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cannonfodder4000 wrote:This one dude, Genral Tekno, he did this way cool transformation for Wheeljack that'll give you like a more accurate looking Runamuck and Runabout.

Nice work Tekno. Very nice indeed!

Definately getting this guy.

Still undecided on SG Drift. I'm not into the whole SG thing But I would repurpose him as Turbo or Lightspeed. Unfortunately, the Japanese deco makes that hard to do.

RiddlerJ wrote:Definately getting this guy.

Still undecided on SG Drift. I'm not into the whole SG thing But I would repurpose him as Turbo or Lightspeed. Unfortunately, the Japanese deco makes that hard to do.

There's always W.A.R.S.

Great... now I'm tempted to get two

Mkall wrote:

RiddlerJ wrote:Definately getting this guy.

Still undecided on SG Drift. I'm not into the whole SG thing But I would repurpose him as Turbo or Lightspeed. Unfortunately, the Japanese deco makes that hard to do.

There's always W.A.R.S.

Great... now I'm tempted to get two

Ah, now you're talkin'.

"Reads Bio"
They should have named him "Classics Michael Bay"

What kind of scheduling is there to hinder naming something what it should be named? I just don't get it. I'd still get him and use the name Runabout.

Blackstreak wrote:What kind of scheduling is there to hinder naming something what it should be named? I just don't get it. I'd still get him and use the name Runabout.

Trademarks have to be registered first, then Hasbro needs to file reports on usage. All of that takes time, but reporting usage of a name already in possession is quickly done.
Also, registering new names costs quite a bit of money, so again Hasbro has made it a sport to re-use names they already have. "Breakaway" instead of "Getaway" and "Over-Run" instead of "Spastic" come to mind.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Trademarks have to be registered first,

Actually, in America, they don't. Unregistered Trademarks relating to a specific context is protectable in US Courts. Please note the bolded statement in the below quote.

At least according to several lawyers commenting on the Intellectual Property Case Games Workshop has brought against Chapterhouse Studios:

"
You can get trademark protection for certain words that are in common use (for example, Apple) if there's little relation to the actual product being produced (computers). But if the word is generic or merely descriptive of the good being sold then you can't get protection.

Trademarks can be (in decreasing order of protection):
Fanciful (EXXON for oil company)
Arbitrary (APPLE for computers)
Suggestive (MICROSOFT for microprocessor software)
Descriptive (SHARP for copiers)
Generic (MINIATURE for miniatures games)

Generic marks can never be protected, descriptive marks can only be protected to the extent they've developed secondary meaning. So while "Games Workshop" might be descriptive (for example; although GW would probably argue that the mark is suggestive), it has developed secondary meaning in the market beyond its literal meaning. Therefore, the term is protected.

What GW is (probably) going to argue is that the words described above are "Descriptive" and have developed secondary meaning on their own. CH will say that those terms are merely generic, or have not developed secondary meaning, and therefore not protected.

In terms of legitimacy, there's little difference between registered and unregistered trademarks (registered trademarks just go through this process before the USPTO rather than waiting for a court to make the determination) "

Essentially, just because you haven't registered a trademark, doesn't mean you don't own it.

Midnight_Fox wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Trademarks have to be registered first,

Actually, in America, they don't. Unregistered Trademarks relating to a specific context is protectable in US Courts.

At least according to several lawyers commenting on the Intellectual Property Case Games Workshop has brought against Chapterhouse Studios.

Well, registered as in that the Trademark Office knows such and such company has the rights to such and such name in such and such area.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Trademarks have to be registered first,

Actually, in America, they don't. Unregistered Trademarks relating to a specific context is protectable in US Courts.

At least according to several lawyers commenting on the Intellectual Property Case Games Workshop has brought against Chapterhouse Studios.

Well, registered as in that the Trademark Office knows such and such company has the rights to such and such name in such and such area.

Interestingly, according to the TFCC Magazine covers, Transformers itself is an unregistered Trademark(notified by the TM, a registered Trademark has the R in a circle marking).

In fact, if you go through your products, you'd be surprised how often these AREN'T registered trademarks with the USPTO.

The name Hasbro itself, however, DOES have a registered Trademark symbol.

metalformer wrote:*Sigh*
Somebody should make custom stickers for these packages (ala ReproLabel) to "correct" these "injustices" and restore its G1 Glory!

Reprolabels for a box ??? Are you serious ??? (no offense)

I already got a nice place in my closet picked out for Runabout’s box. And yes I said “Runabout”.

It’s s**t like this that proves just how stupid copyrights really are under certain circumstances. Hasbro doesn’t even own the rights to the names of characters they created ??? WTF ??? There should be a law that a copyright has to be renewed every 5 years or it expires and is free for the taking. This would keep the names belonging to legitimate businesses and not copyright hoarders who buy rights when a franchise is about to go bankrupt. Does anyone know where the owner of the name “Runabout” is right now ??? He might be living under a highway sipping a bottle of cheap booze…

Rated X wrote:

metalformer wrote:*Sigh*
Somebody should make custom stickers for these packages (ala ReproLabel) to "correct" these "injustices" and restore its G1 Glory!

Reprolabels for a box ??? Are you serious ??? (no offense)

I already got a nice place in my closet picked out for Runabout’s box. And yes I said “Runabout”.

It’s s**t like this that proves just how stupid copyrights really are under certain circumstances. Hasbro doesn’t even own the rights to the names of characters they created ??? WTF ??? There should be a law that a copyright has to be renewed every 5 years or it expires and is free for the taking. This would keep the names belonging to legitimate businesses and not copyright hoarders who buy rights when a franchise is about to go bankrupt. Does anyone know where the owner of the name “Runabout” is right now ??? He might be living under a highway sipping a bottle of cheap booze…

Yeah, copyright for stuff expires after time. Also, runabout seems a too generic name. Now you cant copyright too generic terms... like Jazz, or Ratchet, and Brawl.

So hasbro has to go with an alternative... although, they should have just done "Decepticon Runabout".

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Trademarks have to be registered first, then Hasbro needs to file reports on usage. All of that takes time, but reporting usage of a name already in possession is quickly done.
Also, registering new names costs quite a bit of money, so again Hasbro has made it a sport to re-use names they already have. "Breakaway" instead of "Getaway" and "Over-Run" instead of "Spastic" come to mind.

Spastic actually made the copyright. The boxes here still say "Spastic". The change with Over-Run was due to some people finding "spastic" offensive, so hasbro printed new stickers for the packaging to cover up the existing name .

gavinfuzzy wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Trademarks have to be registered first, then Hasbro needs to file reports on usage. All of that takes time, but reporting usage of a name already in possession is quickly done.
Also, registering new names costs quite a bit of money, so again Hasbro has made it a sport to re-use names they already have. "Breakaway" instead of "Getaway" and "Over-Run" instead of "Spastic" come to mind.

Spastic actually made the copyright. The boxes here still say "Spastic". The change with Over-Run was due to some people finding "spastic" offensive, so hasbro printed new stickers for the packaging to cover up the existing name .

Damn, I never found Spastic. I wanted him just for the box to put it next to my HA Jazz with tobacco and gambling being advertised in the background.

That whole spastic thread was bluddy funny !!!

Rated X wrote:
It’s s**t like this that proves just how stupid copyrights really are under certain circumstances. Hasbro doesn’t even own the rights to the names of characters they created ??? WTF ??? There should be a law that a copyright has to be renewed every 5 years or it expires and is free for the taking. This would keep the names belonging to legitimate businesses and not copyright hoarders who buy rights when a franchise is about to go bankrupt. Does anyone know where the owner of the name “Runabout” is right now ??? He might be living under a highway sipping a bottle of cheap booze…

Just to be clear: Copyright is NOT the same as Trademarks. A rant on Copyright doesn't apply here.

Trademarks protect signs or indicators(such as a name) that identifies products or services.

Copyright protects THINGS(such as an actual figure by protecting the rights to reproduce it exactly or a book by protecting the exact words and rights to reproduce it).

Runabout as a name falls under trademark, NOT copyright.

Trademarks MUST be lawfully used to be retained. If not actively used, it will be lost(usually after 5 years). If Hasbro doesn't have the trademark, it's their own fault for not using it for x number of years.

Midnight_Fox wrote:

Rated X wrote:
It’s s**t like this that proves just how stupid copyrights really are under certain circumstances. Hasbro doesn’t even own the rights to the names of characters they created ??? WTF ??? There should be a law that a copyright has to be renewed every 5 years or it expires and is free for the taking. This would keep the names belonging to legitimate businesses and not copyright hoarders who buy rights when a franchise is about to go bankrupt. Does anyone know where the owner of the name “Runabout” is right now ??? He might be living under a highway sipping a bottle of cheap booze…

Just to be clear: Copyright is NOT the same as Trademarks. A rant on Copyright doesn't apply here.

Trademarks protect signs or indicators(such as a name) that identifies products or services.

Copyright protects THINGS(such as an actual figure by protecting the rights to reproduce it exactly or a book by protecting the exact words and rights to reproduce it).

Runabout as a name falls under trademark, NOT copyright.

Trademarks MUST be lawfully used to be retained. If not actively used, it will be lost(usually after 5 years). If Hasbro doesn't have the trademark, it's their own fault for not using it for x number of years.

Well if that’s the case, take my last post and remove the word “copyright” and replace it with the word “trademark”. Then re-read it.

I’m not trying to be rude, but the correct terminology is not my focus. I’m focusing on the concept that the name “Runabout” is 25 years old and it doesn’t matter who uses it now unless they are using it for another transformable robot. If the new “trademark” holder is using the name “Runabout” for a vacuum cleaner, there should be no case in any court of law. The reason being that nobody is going to mistake a vacuum cleaner for a transformable robot therefore neither company can claim damages. Case dismissed.

All this other legal drama is a bunch of BS.

Demand for Runabout seems to be high, G2 Ramjet high. They better have way more stock this year, or a 2nd release, like with CPC.

Rated X wrote:
Well if that’s the case, take my last post and remove the word “copyright” and replace it with the word “trademark”. Then re-read it.

I’m not trying to be rude, but the correct terminology is not my focus. I’m focusing on the concept that the name “Runabout” is 25 years old and it doesn’t matter who uses it now unless they are using it for another transformable robot. If the new “trademark” holder is using the name “Runabout” for a vacuum cleaner, there should be no case in any court of law. The reason being that nobody is going to mistake a vacuum cleaner for a transformable robot therefore neither company can claim damages. Case dismissed.

All this other legal drama is a bunch of BS.

Actually, it doesn't need to be about a transformable robot, but could simply be about a toy car named Runabout. Please read my previous post which outlines how Trademarks can be a applied.

Trademarks don't care how something was used in the past, as they have to be used currently to apply. Again, if the name was unavailable, it's Hasbro's fault, NOT the laws regarding Trademark.

If fact, you had this in your post: " There should be a law that a copyright has to be renewed every 5 years or it expires and is free for the taking."

And there IS a law like that regarding Trademarks, as I said in my previous post.

Bumblevivisector wrote:But since this messes up the pairity of an iconic duo, I'm feeling just dickish enough about this that I'd like to be the first to posit the theory that, based on the nature of the last Over-Run rename, it was likely not so much a rights issue as a revelation that the British consider "Runabout" an offensive slur against children with hyperactivity disorder.

I know I deserve to have my TF Club account lock me out as soon as preorders open up for saying that, but thank you, won't you?

*snort*

I think we should come up with some group to use "Megatron" as an offensive slur towards. Maybe people who wrecklessly attempt to circumvent trademark or copyright laws?

As for "Over-run," I think I'll call mine "Banksy."

Man i need to get TCC.

Curious how TFCC's Runamuck and Over-Run (aka Runabout) will look together on your Classics shelf? The Official Transformers Collectors' Club just tweeted a new image of the dastardly duo posed together with a message that pre-orders for the 2012 club exclusives should go up early next week.

Remember, to get the incentive figure Runamuck for free you must have an active TFCC membership by March 16th. As previously stated pre-orders for his partner in crime Over-Run and their other 2012 exclusive Shattered Glass Drift will open early next week. Speaking of Shattered Glass Drift they also tweeted we can expect his full reveal on Monday.

Very excited about these two! Looking forward to preorders opening.

Great !!! Now lets hope they do the right thing and only allow one per member for the first week. Screw the scalpers.

I think just 1 per member at first is ok but I hope to be able to get at least 2 of each. I like to have 1 open and 1 MISB.. Im thinking the limit will be 4 though..Seems like that was the number during last years exclusive run..

Can't wait to get these. I do wish the rubsigns weren't there though. Just s painted on symbol would've sufficed.