Elliot Kim
The Star Trek franchise, owned by CBS Studios, has a plethora of unique sounds and music associated with it. From the Photon Torpedo sound to the revolutionary electronic music with sonar beeps, these sounds are iconic and recognisable to Trekkies and casual viewers alike. With the original sounds being created in the 1960s, the question arises as to whether these sounds are still copyrighted. The copyright landscape has changed over time, and while some sources indicate a copyright duration of 50 years, others suggest 95 years or a lifetime plus additional years. The complex nature of copyright laws and the potential for fan productions to utilise Star Trek's intellectual property, including music and sound effects, adds further intrigue to the discussion of copyright ownership and enforcement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership of Star Trek | CBS Studios, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owned by National Amusements, Inc. |
| Copyright duration | 50 years, lifetime +XYZ years, 95 years, 56 years |
| Original bridge sounds | Electronic music with sonar beeps, shortwave radio recordings, and Morse code |
| Similarities | The Twilight Zone, an earlier TV show, used similar sound effects and music |
| Fan productions | CBS allows fan productions to use their musical cues as long as no money is made |
| Sound effects | The Photon Torpedo sound from Star Trek is copyrighted |
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What You'll Learn
The ownership of Star Trek and its copyrights
The ownership of the Star Trek franchise has changed hands several times since its creation, with creator Gene Roddenberry losing all rights and title to his creation—except for his "created by" credit—when he sold the pitch to Desilu Studios in 1964. The Lucille Ball-owned studio Desilu was the first franchise owner and produced the first two pilots. In 1967, Desilu was acquired by Gulf+Western and renamed Paramount Television. Since then, the franchise has been owned by Viacom, CBS Corporation, and Paramount Pictures, with the exact ownership and rights to the various Star Trek films and series being complex and changing over time due to corporate mergers, acquisitions, and splits.
Currently, CBS Studios, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns Star Trek. CBS Studios has been generous in allowing fans to use their musical cues and other intellectual property for non-commercial purposes, as long as no money is being made from their use. However, some fans have expressed concern about potential copyright infringement when using Star Trek music or sound effects in their productions. It is important to note that while CBS may allow the use of certain intellectual property, they still retain the legal right to make new material or license others to do so.
In the 2005 Viacom/CBS split, the old Viacom became the CBS Corporation, and a new Viacom was created, which owned Paramount Pictures. Paramount Pictures owns the rights to the first ten Star Trek films in full and has produced new films under a license from CBS Broadcasting. However, they only own the rights to these new films in part. The complex ownership structure of the Star Trek franchise has led to some fan-made productions being sued or facing legal challenges, as the line between fair use and copyright infringement can be blurry.
While Paramount has the legal right to make profitable use of the Star Trek property, some argue that this right is impeded by social forces that the law cannot touch. This highlights the complex relationship between the owners of Star Trek and its dedicated fanbase, with some fans considering the ownership of the franchise to be a joint effort between Paramount and the fan base. The fans bring new ideas and creativity to the Star Trek universe, while Paramount holds the legal rights and provides the financial backing to create new official materials.
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The origin of the Star Trek bridge sounds
The Star Trek franchise is known for its iconic sound effects, including those heard on the bridge of the starship Enterprise. The creation of these distinctive sounds can be attributed to the visionary genius of Gene Roddenberry, who assembled a talented technical crew for the television series. Chief among them were Jack Finlay, Douglas Grindstaff, and Joseph Sorokin, who crafted an array of sound effects exclusively for Star Trek.
One of the revolutionary aspects of Star Trek's sound design was the attention to detail, ensuring that each room in the ship sounded different. The bridge sounds, in particular, captivated the imagination of Trekkies worldwide. The sound of the bridge was designed to evoke a sense of being on the edge of the universe, with distant, disembodied sounds transmitted back and forth.
To achieve this otherworldly ambiance, the sound designers employed a variety of techniques. They utilized shortwave radio recordings, incorporating Morse code and transmissions that suggested distant communications. These subtle effects added depth to the vastness of space and the isolation of the starship.
Another intriguing aspect of the bridge sounds was their similarity to those used in The Twilight Zone, which predated Star Trek. The Twilight Zone episode "Dead Man's Shoes", which aired in 1962, featured similar sound effects that would later become synonymous with Star Trek. This overlap in sound design may be attributed to the shared actors and creative personnel between the two shows.
The iconic sound effects of the Star Trek bridge have left an enduring legacy, inspiring sound designers and captivating fans for decades. The meticulous work of Roddenberry and his team continues to influence science fiction and shape the way we imagine space exploration.
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The legality of using Star Trek sounds in new music
The Star Trek franchise, including its music and sound effects, is owned by CBS Studios, a subsidiary of the CBS Corporation, whose parent company is National Amusements, Inc. This means that CBS Studios holds the copyright to the music and sound effects from Star Trek and can grant or deny permission for their use.
While CBS has been generous in letting fans use their musical cues and other intellectual property, there are limits to this generosity. Fans are allowed to use CBS's intellectual property as long as they do not secure (pay for licensing) rights to any aspect of their property, including music, and as long as they do not make any money from it. In other words, as long as there is no revenue generated from the use of CBS's intellectual property, fans are generally allowed to use it.
However, this does not mean that one can freely use Star Trek sounds in new music without consequence. If the new music generates revenue, CBS Studios may take legal action for copyright infringement. Additionally, if the Star Trek sounds are synthesized from scratch and used in a similar context, CBS may still attempt to pursue legal action, even if the sounds are not identical to the originals.
It is also worth noting that copyright laws can vary depending on the region and the specific circumstances of the case. The duration of copyright protection can range from 50 years to lifetime plus additional years, and it is important to consider the laws in the relevant jurisdiction.
In conclusion, while it may be legally permissible to use Star Trek bridge sounds in new music without explicit permission from CBS Studios, it is a complex legal issue that depends on various factors, including revenue generation, the context of the sounds, and the specific copyright laws in the relevant jurisdiction. It is always advisable to seek legal counsel when dealing with intellectual property and copyright issues.
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The evolution of copyright laws and their impact on Star Trek copyrights
Copyright laws have evolved over the years, with the world's first copyright law, the Statute of Anne, enacted in England in 1710. This Act introduced the concept of the author of a work being its copyright owner and established fixed terms of protection. The Copyright Act of 1790 in the US and the Berne Convention of 1886 further shaped international copyright standards. The Berne Convention, adopted by most countries, extended protection to unpublished works and eliminated the need for registration.
Star Trek, owned by CBS Studios and Paramount Pictures, has its copyrights governed by these evolving laws. Fan productions and derivative works have been generally tolerated, provided they do not generate profit. CBS and Paramount have allowed fans to use musical cues and intellectual property without licensing fees, as long as no money is made. This flexibility has encouraged fan engagement and creativity within the Star Trek universe.
The evolution of copyright laws has impacted Star Trek copyrights in several ways. The recognition of authors' rights and fixed terms of protection provided a framework for Star Trek creators and owners to assert their copyrights. The extension of protection to unpublished works and the removal of registration requirements simplified the process of securing copyrights for new Star Trek content.
Additionally, the international recognition of copyright through the Berne Convention ensured that Star Trek's copyrights were respected and enforceable across multiple countries. This enabled global enforcement of Star Trek copyrights and facilitated international distribution and collaboration.
While Star Trek has benefited from the evolving copyright laws, it has also sparked discussions about the role of intellectual property in a post-scarcity future. In the Star Trek universe, the absence of money and the presence of advanced technology raise questions about the relevance of copyright laws. However, the existence of Intellectual Property (IP) laws within the Federation, as depicted in the episode "Author, Author," indicates that copyright considerations may still apply in some form.
In conclusion, the evolution of copyright laws has provided a legal framework for Star Trek copyrights, enabling the protection and distribution of Star Trek content globally. The flexibility shown by CBS and Paramount towards fan productions has fostered a vibrant fan community. At the same time, the Star Trek universe challenges traditional copyright concepts, inviting exploration of alternative approaches to intellectual property in a future where scarcity may no longer be a driving force.
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Similarities between Star Trek and Twilight Zone's sound effects
Several viewers have noticed similarities between the sound effects of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. The sound effects in question are the "ding-ding-DING-ding-ding" sounds that play in the background of the Enterprise bridge. This sound effect can be heard in the Twilight Zone episodes "Third from the Sun", "Elegy", and "On Thursday We Leave For Home". The latter two episodes feature spaceships, and viewers have noted that the sound effects in these scenes are very similar to those in Star Trek.
Some viewers have also noted that Star Trek and The Twilight Zone share similar writers, such as Richard Matheson and George Clayton Johnson, and that the latter show influenced the former. This influence can be seen in episodes such as "Charlie X" and "The Galileo Seven", which are said to be similar to the Twilight Zone episodes "It's a Good Life" and "The Little People", respectively. In addition to writers, the two shows also shared several actors.
It is worth noting that stock sound effects have been used in multiple movies and TV shows, so it is possible that the similarity between the sound effects in Star Trek and The Twilight Zone is coincidental. However, given the overlap in creative personnel between the two shows, it is also possible that the sound effects in Star Trek were intentionally similar to those in The Twilight Zone.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Star Trek is owned by CBS Studios, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, and they own the copyrights to the music and sound effects from the show.
CBS Consumer Products has allowed fans to use their musical cues as long as no money is being made from it.
The bridge background from the '60s included electronic music with sonar beeps and shortwave radio recordings.
The original Star Trek sound effects were created by Roddenberry and his team, who made sure each room in the ship sounded distinct.
The Twilight Zone, which was made before Star Trek, features similar sound effects. Specifically, the episode "On Thursday We Leave For Home" has the same bridge sound.
