Star Trek references in GalCiv - have Paramount's lawyers come calling yet?

from Stardock Forums
As 99.9% of GalCivvers have undoubtedly noticed by now, there are a number of terms and concepts obviously lifted right from the Star Trek universe - phasers, photon torpedoes, transporters, starbases, etc. There's even an explicit reference to "Deep Space Nine reruns" in the screen that appears when you finish researching 4D wormholes. My question to Frogboy and the other developers is, was all this authorized by Viacom Paramount? I've not been able to find any disclaimer to that effect anywhere in the documentaion, and Paramount's attorneys are notoriously overzealous when it comes to protecting their Star Trek-related trademarks, you know.

Being a Trekker myself, I personally don't mind the Trek references; I just wonder if one of these days the lawyers will come calling and compel Stardock to make a new "patch" for the game that takes out all the Trek references. (And I won't even get into Lucasfilm and the Terror Stars...) :p
1,467 views 26 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't believe any of the things you mention, save "Deep Space Nine", have any Trademark or Copyright attached to them.

Keep fishing, though. ;)
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
lol oh man.

1. Photons exist in the real world too not just the trekkie one
2. Teleporters are in almost all the sci fi films i watched.
3. Phasers are also not just limited to S.trek

I dont think you can sue for making an obscure reference to a particular episode :P

hmm maybe in america youl could, i hear they sue anyone for anything there

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I am going to sue you for saying that you can sue anyone for anything in america. ;)
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Thats slander..prepare to be sued ;)

~SDC~
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm going to sue you for copyright infringement Nirvana. KIRT COBAIN LIVES ON!

~SDC~
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
"Starbases" are a startrek reference now ? What's next ? Space travel as such copyrighted by Starwars ?
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
How about the "Stargates", circular devices created by an unknown ancient race that offer instant interstellar travel? The graphic for it almost looked lifted out of an episode of Stargate SG-1. You gotta love it :)

~SDC~
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
We could probably find the scifi pulp fiction writers from the 1920's thru the 40's who originally included the terms phasers, photons, starbases, etc. in their intellectual property to file a lawsuit gainst GalCiv, though they'd probably want to sue George Lucas, Paramount and many others before getting around to Stardock ;) .
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Didn't Paramont go postal back around 97 suing all the lame trekie sites for copyright enfringement?

~SDC~
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
The game uses science-fictiony terms to give it atmosphere.

The game also uses a lot of terminology from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maybe Donald Rumsfeld is going to sue also?
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
My favorite reference?

"This is Ceti Alpha V!"

as a descrption for a low quality planet number.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
:/ Funny stuff but come on the way the game uses the deep space nine reference is commical and satire is protected under the law.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Gotta love it.. when it doubt, SUE!

So sick of everyone wanting to sue someone over stupid, senseless things. Just goes to show what some peoples frames of mind are.

I'm sure the reference to Deep Space 9 is going to cause the show a terrible dropping of ratings, and overall angst and loss of sleep by the producers. Mental anguish, yea.. sure. :notsure:

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
This is a little OT, but speaking of DS9, I've got the first two seasons on DVD now. I only got into the show in the 3rd season when the Dominion (and the Defiant) appeared on scene. Watching the first two seasons now just completes the overall picture of DS9's characters and locales. With all the political and moral dilemmas involved in DS9, it's a fitting tribute for it to be mentioned in GalCiv where politics and moral choices are at the heart of the game.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Re the Ceti Alpha V joke:
I don't get it. I assumed it was a reference to a ST episode or something, but can someone explaing it to me? (I only saw two episodes of STTNG, and none of the other spin-offs.)

RR
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Its reference to Star Trek II Wrath of Khan if I am not mistaken. When the planet Ceti Alpha V moved and the away team landed their thinking it was Ceti Alpha IV. :/
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
In ST: Wrath of Khan, Chekov and company were checking out a system and thought they were on Ceti Alpha V. That is, until they ran into Khan. Khan scolded him by saying, "This is Ceti Alpha VI". The planet was at a minimal hospitable to humans. Actually, it is only in a sci fi movie that you'd call that place "hospitable".

I don't think Paramount would sue for that line. It would be totally ludicrous.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Actually [treckgeek="ON"]...

Chekov and Terel think they are on Ceti Alpha VI, which they are checking to make sure it's lifeless for an experiment. They are found by Khan, who expresses displeasure with them.

Checkov tells him that on Ceti Alpha V, he had a fair chance (insinuating that Khan chose his situation), at which Khan rages: "THIS is Ceti Alpha FIVE!"

My only complaint about the use of it is that whoever wrote that description has the word "is" being emphasized, which completely alters its subtext.
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for the correction, Duodecimal :) It has been a long time since I saw the movie. It was a great line from Ricardo Montalban. :) FYI, He is the guy who played Khan.