Wounds T-shirt Contest!

Speaking of Sonic Society, they happen to be holding a big damn contest! They want a Firefly:Old Wounds T-Shirt made. However, the folks at the Society are writers and voice actors, not graphic design artists. (I've seen their work- and trust me, they should stick to writing and voice acting.) :-P

So they want YOU to do it for them! The contest runs through the end of the month, and you can get ALL the details at the link.

Join the Circus!

Add it to the list of Audio Drama production companies and podcasts out there- Circus 13!

Like other great groups such as Dream Realm or Darker Projects, Circus-13 brings you a mix of fan fiction as well as several of their own original audio works.

Check them out!