Fan sites feel studio glare

From Correspondent Dennis Michael

Unofficial fan sites promote the shows that inspire them, but they sometimes also use copyrighted material without permission

February 11, 2000
Web posted at: 3:53 p.m. EST (2053 GMT)

(CNN) -- Here's the dream: One day in the not-so-distant future, you'll be able to watch your favorite sitcom and -- at the same time on the same screen -- surf the Internet for information on the show and its actors and actresses. There are even predictions that we'll be able to buy clothes like those the stars are wearing, with a click of the remote or mouse.

But while the convergence of television and the Internet has long been predicted, there still are a few bugs to be worked out before that happens.

One seemingly minor one, that could become a major hurdle: the issue of fan sites. The Web is filled with these shrines devoted to films, TV shows and their stars. "Star Trek," "Xena: Warrior Princess," and "The X-Files" are shows with lots of fan sites.

The sites seem to do all the work for the studios, endlessly and relentlessly promoting the shows that inspire them. And yet the studios are often at odds with these fan sites.

20th Century Fox Television recently closed down or threatened several sites dedicated to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

"Web site owners," says Gina Smith, who runs an unofficial "Buffy" site, "received cease-and-desist letters telling them to immediately remove any copyrighted material, whether it be logos, transcripts, video clips, sound clips, screen shots -- any type of pictures -- immediately, or else they would face legal action."

It's not a first. Viacom, which owns networks including Showtime and UPN, did the same with "Star Trek" fan sites last year. The content offered by the sites amounts to intellectual property owned by the studios.

In response, hundreds of fan sites are planning a protest called "Operation Blackout" on May 13, a one-day shutdown of the sites to attract attention to the issue.

Smith says Fox is alienating devotees by forcing "Buffy the Vampire" fan sites to shut down

Fox-TV president Doug Herzog says his company is stuck in the middle.

"It's always nice to see fans passionate and getting behind shows," Herzog says. "But at the same time, these are characters and trademarks that belong to someone else. So it's not exactly all kosher."

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is taking a hard line on the unauthorized use of property on fan sites.

"The studios have an obligation to negotiate with our members individually if their images and performances are going to be used in anything other than the film they were originally employed in," says Leonard Chassman, executive director of SAG's Hollywood branch. "And (creators of fan sites) are subject to severe damages if they don't comply with that. The studios are in the best position as copyright holders in the property to control the situation. I applaud Fox for taking the action that it did."

But others aren't giving Fox or any other site-curbing studio much applause.

"If they stop these Web sites, they're shooting themselves in the foot, because these are the fans," says Mark Schwed, a columnist for TV Guide magazine. "These are the ones who watch 'Buffy' and love 'Buffy' and buy 'Buffy' products and get all their friends to watch 'Buffy.'"

Smith agrees.

"I know that by shutting these sites down, Fox is alienating the fans and the viewers, and like I said, the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Internet fan base is extremely devoted," says Smith.

WB grows up with 'Buffy' spinoff 'Angel'
October 5, 1999
Television and the Web do mix
October 1, 1999
The 'Girl Power' success story of Susanne Daniels
June 24, 1999
The Web reaches out to Gen Y
June 16, 1999
'Star Wars' sites clone rapidly on the Web
May 4, 1999
Entertainers use Web to reach audiences in new ways
March 2, 1999

Viacom
Fox.com

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.