Why It's Surprisingly Okay to Use REAL Uniforms in Your Star Trek Fan Film

As if it's easy to get your hands on an admiral uniform for Starfleet, you think? As it stands, though, it's not that surprising from a certain point of view. You can't do a makeshift costume and call it a "Klingon" uniform without Paramount barking at your door to stop, because truthfully you're going to need an actual "official" uniform, one endorsed by the production company -- or, at the very least, their approval to use a Halloween costume representation.

But Why? -- Why Is It Okay to Use "Official Merchandise" in Your Star Trek Fan Film?

For one thing, it protects the brand -- another thing, it promotes it. You have to understand that Paramount, Star Trek, and Starfleet from the Neutral Zone to the farthest galaxy aren't against fan fictions and film, because what makes as great publicity and marketing (fan films, etc.) is done without Paramount having to spend any money.

In other words.... They love that you guys do that sort of stuff! They just want to make sure you're using their stuff to do it. They don't want you using bootleg items or any imitations, because that can actually hurt the brand.

If you're going to revel in your Star Trek fanaticism, they're going to want you to revel in it legitimately.

Such Is the Case for Many a Star Trek Fan Film

You can see there's plenty of flexibility. But also a lot of guidelines to follow. You can learn about more of those guidelines right here. This is the basis for trademark, copyright and patent law. Rules, rules, rules (and on top of those rules, the Prime Directive sits).

Speaking of actual costumes.... How about animated ones??

If You're Going to Make a Star Trek Fan Film, Please Make It Your "Own"

This should go without saying as evidenced by the many rules and stipulations CBS/Paramount laid out for all those fan filmmakers wanting to dip their fingers into the celluloid of the Star Trek universe. But, seriously -- if you're going to make a fan film, make it your OWN -- as in your OWN actors, your own STORIES, no "shippers" or anything.

This Means You Can't Have Dr. McCoy Be Romantically Involved With Mr. Spock in a Quick 15-Minute Episode Romance

It's just not feasible. Funny, but not feasible. Moreover, by original content, you must actually film the stuff with brand-new scenes and not splice anything from episodes or movies featuring the characters as played by either Nimoy, Kelley, or Karl Urban and Zachary Quinto. You can't even create any of those cool shipper music videos we often see on YouTube without potentially getting Warp 9 heat from the big boys at CBS and Paramount.

Here's the actual quote from the rules they laid out:

"The content in the fan production must be original, not reproductions, recreations or clips from any Star Trek production. If non-Star Trek third party content is used, all necessary permissions for any third party content should be obtained in writing."

You can't get much plainer than that.

There's Still Plenty of Room for Romance and Other Fun Stuff for Fan Films, Though

After all, this is STAR TREK, people! Come on.... Kirk had plenty of fun with many a green alien woman. Why not you?

(So, okay, this fan film takes some liberties....")

Thou Shalt Not Use the Name STAR TREK

Truly, it does make sense not to use the words "Star Trek," albeit it's a bit anal, even for a Klingon, who is about as anal as can be in the galaxy. But it's true: CBS and Paramount among their rules of fan film creation for Star Trek basically forbid the use of the words "Star Trek" in any fan film produced without the endorsement of the dual production company responsible for the TV shows and films we've seen on the small and silver screens.

However, There Are Some Specific Stipulations You Get to Keep in Mind:

Here's what they released as a legal statement -- giving at the very least plenty of praise for those trekkies out there who want to show that the galaxy of Star Trek is far larger than even the TV shows and movies can make it out to be:

"The Title of the fan production or any parts cannot include the name 'Star Trek.' However, the title must contain a subtitle with the phrase: 'A STAR TREK FAN PRODUCTION' in plain typeface. The fan production cannot use the term 'official' in either its title or subtitle or in any marketing, promotions or social media for the fan production."

What I think is funny is that CBS/Paramount say you "must" use those words in the subtitle. For better or worse, that's some freedom to the trekkie lover of film, for sure -- it is the only instance where you can use the words "Star" and "Trek" in the same sentence. Beautiful.

Whatever You Do, Though, Don't Ever Use the Word "Official"

That's apparently against the prime directive.After all, you don't work for CBS/Paramount or the United Federation of Planets. So avoid disaster like that weird giant cigar probe asking for the humpback whales in "Star Trek IV: the Voyage Home."

Unless you got a couple who can do the whale song for you!

(This fan production did it right, I believe.)