The Soapbox XII: The Convenient Truth

[jaydisc]

1) How many times have HasTak released accessory sets for Transformers? The probability of HasTak releasing an upgrade kit for Classics Ultra Magnus is essentially zero - with or without fan kits. The 3rd party kit just wont affect HasTak's bottom line. The probability of a Sunstreaker reissue drops significantly with the fake on the market. Before it might have been something they were looking at - but now it wouldn't be anywhere near as likely.

Nice excuse, but still an excuse.

2) How many consumers buy a second version of a Transformer with a hat?

Enough. Obviously. That's why they make it

Then there's this...

how can accessories made by a third party be illegal and an infringement on copyright?

for example it is not illegal to by accessories for my car, like roof racks, cd player, mags, lights, spoiler(i think you get the picture).

So how can a toy be any different to a car??

I completely understand this argument, but these ARE NOT original accessories. It's like someone besides Mercedes selling Mercedes logos for Mercedes bonnets. If you want to come up with an original likeness, that's fine. The fan made stuff being alluded to in this soapbox are NOT original accessories.

my whole problem with Knock Off transformers is that they are marketed as the real thing like the box and toy are trying to replicate and deceive people so they think they are buying the real thing,

To someone unaware that could be deceiving, but a very large part of the KO market is create by those that are aware, and have thus created much of the demand for this market.

The recent KOs are released in packaging that is trying to trick the unaware into thinking it's a HasTak product.

Or to grant cheapasses the cheaper minter replica product they want.

The crown is easier to get away with. First of all, it was Marvel who initially put the crown on Grimlock, not HasTak - so they don't even technically own the rights to that crown. I suspect that because it's a fairly generic looking crown, and probably Marvel never copyrighted it, that TakaraTOMY were able to replicate it. I long for the day that Death's Head and Circuit Breaker may appear again in Transformers again. (pipe dream, I know)

I assure you that Marvel does not maintain ownership of enhancements to the Hasbro IP they've licensed just because it doesn't exist in toy form. Regardless, another excuse.