High resolution images of upcoming 25th Anniv/Animated figures

[GoktimusPrime]

turtle boy: It's happens when Hasbro stops using the name and another toy company then purchases the right to that name. They may not necessarily use that name (which is why you may not see another toy with the name "Bombshell" on it), but it does mean that they currently hold the rights to it.

What companies will sometimes do when this happens is to modify the name to get around it. For example, "Autobot Jazz," "Decepticon Brawl," "Autobot Ratchet," "Cybertron Perceptor," "Decepticon Frenzy" et al. Now sometimes simply adding "Autobot" or "Decepticon" to the name isn't enough - all depending on the nature of the toy and the copyright being held by the current holder. For example in most TF lines Hasbro are able to use "Autobot Jazz" but they weren't allowed to do this with Alternators - possibly because Alternators is also seen as a model car line, not just an action figure line, and the name "Jazz" probably already belongs to any toy company producing a replica of the Honda Jazz. As a result Hasbro used Jazz's Japanese name "Meister" for the Alternator.

This was probably also the case with Shockwave, unable to simply call it "Decepticon Shockwave" they called him "Shockblast" for Alternators and Energon. Hasbro also cannot use the name "Devastator" for Transformers but they can use it for Star Wars, as Lucas currently owns the name (it's the name of a Star Destroyer) - I'm guessing that could be why Energon Devastator was called "Constructicon Maximus" and movie Devastator was called "Decepticon Brawl."

Now my guess is that Hasbro are in a position where they can't get away with using the name "Decepticon Bombshell" or "Insecticon Bombshell" so they've had to come up with some other alternative - being to either change the word "bomb" or "shell" - and it looks like they've chosen the former. They could just call the toy "Insecticon," which is what they called Robot Heroes Shrapnel.

"Hardshell" isn't the best, but it sure beats "Rodimus Major." *extreme.shudder*

Avert your eyes children!

[turtle boy]

Fare argument Gok, fare argument

[GoktimusPrime]

Sometimes Hasbro are able to reclaim lost names by purchasing the rights to them after the former owner's ownership of that name has expired and they choose not to renew it. For example, Hasbro had lost the rights to the name "Ravage" which is why we had:
+ Beast Wars Transmetal Ravage = "Tripredacus Agent"
+ Energon Ravage = "Battle Ravage" and "Command Ravage"
+ Alternators Ravage (Corvette Z06) = "Battle Ravage"

...but then sometime in 2006 or 2007 the rights for the toy-name "Ravage" must've been up for renewal, and the owner must've chosen not to renew it allowing Hasbro the chance to purchase the name back, which is why Alternators Ravage (Jaguar XK) was called "Ravage" and the upcoming Ravage that comes with Hound in Universe will also just be called "Ravage."

So yeah... who knows... maybe Hasbro will be able to reclaim lost names like Bombshell, Shockwave etc. - it all depends on whether or not the current holders of those names choose to relinquish them and allow Hasbro the chance to take them back.

P.S.: I think it's odd how Takara's lost the rights to the name "Perceptor" (hence why the reissue was called "Cybertron Perceptor")... who would want to use the name "Perceptor"? (especially in Japan no less! I can't imagine a Gundam called Perceptor ) (o_O)

[kup]

I had the theory that some dodgy organisations purposely headhunted such 'forgotten about' trademark names so that they can charge royalties to the companies which need to use them.

I figured that the name of Jazz was bought back from one of these organisations for the Movie as before he had to go by the Japanese name and this only changed in 2007.

[GoktimusPrime]

I figured that the name of Jazz was bought back from one of these organisations for the Movie as before he had to go by the Japanese name and this only changed in 2007.

It hasn't changed. The movie toy was called "Autobot Jazz" and Animated Jazz is also called "Autobot Jazz."

They can get away with using the names "Ratchet" and "Jazz" in the movie and cartoon because they fall under entirely different copyright laws - so Hasbro is able to use those names there, but they don't own those names when it comes to toys, specifically action figures & model cars. That's why the toys have to be called "Autobot Jazz" and "Autobot Ratchet" still.

Autobot Jazz:


Autobot Ratchet:

[jaydisc]

New Inferno pics. NOT from Hasbro. He looks great!

[Pulse]

The blockiness is growing on me more-&-more every time I see new pics of him...

[i_amtrunks]

I'm over my want for a ladder on him now, the water cannon figure makes enough sense to me.

However if they make a re-tooled figure into Grapple/Artfire I'll be interested to see how they do that seeing as the Water Cannon is attached to Inferno's arm and all.

[Paulbot]

However if they make a re-tooled figure into Grapple/Artfire I'll be interested to see how they do that seeing as the Water Cannon is attached to Inferno's arm and all.

Hey are you on to something?! They've made a new Nightstick toy, combine that with the new Inferno toy, do some recolouring (and forget that Artfire's Nightsick was actually a Fracas repaint) and they could easily produce a Japanese G1 homage in the Universe line. That'd be cool. Obscure, but cool.

[GoktimusPrime]

EEP! What an awesomage idea!! Here's hoping TakaraTOMY will do it as a convention or e-Hobby exclusive Henkei! (^_^)

P.S.: I got Happy Meal Ratchet today - it's called "Ratchet" not "Autobot Ratchet." I guess this means that there are different copyright laws surrounding happy meal toys vs action figures sold at dept stores, TRUs etc.