The Energon Pub

News Credits: 730 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:33 am

The dutch/belgian Transformers convention, which will be held June 8th 2008 in Nieuwegein in the Netherlands, is no longer called TRANSFORMATIONS. According to their site, although they are fully backed by Hasbro in the Netherlands, Hasbro in the US have 'requested' that the event not be named Transformations or anything that resembles the Trademarked name of Transformers.

The crew of the event have turned this setback into a positive. To accommodate Hasbro's request, they have now opened a general competition, asking the fans to make up a new name for the convention. The competition is open for anyone able to attend the Benelux event. The rules are that that name Transformers or parts of that word may not appear in the name. You are allowed to make up as many names as you like. Entries must be submitted before Friday March 13th. The 10 best names will be presented to Hasbro NL, who will decide on which of these names will be chosen for the event. The winner will receive free behind the scenes access to the event and will receive a T-shirt with the new logo of the winning name.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:18 am

Talking about bogus nitpicky dimwhittery. How gay can Hasbro get over such a technicality? They act like they invented the word 'transform' to begin with. I can see the concept of transformers and even calling them transformers but to 'request' a name change from Transformations is down right anal. Reminds me of J. Jonah Jameson from Spiderman: "I like that. Spiderman. I want a nickel (or quarter, or dime, or whatever) every time someone says it."

Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:45 am

This is bloody lame, great way to screw over your fanbase.

News Credits: 8 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:53 am

DMSL wrote:This is bloody lame, great way to screw over your fanbase.

I can tell you that's certainly what it feels like for the organisers...

Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:58 am

Yeah, this is terrible. You know, I really am at a point where I hate Hasbro's treatment of the TF property. With everything else they are doing wrong in terms of TF's, it is a wonder that there are any fans left. I know my dedication to TF's has been severely damaged over the last few years. At this rate, I may end up giving up on them altogether at some point.

News Credits: 8 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:11 am

Well, to be fair, they probably think we're making a profit on the convention or something. I could see how they would have a problem with us making a profit on their trademark, even though I personally think the name 'Transformations' is different enough from 'Transformers' not to be associated with their copyright mumbojumbo.

The fact however, is that we're NOT a profit-making organisation. It's a non-profit fan gathering event. And some of us are putting a lot of their own free time into organising it. So in light of that, I think their reaction is quite... pathetic.

Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:09 am

Blackstreak wrote:Talking about bogus nitpicky dimwittery. How gay can Hasbro get over such a technicality? They act like they invented the word 'transform' to begin with."

You should see what they do with anything resembling the word 'monopoly'.

Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:09 am

Maybe they're worried that if anything bad happens at the convention (Heaven forbid), it will affect their reputation or cost them money? But still…

News Credits: 1 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:23 am

I admit I am a little surprised that Hasbro is doing this, I mean it's not like yhey don't have permission to hold the convention. What's next the TFCC must loose change it's name? :-?

Since what's done is done, has anyone submitted some names?

*edit for proper grammer, because I speak the english good now.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pepsimus · Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:32 am

I say call it the Stan Bush Music Appreciation Society.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:07 am

Well, since it is a big company they really can't let anyone have leeway with potential trademark infringements; the reason is that if they do it can be used as a legal precedent. Once that happens others with not-so-good intentions can take advantage of the leeway that the one good example got...then suddenly Hasbro is up a creek with their legal rights as far as the name goes. This is part of the reason why it's difficult for people to get Public Aid in the US, why insurance rates are so high, and why the tax codes are so complicated. Once one person finds a loophole- and legal precedent is certainly a HUGE loophole in a country with 1 lawyer per 75 people- it is taken advantge of until it's fixed. Then another loophole is found, etc., and finally things are just so complicated that they are impossible to understand.

I was rambling I think...

I say the convention should be called The Giant F---ing Robots Polka.

News Credits: 730 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:32 am

Hans wrote:Well, to be fair, they probably think we're making a profit on the convention or something. I could see how they would have a problem with us making a profit on their trademark, even though I personally think the name 'Transformations' is different enough from 'Transformers' not to be associated with their copyright mumbojumbo.

The fact however, is that we're NOT a profit-making organisation. It's a non-profit fan gathering event. And some of us are putting a lot of their own free time into organising it. So in light of that, I think their reaction is quite... pathetic.

Not to mention that at 12 euro per ticket (10 euro pre-registered) I do believe we are the cheapest official convention in the world. Okay, we're dutch, but still...

And if I may say so, for the lowest budget in the world, I do think we do hold the best convention in the world. ;;)

News Credits: 8 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:35 am

Hasbro realy sucks sometimes!

News Credits: 730 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:36 am

Optimist_Prime wrote:Since we what's done is done, has anyone submitted some names?

I haven't seen the entries myself yet. But I know people have been submitting ideas for the new name all day!

News Credits: 1 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:28 pm

this is really silly. it seems that hasbro is afraid that the name of the convention will dilute the trademark that is transformers. if you ask me a convention about transformers, if truely backed by hasbro, wouldn't have any impact on anything. im not going to wake up and be oh i love transformations and i cant wait to go to transformer.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:50 pm

I'll enter the name "Hasbrosucks".

News Credits: 1 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:53 pm

Raymond T. wrote:The rules are that that name Transformers or parts of that word may not appear in the name.

I guess words like "Transgender" or "Format" is out. I wonder how long it'll be before Hasbro claims copyright on those words as well. Could you imagine the "Z" shaped finger-snaps they'd get for copyrighting that first one? Ha-ha.

Anyway, like Metallica, Viacom and so many others, Hasbro needs to learn how to properly tread the fine line between copyright infringement and free advertising to not stumble into that bottomless, inexcapable pit of bad publicity.

News Credits: 9 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:37 pm

This is just as bad as Sunbow/Hasbro not giving proper financial compensation for Anne who did the theme song for the G1 show. How pathetic and low do you have to go to screw over the fanbase? I am sure that Hasbro will find a new low soon. They could still tighten to screws a little more in other ways!

News Credits: 38 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:08 pm

This brings back memories of Adobe going after people for saying that you "photoshopped" something. Using the name of the program as a verb can cause the trademark to become a Genericized trademark. Which in turn can cause the company to lose the name completely. Same with saying "hey, I'm going to build this using Legos", or "mind if xerox that submittal first?"

Regardless, this is quite moronic on Hasbro's part. It's not even the same word as their brand so I don't understand why their in such a huff about it.

News Credits: 730 · Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:57 pm

We've been getting a steady stream of ideas for the new name. We've also received much support from many of the dutch fans. The overall feeling is that they have grown attached to Transformations as the name of our little convention. Just like us, the fans are very sad to see this name go. But the decision has been made. For Hans and the other guys working on our convention, I would like to thank you guys for your support here too. It's much appreciated.

Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:34 am

This really is too sad...
To me it was clear that Hasbro does not really care about the fanbase, just to make as much money as possible.
It is pretty obvious looking at how many repaints to throw at you but hey, since some of us are still buying them, who can blame them.
But now... A celebration of a toy brand, supported by Hasbro Netherlands, and they have to shoot it down...
Instead of supporting it, they have to make sure that everybody who is spending their own hard earned money and free time to get this thing going, will hate Hasbro, and probably Transformers, for the rest of their life!
Are they even aware that Gobots are still available in Japan? These things can transform too and are cheaper to come by than that zillionth repaint of a crappy figure!!!

To me it is clear that Hasbro has no idea what to do with fans of their brands... very clear...

I have a collection of Transformers of over 1500 different figures including almost all of the Botcon figures (except for like 4) and a MIB Fortress Maximus. Place a bid and it might be yours!
The collection can than be picked up in Holland by truck because about half is still sealed in box or on card.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:31 am

TheMuffin wrote:This brings back memories of Adobe going after people for saying that you "photoshopped" something. Using the name of the program as a verb can cause the trademark to become a Genericized trademark. Which in turn can cause the company to lose the name completely. Same with saying "hey, I'm going to build this using Legos", or "mind if xerox that submittal first?"

I put a whole bunch of step-up transformers in a power circuit. Oh shi—

Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:04 am

thats pure BS.

id seriously stick two finger up at whoever came up with that 'request'.

im not sure hasbro even has the right to suggest that.

they could call it the 'OFFICIAL step up TRANSFORMERS CONVENTION'

Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:09 pm

Actually the thing alot of people seem to be overlooking is that Hasbro: Netherlands is fine with it and supports the convention. Its Hasbro: US that have stuck their noses in with that 'sue everyone that farts in your general direction' attitude that America seems to be labelled with these days (and no thats not a general slur but the stories do get out over victims of crime being sued for injuring attackers etc and other such crap due to people seeing too many crime shows on tv...)

Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:19 pm

Oh come on,i went to this convention last year,it didn´t deserve to even be mentioned in the same sentence as transformers,it sucked more than anything sucks in this world. i´m glad they removed the rights to the "name" transformations from them,(which they STOLE anyway) they do not deserve to ever host a convention again,seriously. :-x