Paramount Pictures, the owner of "Star Trek," has more than a Federation Starship to fight its battle with Salt Lake playwright Bob Bedore.
Its cargo bays, so to speak, are full of cash.But Bedore and Eric Jensen, owners of the Off Broadway Theatre, promise to vanquish the multimillion-dollar company in its attempts to vaporize production of his popular "Star Twek" plays.
Paramount Pictures is suing Bedore for allegedly infringing on trademark and copyright laws by producing two "Star Trek" parodies at his Off Broadway Theatre in Salt Lake City. Paramount created and distributes all of the television episodes and spin-off movies.
"This is not a battle of size; it's a battle of the law. If anything, I feel bigger because I know the law is on our side," said Bedore, who plays Mr. Schlock in the parody.
The lawsuit, the second one in Off Broadway's year and a half existence, alleges Bedore's plays freely copy the plots, characters, set, costumes and music of the original productions and therefore are intended to trade upon the works.
Bedore responds that his "Star Twek: The Search for Spoof" and two subsequent comedies are protected forms of parody that jab not only the TV series but also celebrities and Utah's culture.
"I can't see how a huge player in the entertainment business can prove that a 200-seat theater in Salt Lake City has damaged them in any way."
Bedore said he was not told the lawsuit was coming, although he received a letter asking him to stop performances. He believes the company went so far as to send one or more investigators to his productions for research to support the action.
Carl Fulta, a spokesman for Paramount's owner Viacom, said he could not comment on the lawsuit.
Paramount seeks an unspecified amount of damages, but the total could exceed $100,000, according to legal documents. The lawsuit also demands that Bedore and co-owner Eric Jensen, who plays Captain Smirk, "deliver up for destruction" all promotional materials related to their stage productions.
But Off Broadway's supporters are lining up. Friday morning Chere Wood of KSL Radio sent the theater a dozen red roses and $50 to start its defense fund.
The fund grew with donations from patrons of Friday night's performance of "Star Twek: The Voyager Home."
"I think Paramount is making fools of themselves with this frivolous suit. My 5-year-old and 6-year-old know the plays are spoofs," said Charlene Harmon, who came to theater with her husband to protest Paramount's lawsuit.
The couple, who wore Star Trek costumes to the performance, said if anything, the Off Broadway spoof generates business for Paramount by creating more interest in Star Trek.
Bedore has poked fun before at other pop culture hits with the productions, "James Blond," "Grab Net" and "Gilligan's Isle." In fact, Turner Broadcasting wrote Bedore during the run of the Gilligan spoof and suggested he pull the show or face a copyright lawsuit.
"I responded that it was a parody and their lawyers backed off immediately," Bedore said. "The only reason (Paramount) is doing this is to intimidate us. We're not going to give in . . . this is my way of never having to look back."
Two years ago, Paramount successfully challenged a small theater in Greenwich Village, N.Y. Rather than finance a lengthy legal battle, the Greenwich theater settled out of court, agreeing to never do another Star Trek parody.
However, Bedore's fourth Trek play, "Star Twek: The Planet of Women," is already written and scheduled to debut next January.
Stepen Harmon, a loyal Star Trek fan and Star Twek fan (he's seen the play three times), said parody fulfills a certain human need.
"Not only is it entertaining," he said. "But it's a chance to look at our culture in the mirror every once in a while and laugh."
Deseret News staff writer Ruth Ann Mitchell contributed to this story.