X-Philes, upset by this insult, and fearful that this was just the first step in a campaign by FOX against all unofficial websites, flooded the company with emails protesting their actions, even managing to crash FOX's email server. But to no avail ...
Despite all of Gil's efforts to neigotate with David Oaks, the FOX representive, there would be no compromise. The site came down Monday, October 28, and FOX won this battle.
But this seems not to be the end of the story. In fact, hints have come to light that this may just be the first step in a FOX Network campaign to end the existance of unofficial web sites for their shows ... a test case to see the response on the web.
Why a company would insult its fans by forcing down sites that for many are a labour of love, showing their loyalty to the shows and the characters they enjoy, is beyond us. It is becoming clear that this is not just a matter of either copyright or trademark ... but that FOX execs want complete and total control over how every facet of their company is protrayed on the Internet. They have thus far shown themselves unwilling to compromise, unwilling to consider anything but the total elimination of all unofficial sites. If there will be no peaceful compromise, we are willing to fight.
Who We Are
It's been several weeks since that premiere and the attack on Gil's site, and the mixed messages the X-phile community has recieved since then from Fox have not reassured us. Veiled threats ... no direct communication ... nothing to give us hope for a compromise.
So a group of worried X-philes have decided to show our displeasure with the decision through the internet, and hopefully through the media. We call ourselves XFACTOR--X-Philes For Abolishing Censorship Threatening Our Rights.
We are here, watching, hoping, and trying to find answers. We want a peaceful solution ... Does Fox?
Why We're Protesting
We feel that Fox is being a bit overzealous in protecting a copyright when the amount of goodwill they get from XF and Millennium fans who put up sites far exceeded any loss they might suffer. Many of us create our own material based on the show--everything from fan art to humorous song parodies and top ten lists--and we'd hate to think that our right to share these labors of love would be taken from us.
Recent News
Our campaign is beginning to be noticed. An article in the LA times has addressed our crusade, as have serveral on-line ezines.
HotWire's Millennium Article
LA times article
If you wish to set up a protest site, but don't have the time or knowledge to develop one, you may freely copy my pages. If you have the same problems I do with copying the .html for a page off the internet, feel free to email me and request that I mail you the file. (if you want the condensed version of my site, copy http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~dew918/online2.htm.)
For our collection of protest graphics and non-copyrighted X-File and Milliennum graphics, visit Lori Bloomer's Page. Because one of the many issues in the crackdown is the use of images, none use copyrighted material from the show, but emerge instead from the artistic talents of many in our group. Feel free to use the graphics in support of our cause, although aknowledging the creator in your .html text (check the source of my page to see what I mean) would be nice.
If you don't have a web page or would prefer other methods, you can join in the e-mail campaign or snail mail campaign as well.
For links to on-line Fox Affiliates
http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~dew918/links.htm