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by **hpfabe** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:52 pm

I think it's worth mentioning that the "Transformer Prime" is the new up-model version of Asus's similar tablet/keyboard combo, which was named the Transformer. That one came out a full year ago.

Re: paul053 - It had some issues with the wifi which delayed it slightly, but it's mainly delayed because they aren't making it quickly enough to fulfill initial preorders, nevermind the new orders coming in. The thing is THE tablet to buy this season, apparently.

by **necr0blivion** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:55 pm

When I hear "Transformer Prime", my thoughts go straight to the newest Hasbro animation depicting Cybertronians. Then I see it's a product for a PC tablet. I believe Hasbro is worried about confusion due to ASUS' product be named so similar to their show/product line.

If it was just "Transformer" or "Prime", no issue. But the combination of both words makes it a problem. I don't agree with some of the posters that Hasbro is just looking to bully other companies with this lawsuit, regardless of who their target is.

News Credits: 8 · by **Forgotten** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:58 pm

paul053 wrote:I admit ASUS naming is kind of confusing but Hasbro's action is way too late. IIRC, shouldn't this tablet be in the market already but got delayed due to some hardware issues?

There werese delays due to the dock. But it's been on the market at least two months now.

by **Treetop Maximus** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:03 pm

I'm rooting for Hasbro.

by **Vicalliose** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:21 pm

Consumers may be confused between a computer and a television show and toy line? God... f*** you Hasbro, as if ASUS quality control and customer service wasn't bad enough. Now someone wants to sue them.

That's just the way in this lawyer filled mess of a world though. It's all about making money for nothing. I hate Hasbro so much right now. I want to see the company burn at this point. Big companies like Hasbro, hiring decent talented people like Lauren Faust to produce television shows for toys which have been outsourced to slave labor, suing companies for no good reason, driving the economy into the ground and making me f***ing addicted to stupid plastic toys into my adulthood... f*** I don't even a right to say this s***. Imma go look for those missing deluxes now...

News Credits: 8 · by **LiKwid** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:01 pm

Ok Ok someone has to say it...

"ASUS just got KO'd" :lol:

Whaaaaat?...too soon?

Ole hasbro is gettin a little feisty this holiday season..Maybe they should use some of this aggrressive approach towards making better toys and actually not schleppin out repaints...Just sayin...
>:oP

by **Ouch** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:21 pm

A couple of things that are important to keep in perspective.

Part of the US trademark system is a requirement to vigorously defend your mark or you will lose it. How precisely big an "infringer" has to be to qualify as a threat is something only a lawyer could probably tell you.

Second, given that in the last couple of iterations of the branding there have been licensed PC peripherals using the trademarks, it is possible that the Prime name has been applied for in that category, but I'm too lazy to go to uspto.gov and look it up. Transformer Prime is a bit close to Transformers: Prime in the grand scheme of things.

Oh, and lastly, I don't know for certain if this applies but it just occurred to me. It is possible that Hasbro expected that Prime was a (complementary) Codename that would be relabelled once the product when to promotion and market. This happens a LOT in IT particularly since we IT geeks love to codename projects after things we think are ubercool.

News Credits: 588 · by **Seibertron** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:32 pm

TheVerge.com wrote:The toymaker is no doubt worried that the name could be confused with that of its Transformers franchise, not to mention Optimus Prime, the lead protagonist of the animation and film series... though we're not quite sure how a robot that transforms into a semi truck could be confused with a tablet and detachable keyboard. Perhaps Hasbro is worried that tablet buyers might see it as a licensed product.

This is such as asinine comment to me. You mean to tell me that if a company released a computer type product called the Chevrolet Corvette or the General Motors Silverado or something like that that it could get away with that because they're "not quite sure how an automobile that people can drive could be confused with a tablet and detachable keyboard"? I don't fully understand all of the legal ramifications of all of this and I understand that the words "transformer" and "prime" are general use words which might complicate this. However, "corvette" is also a common use word (it's a type of warship) though I'm assuming most people think of the car first and foremost. I think the word "transformer" and "prime" used in conjunction together should signify a violation. Used separately, no, but used together, I think the malicious intent is clear and its usage would severely dilute and adversely affect one of Hasbro's flagship characters.

News Credits: 2 · by **Megatron Wolf** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:56 pm

to be fair it is called transformer prime not transformers prime and each word usage can be justified, it transforms from one thing to anotther hence transformer and i guess they consider it there best line so hence the prime but i was wondering if any thing would come of this. When i first heard the name of the computer i thought it was a TF branded computer being used to promote the franchise. Id like to know why hasbro decided to go after this one and not one of the many products that uses it names like all the products with the name optimus

News Credits: 10 · by **Mykltron** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:00 pm

And yet Hasbro never sued Lancôme:

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Hasbro is to sue Asus over the Transformer Prime line

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