Post by Triton on Jan 18, 2012 14:59:38 GMT -8
MemoryOmicron takes a common law, rather than a code law, approach to the Star Trek canon. In our judgment, there is good canonical precedent and poor canonical precedent in the Star Trek universe continuity. We believe that fan fiction writers should be able to exercise taste and creative judgment in what they interpret to be canon in their fictional continuity and what they choose to reference in their derivative works.
Filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs, including Star Trek: The Animated Series, are considered to be primary authorities concerning the Star Trek fictional canon. Therefore, writers are obliged to make creative and continuity decisions by following what has been established in prior filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs. Writers should consider the filmed Star Trek motion pictures and movies as authoritative in what they consider to be precedent in the Star Trek fictional universe.
However, filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs do contain contradictory, irreconcilable, or poorly conceived and executed fictional precedent over its 45 years of existence. Writers will not be expected to reconcile this contradictory or poorly conceived and executed fictional precedent in their works. Writers should be able to look at the preponderance of the evidence of subsequent references in later Star Trek motion pictures and television programs in making continuity decisions based or the importance of the item in the scheme of the Star Trek continuity and whether they obliged to include it in their works. For example, Captain James Kirk's middle initial may be R in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" may be part of the "canon", but writers are not obliged to reconcile why his middle name and initial changed to T. Or obliged to change crew members into salamanders if they travel at Warp 10 as was depicted in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Threshold".
Controversial events of great importance in the Star Trek universe, such as Spock's half-brother Sybok and the destruction of Romulus and Remus in Star Trek (2009) will be subject to a vote of the membership.
I don't believe that writers should be forced to continue poorly conceived and executed precedent just because it was filmed.
Star Trek Encyclopedia by Michael and Denise Okuda with Debbie Mirek, Star Trek Chronology by Michael and Denise Okuda, and Memory Alpha are considered to be secondary authorities on the Star Trek literary canon. References to information in these books and web site may be included provided that they do not contradict what has been established in the filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs. Writers are not obliged to follow the information provided in these books and web site when making creative decisions.
Expanded universe materials such as the licensed novel series, video and computer games, licensed role playing games, or fandom material such as The Federation Reference Series, Ships of the Star Fleet, Star Fleet Technical Manual, Star Fleet Medical Manual, Starfleet Prototype, Starfleet Dynamics, Starfleet Reference Manual may be used in writing stories provided that the materials are approved by other members who are part of the shared universe project and their importance in the shared literary universe.
Expanded universe materials will not automatically be rejected for use as "not canon."
Filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs, including Star Trek: The Animated Series, are considered to be primary authorities concerning the Star Trek fictional canon. Therefore, writers are obliged to make creative and continuity decisions by following what has been established in prior filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs. Writers should consider the filmed Star Trek motion pictures and movies as authoritative in what they consider to be precedent in the Star Trek fictional universe.
However, filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs do contain contradictory, irreconcilable, or poorly conceived and executed fictional precedent over its 45 years of existence. Writers will not be expected to reconcile this contradictory or poorly conceived and executed fictional precedent in their works. Writers should be able to look at the preponderance of the evidence of subsequent references in later Star Trek motion pictures and television programs in making continuity decisions based or the importance of the item in the scheme of the Star Trek continuity and whether they obliged to include it in their works. For example, Captain James Kirk's middle initial may be R in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" may be part of the "canon", but writers are not obliged to reconcile why his middle name and initial changed to T. Or obliged to change crew members into salamanders if they travel at Warp 10 as was depicted in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Threshold".
Controversial events of great importance in the Star Trek universe, such as Spock's half-brother Sybok and the destruction of Romulus and Remus in Star Trek (2009) will be subject to a vote of the membership.
I don't believe that writers should be forced to continue poorly conceived and executed precedent just because it was filmed.
Star Trek Encyclopedia by Michael and Denise Okuda with Debbie Mirek, Star Trek Chronology by Michael and Denise Okuda, and Memory Alpha are considered to be secondary authorities on the Star Trek literary canon. References to information in these books and web site may be included provided that they do not contradict what has been established in the filmed Star Trek motion pictures and television programs. Writers are not obliged to follow the information provided in these books and web site when making creative decisions.
Expanded universe materials such as the licensed novel series, video and computer games, licensed role playing games, or fandom material such as The Federation Reference Series, Ships of the Star Fleet, Star Fleet Technical Manual, Star Fleet Medical Manual, Starfleet Prototype, Starfleet Dynamics, Starfleet Reference Manual may be used in writing stories provided that the materials are approved by other members who are part of the shared universe project and their importance in the shared literary universe.
Expanded universe materials will not automatically be rejected for use as "not canon."