Thoughts on the Ellison Star Trek Lawsuit

Entertainment sites have been reporting the recent news that Harlan Ellison, writer of 'City on the Edge of Forever' is suing Pamaount Pictures over the use of elements from his story such as The Guardian of Forever and the character of Edith Keeler.

Harlan Ellison is clearly a very good writer of Science Fiction. 'City on the Edge of Forever' is one of my all-time favourite episodes, and Mr. Ellison was also influential in the groundbreak series 'Babylon 5'.

I do not know the legal situation, or whether Mr. Ellison has any valid claim in this case, but I would like to share my personal thoughts on how I think this should be.

I think that when you contribute writing to a franchise like Star Trek, you are, in a way, partially foreiting your ownership of the story. Mr. Ellison was playing in Gene Roddenberry's backyard. Should Ellison have had to pay Roddenberry for the use of characters such as Kirk and Spock? Once the episode aired, the Guardian of Forever and Edith Keeler became part of Star Trek canon. The story was part of something bigger than itself.

If Mr. Ellison wins this case I believe it will set a disturbing precedent that could kill off the concept of continuity in fiction. No longer will writers or producers dare to make mention of characters or events that took place in previous episodes. It would simply become too expensive.

As an ameteur writer I can understand Harlan Ellison's possessive feelings over 'his babies', but the thought that subsequent writers, be it novels or episodes, would want to reference his story is a testament to the power of his writing.

Maybe I don't fully understand the situation, but that's my thoughts.