How Long Should You Make Your Star Trek Fan Film?

Aside from all rules CBS and Paramount have laid out right here, this one has to be the strictest of them all -- and if you are a trekkie, take note: there are limits when it comes to honoring your fanaticism by boldly going where no one has gone before, but "Star Trek" is indeed an owned franchise. And CBS and Paramount have spoken.

So What Is the Length Limit for Your Star Trek Fan Film, You Ask?

Let's first get the shock out of your system in that there is a rule stipulated by the owners of the trademark/patent/copyright, what have you, and that you must follow this rule to avoid any cease-and-desist letter or legal trouble with the giants of the United Federation of Planets (and all the permutations of the Enterprise).

It shouldn't be too bad given the situation, as a mere nugget of cosmic philosophy of a vulcan can only be explained in a mere second or two (those crazy eye-browed elves are quite the simple bunch, aren't they?), but here's the rule CBS and Paramount laid out for the masses:

"The fan production must be less than 15 minutes for a single self-contained story, or no more than 2 segments, episodes or parts, not to exceed 30 minutes total, with no additional seasons, episodes, parts, sequels or remakes."

In other words.... You can create those little short fan films. That's it. No series. No episodes. Just standalone stories. And you should be safe from danger in the Neutral Zone.

Like It? Good. Don't Like It? Arm Your Phasers for Stun.

That's the thing about franchises and brands, though -- not everyone's going to agree with it. But, seriously, you'll take what you can get! After all, a little something's better than everything you want and some serious legal photon torpedoes up into your mailbox. I'd prefer to choose the former over the latter. It's only logical.

(Surprisingly, this well-known fan film completely breaks CBS/Paramount's new legal rule on fan films. But we won't say anything!)