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From: leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Ellison and TERMINATOR
Message-ID: <839@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Jun-85 02:38:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.839
Posted: Thu Jun 20 02:38:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Jun-85 06:21:03 EDT
References: <826@mtgzz.UUCP> <15041@watmath.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
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 >There is a good deal of difference between
 >cross-fertilization of ideas (which is a long respected
 >tradition in SF, as we all know, Ellison included) and theft
 >of your work.  As I understand the situation, Ellison had
 >worked on a project to develop the Robot Cop story "Brillo",
 >but the project had fallen through.  Ellison then went on to
 >other things.  Later on, some of the work from that project
 >(and maybe some of the same people) showed up in the Robot
 >Cop series.

My understanding at the time was that Ellison could not demonstrate any
work of his had shown up in the FUTURE COP series.  He made his claim
solely on the claim of plagerized ideas.  Othertimes I believe he has
made what I consider an outrageous claim that science fiction writers
are stupid not to make what money they can out of Hollywood.  When he
is writing for Hollywood he disparages the writers who are not and 
when he isn't he claims that everything Hollywood makes in science
fiction is garbage.  I have very little respect for that sort of
attitude.


 >Now Terminator is another situation.  I have heard nothing
 >to suggest that Ellison was involved in a development deal
 >on related projects, except for the Outer Limits scripts.

That's right.

 >Again, I think the validity of this whole mess is up to the
 >courts.  
 
It has been settled out of court, I thought.  It was safer that way for
the producers of TERMINATOR.  I just don't agree with the decision to
settle out of court.
 
 >I can't judge for myself because I haven't seen the
 >shows in question.  
 
There are other works of science fiction far closer, but Ellison seems
to have some sort of recognized territoriality on anything at all like
his ideas that makes a good profit.
 
 >I hope that the court is well enough
 >informed on the matter that they won't automatically say
 >"They both have time travel so Terminator must be stolen."  

The producers did not want to take the risk, apparently.

[Because I am talking about Ellison and the company I work for does make
a profit, I will remind people that the opinions expressed here are
my own.]

				Mark Leeper
				...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper