Maybe Dinobot will be the Lasterpiece...

 

Dinobot is no Lasterpiece, he's the MasterBeast.  

 

I'm pro-official if at all possible, but 3P seriously has my interest given that they're actually releasing figures we want - Hound, Jazz, Mirage, Trailbreaker, Hoist, Cliffjumper, etc. Takara has taken a snooze and is spending time on Movie Masterpieces which do nothing for me. But I'm wavering in my official-only want.

 

What ? Laster in Masterpiece line ?

ROAD CAESAR IS COMING !

 

Some people believe because all those characters images were designed so long ago, now it belongs to the public.
Thus, people shall be allowed to recreate those imagines however they please as long as it's not the exact same way as somebody else did it (KO).
People are not merely "okay with it." They actually feel proud buying 3P to support independent artists.

 

And if it weren't for Disney, these people would almost be correct. Copywrite law keeps increasing in duration so that now nothing that is created will become public domain within your lifetime. Didn't used to be the case.

The argument could be made that current IP laws are harmful to creativity,.especially in the tech world. but that's an argument for another day and another thread.

Anyway, back on topic, so we have Dinobot and Prowl coming and maybe a V3 Prime. Slim pickings but I'm still hoping for a combiner release.

 

I want MP Devy reveals around the time FT releases the first limb just for giggles.

 

I agree that if a new Optimus gets released it's gonna steal all the attention, like Megatron last year, but I still hope they could squeeze a new mold this year. Not a big character like Blaster, but if they are working on Trailbreaker it would be ideal.

 

You'll be waiting another 10 years supporting multiple releases of 5+ year old figures.

The depressing forecast of the official only g1 collector.

 

When Masterpiece supporters start to turn towards 3rd Party companies for their G1 fix...



Truthfully though, I know I wouldn't have some form of an MP Hound, Jazz, Mirage, or Dinobots other than Grimlock if not for 3rd party right now. If Takara ever DOES those characters, then I'll store away the 3rd party stuff (I did for Shockwave and Sunstreaker).

 

Movieverse trumps everything else in popularity atm.
Sad but true!!!
A mpm blackout would be awesome but really huge
His robot mode hight should be around 15-16inches to his head. The propeller that sticks up from behind his head will sit around 18inches.not to mention how much bulk he will have.
Idk how tall mpm optimus is so its a guess lol.

 

It sucks to be them, though, because it's still illegal, whether they like it or not, and public domain required no renewal of copyright for 75 years after the passing of the original creator. I'm not up to date with it atm, but that was the case more than ten years ago. Whether or not it's ethical for public domain to be like that is something else entirely, and revolves around if a company should be able to renew a copyright for an individual's work. Transformers was never the work of any single individual, and is Hasbro's specifically with Takara working in tandem with them. There's no gray area when it comes to ownership or public domain there, they own it in perpetuity if they continue their trademarks and copyright. Illegal is illegal. There's a reason why all the 3P companies are based in or lurk in China, it's because of the nebulous copyright law there and the inability for any legal entity to sue them. Independent artists would be releasing the designs as 3D printer plans or something, but they would be doing it for free, with donations optional, the same way every fanwork should normally be done. You notice no one is up in arms about artists at conventions doing artwork of the characters and selling prints of it - it's because it's not a direct competition, and in some cases is even the artists doing licensed work for the company.

But when you're directly competing with the company's primary product in an unlicensed fashion, and making money hand over fist (because 100% they are making good profits on this, or else the 3P market would have nowhere near the involved parties and amount of toys it does), then there's a problem, and it's illegal, no matter who is stuck in a fantasy land about it not being so. I still would think there is a mentality at Takara which thinks there's no real market for MP Dinobots because they've been done by FansToys "good enough" and people wouldn't be willing to upgrade for toon-accurate ones, which leaves official-only people in the lurch. These sorts of things are real issues with profit margins and expected returns, and with a specific share of market they expect to capture, but nobody seems to care about that because "Takara isn't producing what I want fast enough!" That's a selfish and greedy mindset, but good luck getting people to change. They'll just buy 3P and complain about everything the original company ever did. I mean, we have people saying the end of the line is nigh because MPMs have been produced rapidly, instead of that the line is continuing at the same pace, just with product they don't particularly like.

I don't understand the mentality.

 

I've said it many times...it's not a matter of ethics to me. It's authenticity. I just don't want fakes, reproductions, bootlegs, or knock offs in any of the things I collect. I want the collection to be REAL.

I collect all kinds of stuff. Comic books, manga, vinyl LPs. I have an original cover Appetite for Destruction LP by GNR. It's a bit beat up, but I know it's REAL. I could buy a fake in pristine condition but it would drive me nuts knowing it's not the real deal.

So no, for some of us, 3P will never be an option. My MP shelf is all 100% authentic Takara originals. I won't sully it by having some Chinese unlicensed reject with a silly copyright dodging name added to it. If Takara never makes another MP so be it. My Ark crew may be "incomplete" forever but my offical MP lineup will be intact.

 

...lol at this discussion

 

Very insightful. Thanks so much for everything you bring to the table. Gives us a lot to think about and consider.

 

Wow guys, chill out. To each their own.  

 

I cant tell anyone what to buy or if they belong here or not.

But i find it ironic how the people that buy third party products are wondering where takara is with their reveals.

I wouldnt want to manufacture mp's for an unloyal fanbase that is slowly dragging down the value of the official releases.

Ko's hurt the value by a much larger margin.

My brother works at a collectors marketplace, they have a vast amount of official mp's that simply wont move.
people are afraid of purchasing a KO over the official.
And because they are not the most reputable marketplace for mp's. People will not purchase them.
It hurt that marketplace so bad that they will no longer order new mp's and simply only buy official mp's off collectors. They buy 2nd hand because there is a larger profit margin and they can reduce the price alot more if needed too.
I will occasionally help them identify KO VS official

 

I mean, I've said it multiple times, but if anyone thinks I'm not chill, then... that's on them? This forum is a hobby for me, just like collecting toys is. I have enough things to occupy my time and life I've no time to fuss with getting riled up or whatever else. My 2c is just 2c, that's all. If you like 3P, good on you, but it's still supporting something that shouldn't exist by virtue of legal reasons. Anyone trying to take the high road and imply they have some moral leeway with it is, unfortunately, just wrong. If you like the toy(s)? Cool, enjoy. It doesn't affect me whatsoever. But it is a bit exasperating to hear people suggest I root for a third party entity stealing intellectual property and making money on it because the primary company just hasn't gotten around to what someone wants.

On the subject of KOs, since that was brought up: absolutely no one should buy those. Save for an MP if you want one and can't afford it *right then* but never buy a KO. At least the 3Ps have the decency to create their own engineering, even if they're stealing the IP. KOs are just outright theft.

 

On this we see totally eye to eye!

I admit to having bought KOs in the past, ironically they're actually what got me back into collecting but no more.

I buy 3P as stand ins and await Takara (mp36 recently deposed Apollyon and MP39 Sunsurge) then if Takara never makes it, at least I have a representation. Only one that breaks that rule is Inferno and I do own Artfire and Grapple.

 

Oh boy, oh boy. Some people really need to lighten up.

Ive gotten some KO's of the mp's when I started to collect MP's again (5th time  ). Suited me well since I didnt want to pay the attrocius second hand prices of those that were sold out. Now with the "+" releases im slowly exchanging the ko's for real ones. New mps i buy originals.

As for 3p. I have the Gigapower Dinobots, and a cosmos. Im losing my patients with Takara and want to complete my ark crew. If 3p satisfies my needs, so be it. Thats my decision to make.

Btw, im not into Bayverse much but bought the LT MPM kos. Bumblebee is known to be vastly superior to the retail version. Prime has a few duds but is mostly considered surperior too. 3p PeruKill is better than what Hasbro ever created with this character.

So if you guys want to keep being loyal to Hasbro/Takara, i salute you.
But ill do it overhere with more superior products!