An appeals court took some literary license when discussing a copyright lawsuit over the beloved science fiction series “Star Trek.”
Judge Denny Chin of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals borrowed some iconic language from the opening of the show while ruling on a case between CBS Broadcasting Inc. and a video game developer who claims that “Star Trek: Discovery” borrowed a concept he came up with. Chin notes that a copyright issue filed in 2018 was one of many since “Star Trek” premiered in September 1966.
“Today, in the final round of Star Trek-related lawsuits, we are asked to go boldly where no court has been before,” Chin wrote to a panel of three justices who decided the case was in line with the findings. of a lower court judge.
‘STAR TREK’ SPINOFF SERIES FOCUSES ON THE YOUNG SPOCK ORDER ON CBS ALL ACCESS
He said the panel decided that Anas Abdin did not show that there was a substantial similarity between his concept for video games and the television series.
An appeal court ruled in favor of ‘Star Trek’ after a video game developer suggested ‘Discovery’ borrow a concept he claimed to have come up with in 2014.
(Michael Gibson / CBS via AP)
Abdin maintained that a concept he introduced online in 2014 on various online forums and websites was later used, after CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Netflex Inc. in September 2017 the latest “Star Trek” incarnation premiered.
MYSTERIOUS ‘STAR TREK LOGO’ SPOTTED ON MARS FROM NASA
The video game of Abdin and the television series both featured tardigrades, which are microscopic organisms so hard that they can survive in space, the 2nd Circuit said.
The appeals court noted that information on tardigrades was publicly available. It quoted a Smithsonian Magazine report that tardigrades that are often seen on moss as the bottom of lakes have also been found surviving in boiling hot springs and buried under ice on Himalayan mountains.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The ability of the tardigrade to survive in space has been reported and discussed in various scientific studies and has thus entered the public domain as a scientific fact,” the appellate court said, noting that they are also featured in works of fiction. . “Facts and ideas are not protected by copyright.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
