Rodimus Prime wrote:I was at Target today, and saw both leader Siege Shockwave and leader SS Shockwave on the shelf next to each other. Looking at them, I noticed something I never have before, despite owning both figures still MIB. On the Siege box he is called "Decepticon Shockwave" but on the SS box, he's simply "Shockwave." Why is that? I figured if the Siege name was a trademark issue, wouldn't it affect the SS name as well?
No it would not. I'll explain.
Firstly, they never need to include "autobot" or "decepticon" at the begining of any name, unlike what people may say. If they didn't have the right to the name "Shockwave" in the specific category under which this name is being used, then putting "decepticon" in front of it would not work. Hence why we have seen some slight name changes in the past (like the recent Refraktor, since "decepticon Reflector" would have still messed with some sort of legal issue). The "decepticon" or "autobot" is only put in the front to further prove a connection between the name and their use of it within the brand. Like that it helps them when they have to renew a name licence of if they lose it for a while and want it back. It shows a further association between that bot's name and their brand if ever they have to compete with another similar product which may want to use that same name.
They just have to show that it's in use and so if they already have a bot named "Decepticon" Shockwave, then there is no need for all Shockwaves released that year to also have the "Decepticon". That's why this Ultimate Shockwave doesn't have it either:
