are they intending to release the weapons, box, styrofoam and paperwork for only 200USD?? cos thats definitely gonna cause chaos in the community!!
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are they intending to release the weapons, box, styrofoam and paperwork for only 200USD?? cos thats definitely gonna cause chaos in the community!!
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Lets see if Hasbro will "let this pass" as wellOriginally Posted by bruticus
Wanted AM partner Vanguard, Myclones Dirge, G1 Victory Leo, e-hobby Dark scream ( the black version), e-hobby Magnificus
Parts- AM partner Basher-side guns, G1 Actionmaster Elite Windmill's blades[I][B]
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It kinda makes sense - if they took the cheap option and had the factories create and own the moulds, or if they disposed of them after a while (moulds are big, especially for hundreds of toy parts for thousands of different TFs over the years - Takara would need a massive warehouse to keep them all, 'just in case').
Maybe there is a black market for moulds in china, and someone who recognised them as a TFs toy moulds, was able to replicate the materials and packaging required to sell them as complete replicas.
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This brings forth a bit of a controversial but interesting conundrum:
If Takara abandoned or disposed of the molds and someone else picked them up and used them - Could we still call it theft or KOs?
It would be as if you pick up a piece of furniture on the side of the road, fixed it up and sold it. You can't be accused of stealing it since it was disposed of by the former owner for anyone to pick up and do as they please.
Now naturally, there is still the Intellectual Property factor but that would only apply to the character model art, trademark names and box art since the Toy itself was disposed of.
So if I create an accurate Fortress Maximus from the disposed molds and call it 'Fort Max' and change the box art enough so that it doesn't match the original box art - Can we still call it a KO??
Last edited by kup; 16th June 2010 at 08:05 PM.
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Well, the so-called high-quality G1 KOs I got so far (Gnaw, Cyclonus and Shockwave) have clearly been reverse engineered as tolerances aren't the same. The guy from KOtoys.com told me he could KO any toy he wanted as long he had a good and clean original version of the toy.
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If the factory did indeed dispose of the moulds without destroying them first, they are likely to be in breach of contract (our plastic factory had to destroy any moulds after they were no longer needed). It's also a way of making sure others can't profit of the initial investment (creating the mould is one of the most expensive components of the total production process).
I think ownership of the patents on these toy designs should cover Hasbro/Takara if they wanted to chase after replica producers, regaurdless of reverse-engineering or using the actual moulds without authorisation.
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If they released Grand Maximus with all his parts and shell I'd be very tempted as I can't afford the $3000+ U.S for this item
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Yeah - This is the sort of thing that proves that KOers are the Devil! They work through temptation.
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They won't be selling for US$3000+ for much longer if there's a knockoff around. The prices of real Maximi will take a nosedive.
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I can see your point.
I have two Fort Maxes (both incomplete), but if I didn't I would seriously consider it.
If there is a market for it, and it remains unlikely to see another official release I couldn't blame a TF collector for purchasing one.
My only dislike is the practice of passing off KO's as genuine.
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