According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has appealed the EU's $1.35B ruling against them: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFpXl7.5U_a4&refer=home

I for one, do not understand what additional clarity Microsoft is seeking... "You've been found guilty. Here is the fine" (and hopefully some more penalties for wasting more of the court's time). Seems pretty darn clear to me.

Star Trek Phase 2 (formerly Star Trek New Voyages) continues to raise the bar on "fan productions" with their latest episode: World Enough and Time. Currently the STP2 team has been nominated for a Hugo, Peabody and Nebula Award - and won TV Guide's Best Online Sci-Fi Webisode for 2007 against such big names as Battlestar Galactica and The 4400.

How much longer before "fan films" seriously enter contention in markets currently held by "the big studios" and how can the studios continue to compete with ORIGINAL fan-based productions that show the same level of professional results, great storytelling and understanding of core audience wants? At what point do the studios need to re-think their methodology in order to capture and keep such audiences? What do they need to start doing differently to stay more in touch with their fan base?

And how can a fan film such as Star Trek Phase 2, which is based off someone else's universe, garner more interest and more viewers for their project - especially considering they can't make money off it, the project is all volunteer, and the project is funded by those same volunteers?

Star Trek Phase 2's website can be found at http://www.startrekphase2.com/ and posters, wallpaper and more can be found on their Media site here: http://www.startrekphase2media.com/ - check them out, I am glad I did!