Quote Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime View Post
As I understand it there are different trademark laws for different fields and areas, in this case, toy trademarks. So not being able to use the name "Bombshell" means that someone has acquired that name for a toyline. That's my current understanding of it anyway. *shrug*
In Bombshell's case, yes. But you had asked me about why certain words could be trademarked while others (such as Jazz) couldn't, and that's the most basic reason I could give.

Hasbro calls a flat-bed military truck "Mega-Octane" and a toy based on G1 Octane "Tankor." :/ IMO it should've been the other way around... the name "Tankor" would've been much better for the RiD version of Dolrailer (because "Mega-Octane" just didn't make sense for that toy considering his alt mode) and "Mega-Octane" would've suited Universe Tankor. Had they called it "Mega-Octane" I probably would've bought the Hasbro version, but I've decided to boycott it based on the naming thing... I personally don't care about the chrome thing on that toy but I refuse to buy a toy that's meant to be Octane but called something completely different. Even if they called it "Oktane" or "Octotane" ... something attempting to preserve the Octane name in some fashion. :/ Or heck, use his Japanese name and call him "Octone" (like what they did with Alternators and used Jazz's Japanese name (Meister)).
Those alternatives sound pretty stupid, as does Octone. That means wasting money on a trademark that sounds stupid.

There was some speculation that Mega Octane was originally Scourge's trademark but was possibly swapped around with the Onslaught redeco. Mega Octane's trademark has most likely lapsed, as (to my knowledge), it was last used in 2003.

Boycotting toys that you can just rename yourself is too Serious Business for my taste