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Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers

Posted by Counterpunch Apr 16, 2008 at 8:23am CDT 21,908 views
Interesting information has turned up in the form of a posted email on

http://newsreader.visualmedia.com.hk/vm ... e_id=86372

in which Brian Savage of FunPublications warns of pending legal action against the sellers of stolen BotCon toys. This issue and push to eliminate some of the illegal auctions appears to be gaining momentum. We will keep you updated as this unfolds...

???: "Brian Savage"
???:
??: Stolen BotCon items
??: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:43:20 -0500
This is going out to each Ebay seller who has recently tried to auction
BotCon toys. All of they toys you are selling are stolen. You know
this
when you buy them out of the package.

As you see, I have the power to cancel your auctions and I have each of
your personal information provided by Ebay.

If you do not want us to continue prosecuting you through the police
and
Ebay (who will cancel your account), you need to return the stolen
property to me or to Hasbro in China.

If I don't here back from you that you have shipped our items back in
48
hours, I will press forward with both Ebay and the police. Consider
this your only warning.

You can send the items to me at:

Brian Savage
Fun Publications, Inc.
225 Cattle Baron Parc Dr
Fort Worth Texas 76108

or

Antony Bao
Hasbro
$)AIn[Z;*GH3G6+2?9$R5Gx6~:E3'7?NeB%/ Antony Bao/ 0755-26901222-693

Thanks for your attention in this matter. Even if YOU didn't steal it.

Selling stolen property is a punishable offense.

Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors
as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute.

Regards,

Brian Savage

More Bots. More News. More Awesome.

Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by tech348 Apr 16, 2008
About time.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by drfeelgood81083 Apr 16, 2008
This letter may be a hoax or the writer of this letter doesn't proof read well, seeing as how he uses "here from you " as opposed to hear. I have a hard time believing that a letter with this type of seriousness attached would have a basic grammatical error. Who knows.. just my thoughts
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Counterpunch Apr 16, 2008
drfeelgood81083 wrote:This letter may be a hoax or the writer of this letter doesn't proof read well, seeing as how he uses "here from you " as opposed to hear. I have a hard time believing that a letter with this type of seriousness attached would have a basic grammatical error. Who knows.. just my thoughts


Could be, but that is one of the most common gramatical errors and with the recent other news about the crack down on these auctions/sellers, I think it's probably legit.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by DISCHARGE Apr 16, 2008
This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by olokin Apr 16, 2008
Its been long delayed. Finally some action against these thieves
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by fnlrun Apr 16, 2008
This guy doesnt have the power to press charges against somebody over seas either. Voilates international law, not to mention there is no court that is willing to allow it. Fake ass email is what this is.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by OPTIMUS MAGNUS Apr 16, 2008
DISCHARGE wrote:This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.


Lol I agree here...as much as stealing sucks, china ain't going to do crap about it :lol: Come to think of it, mabey some classics 2.0's were lifted too? Ive seen a good many of them on e-bay.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Counterpunch Apr 16, 2008
OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:
DISCHARGE wrote:This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.


Lol I agree here...as much as stealing sucks, china ain't going to do crap about it :lol: Come to think of it, mabey some classics 2.0's were lifted too? Ive seen a good many of them on e-bay.


C'mon folks, crime does not exist in a vaccum.

If these sellers loose their legitimate means of selling their goods (eBay & PayPal) or even if it becomes a difficult hassel to sell through those means, then Hasbro and FunPub will have enough incentive to pursue this.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Super Megatron Apr 16, 2008
This part:

"Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute"

is really dubious. So anybody from China that sells online is automatically a crook? I really doubt it. Sounds like more China-bashing here (in that sentence only) is taken place and this Brian Savage guy is blaming the entire group just because of his grievances with a few bad apples in that group.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Tigertrack Apr 16, 2008
Super Megatron wrote:This part:

"Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute"

is really dubious. So anybody from China that sells online is automatically a crook? I really doubt it. Sounds like more China-bashing here (in that sentence only) is taken place and this Brian Savage guy is blaming the entire group just because of his grievances with a few bad apples in that group.


I believe when he says that he is talking about them containing items that have clearly not been released in any public way yet, like BOTCON items, ANIMATED toys, etc.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by rhinox555 Apr 16, 2008
What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault. :-x
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Psychout Apr 16, 2008
Its irellevant. Whilst people are stupid enough to shell out top dollar to get these toys a few weeks early then there will always be a seller willing to pass them along regardless of the risk from badly worded corporate threats.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by OPTIMUS MAGNUS Apr 16, 2008
rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault. :-x


Ha ha :lol: I really like this theory. I agree.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Counterpunch Apr 16, 2008
rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault. :-x


Or you could be responsible about it and wait the like, what, month or two till they get released, buy the toys in the store, and ultimately support the company who made it possible for you to have and enjoy the toys in the first place.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by woosh Apr 16, 2008
looks like some people are going to jail. is buying stolen items punishable too?
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by DISCHARGE Apr 16, 2008
rhinox555 wrote:,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault. :-x


True dat! I agree with FP stance on the Botcon stuff. But the Animated junk, we know the toys are made. They've given themselves ample time to put it out there. People are growing tired of waiting.

They should really be trying to find the people in the warehouses and factories that are smuggling them out to sell to these Chinese auction sellers. A couple more cameras, undercover loss prevention officers, implement bag checks in and out of production facilities.
I mean, if they were really serious they would go for the head and not the ankle. It can't be too hard to hammer out who the culprit is.
Sounds like they need to do a better job with their inventory control.
Hasbro should be looking at themselves and the factories that produce their wares.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Rodentus Prime Apr 16, 2008
rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault. :-x


Hasbro aren't delaying the release of animated - the retailers are - they want to squeeze more money out of the movie line as it has proved popular.

Also, nobody HAS to buy stolen anything - it's a choice you make.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Zeds Apr 16, 2008
Good start. Hope this action goes somewhere though.
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by Seibertron Apr 16, 2008
Brian has confirmed with me via email that he sent that message out to eBay sellers recently. Nice to see Fun Pub and Hasbro using eBay's VeRO program finally. ;)
Re: Possible Legal Action against sellers of stolen Transformers (view post)
Comment by jonusjaxon Apr 16, 2008
What a load of BS. The guy can't even spell. I can understand eBay taking action, but come on - the police have worst things to worry about than some "stolen" Transformers. Shame on that guy for wasting the police force's time. Let them catch murderers and rapists. What a turd.
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