Browncoat HQ?

POSTED BY: SerenityNow
UPDATED: Sunday, February 22, 2004 06:04
VIEWED: 19403
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SERENITYNOW

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 9:10 PM

Thanks, Jen. That was so...historical.

Honestly, thanks a lot.

I keep harping on this being a "confederacy" and it's funny...the Star Wars storm trooper/evil guy "garrisons" are really well organized, but still a pretty loose group at the local level. They all seem to accept that structure of some kind is necessary to coordinate all the conventions and charity work they do. But hey--they're celebrating an evil totalitarian empire manned by clones.

We are celebrating a Civil War sci fi reenactment type thing and we're acting like a bunch of greycoats. It's 1860 all over again. ;) It's just--I remember something from 8th grade about how hard it was for them to get organized because of all their stupid factions and pride.

So, I say, let's just go ahead and set up an HQ--whether based at browncoats or shindigified or wherever we decide. Let's organize on a grand scale and those so inclined will join in, and those who don't can do their own thing. Apparently you guys already made the decision to do that with your Browncoat Ball. But like you said--it'd be nice to do stuff to support the potential movie, and like Haken said, do maybe a convention even. And like Lodril said (in the MD Browncoats thread)--we need to at least make sure somebody's "representing" at the various sci fi conventions--'stead of just one guy in a Ma Cobb hat and a Blue Sun shirt.

But at the least, we need a directory, and with you all on board, I think that's really the majority of the core fan base we need to make this work.

I guess what I'm saying is--most of the core fans know everything that going on. We just need a good, central introductory site for fans wanting to get involved.

Okay, I'm getting all verbose now and talking in circles now. I'll shut up. I guess I'm just excited and itching to get this thing off the ground.

http://dryope.typepad.com/superfly/

HOGHUG

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kisbundas:
Yep...depending on how the database gets built you can design front-end pages for any number of sites that could all interface with the same database. I know how this works, but sadly I don't know how to make it work. Pool your collective talent...and we can make it happen.

Anyone out there with the technical skills for this. As for the actual compilation/typing I'm ready to slave away... but the technical design is beyond me.

Jeff

PUDOR

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 11:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by hoghug:

Anyone out there with the technical skills for this. As for the actual compilation/typing I'm ready to slave away... but the technical design is beyond me.

Well, I can do it, no problem, but it might take a while before I have time to get it done (I have hardcore exams from the 3rd to the 11th - everyone cross their fingers for me!) Needless to say, I'm more than up for it :)

I can also sort out designing the database, etc, if anyone wants to give me some idea of what's going on :)

Ok: In short - give me something to do and I'll do it. As Nishka would say, I am 'solid'...

RKLENSETH

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 12:27 AM

Well it seems a lot of things are beginning to work out. Still waiting to hear from my friend.

Anyhow, I think it wold be good to have seperate site for the directory that way there is anoter site and the chances of someone finding one of them is greater and if all of them are linked together then someone will be able to find out this information a lot easier.

Oh, and play Cantr II at www.cantr.net.

SERENITYNOW

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 2:00 AM

You're incredible. I'll definitely be thinking lucky thoughts for you.

Email me (f3k64@yahoo.com) or Jeff (I think he's on here somewhere) to talk about it.

Here's my vision-thingy for the site. Everybody--please let me know what you think:

I think the "HQ" or whatever needs these 3 elements:

-- searchable and stable directory. You have to be a member to get other members' contact info (voluntary to the extreme), but anybody can get a regional contact. This is also good for *media* contacts, not just fans.

-- easy to understand intro portion. I'm thinking, pretty & sophisticated (a la fireflymovie.com)--but something even more of a basic basic intro. The kind of site you'd send your mother to go look at when trying to explain the show. User-friendly, for those tentative new fans who aren't sure what kind of crazy people they're dealing with and what they're getting into. So we give them a primrose path. (This will of course link to everything else that's out there.) Ideally this would have a page with a history of the fan movement, too--what's been tried to save the show for example.

--Current community explanation. This would of course include fully documented links--an annotated directory of where to go for what. One big feature of this would be scouring the newsletters, boards, and other websites to present a digest of news and "stuff" providers. Who is doing commemerative patches, costume stuff, ripping music? And it would also give a brief overview of the current efforts to save the show/movie--all links mostly. But the key is, they're updated, in one place, and kind of tie everybody together.

So basically--like they said above, a nexus of links and digest of news. But mostly an empty site, relying heavily on the already existing community for the real meat (except where we find holes). This means that the directory could be hosted at shindignified.com if they want to do that, or elsewhere, and browncoats.org can do their FAQ...basically we would at minimum be a coordinating site and at maximum host a lot of the stuff ourselves.

Though of course, this is just one idea. The site belongs to everybody, so you all can alter this completely if you think a different way of doing it is better.

http://dryope.typepad.com/superfly/

LODRIL

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 3:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SerenityNow:
One big feature of this would be scouring the newsletters, boards, and other websites to present a digest of news and "stuff" providers. Who is doing commemerative patches, costume stuff, ripping music?

Ummm... that part's not such a good idea. The various costumes, patches and music are all copyrighted works. Violating copyrights for profit (i.e., copy and sell, you don't have to make any money) is technically a federal crime. While you're not likely to hear from the Justice Department on any of this, it's also a civil violation of the respective trademarks and copyrights involved. They may be ok with that, but in my experience (and the experience of other prop-fans I know) it is better to keep those things at least nominally hidden... easy to find once people know who you are, but not blatantly listed so that rights holders feel compelled to do something. Joss Whedon or whoever may not care if we copy stuff, so we shouldn't make them care.

The 501st is a great example... every member violates LFL's copyrights, but they do so with the unspoken blessing of LFL. They don't ask where the armor comes from, and we don't volunteer. On the other hand, when the same people put up easily located sites (or several eBay auctions) listing infringing items they have for sale, LFL goes after them.

So, the rest of that stuff, good. The 'who is selling what database', not so good.

SERENITYNOW

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 10:09 AM

Fine, be that way. Just because you're lawyery and ethical 'n stuff...

But I don't think Jayne hats are an IP issue at least!

http://dryope.typepad.com/superfly/

RKLENSETH

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 3:17 PM

Making costumes copying off of clothing in the show isn't copyright infringment. I will agree with you that making patches with Firefly logos or Firefly names on it and ripping music is copyright infringment but not mking costumes that look like those from the show.

Anyways, in this case I don't think anyone right now will care as neither Universal or FOX are currently making patches or making Firefly albums. So they aren't using money, it is free advertisement for the show (means they are making money without losing a cent), and until they begin to market such merchandise themselves I don't think anyone will have a problem.

Anyways, you'll get a letter from Universal long before they sue you for copyright infringment asking you to stop. As long as you stop they will forgive you on that matter. If they don't ask you to stop usually means they don't care, or they feel it is helping them.

So I wouldn't be too worried about copyright infringment.

And look at all the fansites. By putting up pictures and information on the show is theoritically copyright infringment. Hell, even talking about the show off the official board is copyright infringment.

You see there is a fine line and if you cross it then they will let you know nicely that you have and ask you to step back over.

Oh, and play Cantr II at www.cantr.net.

SERENITYNOW

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 3:57 PM

Hey--he knows what he's talking about. If he says be careful, I would. I mean, this is his legal specialty, and he's told me about some innocent-seeming cases where things didn't go so well for costumers--even when they /did/ have right on their side. Some companies are just touchy and they can put up a fight just for the hell of it.

Though you /know/ we want an open place to talk about this stuff, I'm certainly not going to support something like that if Lodril says to back off. I'd hate to have to ask him to help me out in a dumb legal dispute over FF merchandise (when I can just be quiet about it and avoid Fox's notice...)

http://dryope.typepad.com/superfly/

HOGHUG

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 5:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SerenityNow:
You're incredible. I'll definitely be thinking lucky thoughts for you.

Email me (f3k64@yahoo.com) or Jeff (I think he's on here somewhere) to talk about it.

Here's my vision-thingy for the site. ...

I'm here!

jeff@browncoats.com

or

jeffngayla@cox.net

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