The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:17 pm

MagnusPrimal wrote:
Jesterhead wrote:
MagnusPrimal wrote:No, it's not. It's the (arguable) theft of IP and the (arguable) theft of IP.
I don't see how the specifics involved matter in regards to the use of another company's IP without their permission.

If we are dealing in black and whites with individual example, then yes.

But, Hasbro/TT are having their toys ripped off to make more toys. While Lamborghini is having their cars ripped off to make toys. Hasbro doesn't compete with Lamborghini for sales of the same thing.

Also, these 3rd party groups are basing %100 of their sales off of Hasbro/TTs IP. Hasbro/TT gets licenses to produce replica alt-modes when applicable (Binaltech, Alterniy, Movie-verse).

One is a lot more offensive than the other.

To you. In my eyes, if TT is going to go after these 3rd party companies for breaking the law, then they shouldn't be breaking the same law.
Except maybe for iGear. That's pretty blatant theft.

Maybe the laws and spirit for cars are different than toys. After all, many cars can be said to look similar and artists need to draw cars themselves for a various number of different works, not just making toys. Toyota, for example, can't sue every comic or photo that has a Toyota or a Toyota like car in it. Cars are pretty common objects.

This would have been a good "ask Hasbro" question were that still going on. Namely, in what way is copying a real-life car is different than someone copying one of their TF character designs.

by **NTESHFT** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:34 pm

robofreak wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:Anyone else noticed how nothing has happened yet?

I mean, like...nothing.

We're all getting worked up and the spoon hasn't even been pulled from our mouths yet. Did BBTS or TFSource pull down products? No. Did they just recently list new iGear products? Yes. Have we heard any rumblings from any other site, other than the one mentioned in someone's email? No.

Not. Gonna. Happen.

"But that's me, I could be wrong, maybe it's a terrible tragedy."
"No, it's just stuff."
"Well, we could lose a lot of versatile solutions for a modern life."
**** you're right. "

You must have forgot that you're dealing with the emotional train wreck known as the TF fandom.

Seriously, I love how the slightest bit of news or image of something coming out without all the information can cause the fandom to either leap with joy or create a crapstorm thread based off of not having all the information.

Why not someone ask the guys that had to pull down their preorder what was up? That would solve a lot of problems.

Good point. Both of you.

Like Omegatron10 on Facebook · by **Omegatron10** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:34 am

I recently heard about this online and does this apply to products made by Fansproject too? they are add ons for Transformers but I don't think they infringe upon any copyright with regards to Hasbro/Takara. It hsa made me really want to get the explorer and munition add on kilts for bruticus. So long as they don't use any parts made by Hasbro or have there logos printed on them.

I see the point with I-gear and Crazydevy however they should go after them instead of picking on small businesses.

But is it legal for them to tell retailers to stop selling them? Retails can sell what they want. They have never gone after KO toys when they are blatant rip-offs and mostly poorer quality or even other companies for minor infringements e.g. Arcee.

Also many complaints on this thread are about Takara making crap toys. Takara can sell crap toys if they want too its not really your problem even as a consumer, simply don't buy them and they will stop!!

News Credits: 5 · by **alexison** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:37 am

norwichchris wrote:I recently heard about this online and does this apply to products made by Fansproject too? they are add ons for Transformers but I don't think they infringe upon any copyright with regards to Hasbro/Takara. It hsa made me really want to get the explorer and munition add on kilts for bruticus. So long as they don't use any parts made by Hasbro or have there logos printed on them.

I see the point with I-gear and Crazydevy however they should go after them instead of picking on small businesses.

But is it legal for them to tell retailers to stop selling them? Retails can sell what they want. They have never gone after KO toys when they are blatant rip-offs and mostly poorer quality or even other companies for minor infringements e.g. Arcee.

Also many complaints on this thread are about Takara making crap toys. Takara can sell crap toys if they want too its not really your problem even as a consumer, simply don't buy them and they will stop!!

I don't think you have anything to worry about on the third party front.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:45 pm

norwichchris wrote:I recently heard about this online and does this apply to products made by Fansproject too? they are add ons for Transformers but I don't think they infringe upon any copyright with regards to Hasbro/Takara. It hsa made me really want to get the explorer and munition add on kilts for bruticus. So long as they don't use any parts made by Hasbro or have there logos printed on them.

I see the point with I-gear and Crazydevy however they should go after them instead of picking on small businesses.

But is it legal for them to tell retailers to stop selling them? Retails can sell what they want. They have never gone after KO toys when they are blatant rip-offs and mostly poorer quality or even other companies for minor infringements e.g. Arcee.

Also many complaints on this thread are about Takara making crap toys. Takara can sell crap toys if they want too its not really your problem even as a consumer, simply don't buy them and they will stop!!

It applied to every 3rd party including Fansprojects and Reprolabels at that store.

But I also hear they took down some Hasbro stuff as well. And they left regular KOs. So, it may not be as clear as a war against the 3rd party dudes.

Like Omegatron10 on Facebook · by **Omegatron10** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:34 pm

It applied to every 3rd party including Fansprojects and Reprolabels at that store.

But I also hear they took down some Hasbro stuff as well. And they left regular KOs. So, it may not be as clear as a war against the 3rd party dudes.

Uh? I thought Hasbro/Takara are owned by each other or in partnership? I sort off see there point but i think it will blow over or they will come to a deal.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:38 pm

norwichchris wrote:
It applied to every 3rd party including Fansprojects and Reprolabels at that store.

But I also hear they took down some Hasbro stuff as well. And they left regular KOs. So, it may not be as clear as a war against the 3rd party dudes.

Uh? I thought Hasbro/Takara are owned by each other or in partnership? I sort off see there point but i think it will blow over or they will come to a deal.

Protectionism, maybe? I remember Dreamwave being unable to use Japanese-only characters, so there might be some competition between the two.

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:18 pm

I heard the same store had to quit selling Classics and Henkei Jetfire because it was too much of a FP Springer against Macross figures and HasTak didn't pony up for the licensing this time around.

But I may have heard it from myself while talking in my sleep or something...I dunno.

Like Omegatron10 on Facebook · by **Omegatron10** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:38 am

They actually can't ban 3RD Party products because they are not/related to Transformers they may be used for Transformers as accessories but there is nothing illegal about that.

I agree with them going after I-Gear items as they are blatant rip-offs however other companies produce Transformer based products and they don't get sued.

Will they go after the devastator and bruticus addons next?

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Mon May 02, 2011 7:22 am

Still

Hasn't

Happened.

News Credits: 2 · by **Stockade** » Mon May 02, 2011 11:26 am

Counterpunch wrote:Still

Hasn't

Happened.

I second CP and lets say for some strange reason they do go after these "3rd parties" can you imagine how much time in resource and finalization it will take to seal the doom on 3rd parties? Like he said, Still Hasn't Happened and we still have time.