The future of KO transformers is more or less dead, inside is the official word

Red leader · 06-22-2008, 09:21 AM

Below is the official word on the future of Transformers KO's, it seems hasbro has won the war and the removal of said items from ebay has indeed forced the manufacturers to rethink their actions and from a financial stand point cease production, read on for the full story :

PS I forgot to mention the email is from the main outlet supplier for the manufacturer

Hi,

First we would like to apology that we did not reply some of your mail. This is because we had been receiving a lot mails enquiries KO or remake transformers

We would like to take this opportunity to answer yours enquiries. As many of you have aware that you are unable to find KO from ebay, below might answer your doubt;

1. Is KO banned from ebay?

Yes, ebay had taken off all KO transformers from their auction sites. It is violating of their policy.

2. Where can I find those high qualities KO beside ebay?

We are not sure; you might try with your regular channel to obtain KO transformers. It is quite difficult to buy now. And also Hasbro has taken action against seller so to protect their Transformer Intellectual property which belongs to them. Some of the online shop was told to take off the KO transformers, if not Hasbro will take legal action against them.

3. Any new release for KO transformers?

There is schedule release of cyclones, scourge and snarl. But with current situation it becomes uncertain. To date devastator and reflector is still available.

4. Any status of sunstreaker and wheeljack?

No information from supplier. There is rumor the manufacturer is lack of funds but no confirmation yet.

5. Future of KO transformers?

With all these banning on KO transformers, we are not certain.

Below the list of transformers available in the market, if you still need the items. You can contact us. This might be the last chance to own them.

Locustreign · 06-22-2008, 09:26 AM

Interesting.

In before this turns into a flame war on ethics of KOs!

unmc2001 · 06-22-2008, 09:55 AM

I do not have many KO transformers but sometimes that is the only way to get what you want. I would glady purchase the genuine item from Hasbro/Takara if they would make it. I have been trying to put together a G1 collection and bought a Mirage KO and it was a well made figure. If Hasbro/Takara are not going to make it I will buy it from someone that will. It is difficult to find a mint box G1 Mirage. I still need Sunstreaker, Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Dinobots and Devestator. I have held out buying KO hoping Takara will release them, but it seems unlikely. I think Trailbreaker has a chance in the encore line but the others probably not.

starscream.pt · 06-22-2008, 10:03 AM

hmmm this kinda sucks for the g1 KOs, it's not like right now hasbro is making money out of G1 sales, but yeah ints understandable, i would be pissed if someone used my intellectual property to profit, but only if they claimed it to be there own, in this case, KO producers even print out the hasbro logo on the boxes. It's a sticky situation, i cant really tell on wich side i'm on.

Red leader · 06-22-2008, 10:19 AM

well the thing is, I bought a batch earlier in the year to sell and the demand isnt there believe it or not, as soon as hasbro said they werent happy I pulled the listings and traded the remainder off. The mistake the KO manufacturers made was asking for too much money, an example of the change is that now ebay has closed ranks on counterfeiting and fakes the price of a brand new KO Black Optimus is $55 which I think is more than reasonable considering the quality, I dont however in hindsight agree with the use of the hasbro logo and the safety stickers they place on the boxes.

Draven · 06-22-2008, 10:25 AM

Congratulations, Hastak, you've won.
Now kindly bring on the reasonably priced reissues of figures that a bunch of KO makers managed to recreate, despite your insistence that YOU couldn't.

Autobot 47 · 06-22-2008, 10:37 AM

Very unfortunate - a two sided sword. On one hand, you'll get more or less high quality from Hasbro, otherwise, you're lacking the chance of modding the KOs for kitbashes etc. without ruin the precious Hasbro TFs.

llamatron · 06-22-2008, 10:56 AM

Is the Reflector KO easily available?

Acid Wing · 06-22-2008, 11:14 AM

Good to see Hasbro actively protecting their intellectual properties, but again, not sure what this means for any official G1 reissues.

Vector Sigma · 06-22-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acid Wing

Good to see Hasbro actively protecting their intellectual properties, but again, not sure what this means for any official G1 reissues.

The fact that they didn;t in the past, at least not overtly, makes me wonder how a legal battle would actually go these days. If you don't enforce your trademarks to begin with, you can lose the right to do so if you suddenly decide to in the future. I think...