http://www.startrek.com/article/star-trek-fan-film-guidelines-announced

To summarize, the guidelines amount to, "up yours."

Don't get me wrong, I get it; it's their property, and people who want to play in their sandbox should abide by their rules, but these rules seem intentionally prohibitive; dressed to make it seem like an olive branch, when really they want to make it restrictive to the point of choking out what the fans do, so they can be kicked aside. When what they should be doing is looking for creative talents they can pair with their mainstream productions, and getting the most out of it.
Yes, some of the fan projects have gone well beyond the pale of an amateur interest, but seriously; any given story can't exceed 15 minutes, and more than two contiguous installments? Some of the wording seems ambiguous too, like what it means for them to restrict "seasons" or sequels. Does that mean any given fan or group of fans can make exactly two, 15 minute fan productions; and then never again? At least, I assume, with respect to them playing like characters; you get two spins playing Kirk, and then never more, because if you appear again as the same character in something else, wouldn't that constitute a continuation? Or else, what would constitute a sequel or season, or like prohibited continuation beyond the initial 2 installments; and subsequently, what would be allowed?

I'm ambivalent about their restriction of paid actors. On the one hand, I appreciate the intent of keeping the productions strictly amateur, but having done my fair share of community theatre, I also know that just because someone gets paid for something, doesn't necessarily make them a genuine professional in that trade. Obviously paying professional actors, particularly ones with ties to Star Trek, arguably does go beyond a simple honorarium; however, specifically prohibiting Star Trek alumni from participating in these products just seems like a dick move. I'm kind of curious about the legality of it, because if a past Trek actor wants to do an amateur fan production, hypothetically without pay, how can CBS or Paramount dictate what these actors, who are no longer under contract, can or can't consent to? Obviously there might be concerns of paying them under the table, but the point stands; Tim Russ can be in whatever the hell he wants to appear in, and theoretically decide to do it pro-bono if he were so inclined.

But it's a case of where you have "fans" (real and non-mercenary hangers on) who, because they have access to the technology and a little money, they think that their amateur status gives them grounds to make a film of something that doesn't belong to them.

The flip side is that it's a kind of poetic justice hitting the snot nosed "in crowd" set who actually made it their job to exclude non-insiders from their clique.

There's countless anecdotes of the staff of Trek giving lip service and a snobbish cold shoulder to fans who wanted to be part of Trek in some capacity.

Some of that was designed to keep out any Tom, Dick or Harry who might have negative social views, and thus influence society with possibly racist or other negative messages in film.

That's how those elite jerks in Hollywood saw (and still see) themselves.

The gatekeepers of good positive thought. Note; not FREE thought, but POSITIVE thought.

So when fans do these kinds of fan productions I tend to grin a little, because without their knowing it, in their own special way, they're sticking it "to the man" so to speak.

Remember all those sitcoms and police shows you grew up with? All written and produced by a single cluster sub-population that feared for their lives. So you kept getting the same damn message for decades up until NOW.

Thank the gods for the Japanese and their consumer electronic innovation, because Hollywood, as we know it, IS NOT MORE.

I'm kind of curious about the legality of it, because if a past Trek actor wants to do an amateur fan production, hypothetically without pay, how can CBS or Paramount dictate what these actors, who are no longer under contract, can or can't consent to?

I'm inclined to agree with you. I guess these come down to voluntary code of conduct; ie "follow them if you want to but we won't guarantee we won't sue you if you don't", sort of thing.

For anyone not up to date on the story behind Axanar and the suit, here's an interesting documentary for a catch-up, which gives a bit of history of star trek fan films
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxOkhC8-u3s

It was a big fat F U not disguised as anything but a giant unlubed spiky dildo. It would shut down pretty much every fan project currently running that's worth a crap.

Yeah, New Voyages has been reduced to turning their sets into a museum....