Star Trek Novels . . . Here We Go Again?

From Trekmovie.com:

TrekMovie.com: Did you guys realize that when you set the construction of the USS Enterprise on Earth that it would spark controversy?

Roberto Orci: Of course.

TrekMovie.com: So what is your guys logic for setting it on land?

Roberto Orci: Besides the thematic stuff we discussed, which is to connect it to today and make it clear. Firstly, there is the notion that there is precedent in the novels, etc that components of the ship can be built on Earth and assembled here or there.

Roberto Orci:I think I said on your site that in those times when canon is fuzzy, then we are ‘The Supreme Court’ right now and the court has to rule one way or the other.

TrekMovie.com: So who sits on the court?

Roberto Orci: It is the five of us: me, Alex [Kurtzman], JJ [Abrams], Bryan [Burk], and Damon [Lindelof]

So a member of the Supreme Court of Canon is talking about precedent in the novels?

Not to mix my metaphors, but frak. Frakola, even. It's a potential frakaroo, I daresay.

This bears watching, as further comments of this nature could result in a sea change on Trek canon, to some degree. The whole split-ownership issue muddies that up, of course, but still.

At most, this could entail that . . . somehow . . . we would be forced to accept as factual in the Trek universe all the myriad and divergent novels. At least, continuation of this thread of commentary on their parts could mean that tech material could have some validity, which would be entirely screwy.

Alternately, of course, he simply means that surface-built components have been seen in the books, so get over it and quit freaking out. Hence why this bears watching, and no page edits are currently planned.