Stupid question time

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Cutthroat, Mar 2, 2007.

  1. Cutthroat

    Cutthroat More cowbell, dammit!

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    If Transformers can no longer have Porsche or Volkswagen alt modes because the parent companies do not want their products associated with "war machines", how is it that Takara/Hasbro were able to reissue the G1 versions of Jazz, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee? Sure, they own the molds and the rights to the characters, but wouldn't Porsche/Volkswagen retain the rights to the images portrayed by the alt modes?

    Also, since Lamborghini is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, does that mean that we can no longer have Lamborghini TF's either?
     
  2. onesock

    onesock Banned

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    Classics Rodimus!
     
  3. canprime

    canprime Well-Known Member

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    Don't quote me on this, but I believe it has to do with the lack of "branding" the vehicles (no company logos), but more importantly, Hasbro/Takara created them with slight differences so they are not exact replicas of the vehicles.

    This apparently allowed them to be released/made without a conflict.

    I'm probably wrong, so someone with better knowledge please correct me.
     
  4. Team Jetfire

    Team Jetfire Pop-POP!

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    I think you got it right.

    Jazz looked enough like a Porsche for people to recognize is as such, same as with BB.

    Plus I think in the last few years copyright law has become big business.
     
  5. Cutthroat

    Cutthroat More cowbell, dammit!

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    Come to think of it, he does have a kind of futuristic Lamborghini look to him. And that's right, RiD/Car Robots had a Lamborghini police car, too.

    If that's the case, then bring on Classics Breakdown and Classics Dead End too, complete with his (slightly modified) Porsche 928S alt mode! :rock 
     
  6. Orodruin

    Orodruin @deathformer TFW2005 Supporter

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    Canprime pretty much nailed it. They're not liscenced replicas, they just look similar.
     
  7. Tech Spec

    Tech Spec Breeze Loo

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    Cybertron Crosswise/Smokescreen is a Bugati Veyron, did they get permission from Bugati?
     
  8. Grimlock_13

    Grimlock_13 Currently facepalming at your post

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    Not that I know of, I'm sure it's a similar situation as the ones mentioned above. Crosswise isn't the only one in Cybertron to have an alt mode based on a real vehicle...I'm pretty sure I remember people posting pics of the concept cars Hot Shot was based off of...and of course Downshift was an amalgamation of several old school muscle cars
     
  9. canprime

    canprime Well-Known Member

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    Is it an exact copy, or just a very, very close facisimile?

    Also, does Bugati care enough to file a lawsuit?
     
  10. Draven

    Draven Banned

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    Very much so. I seem to recall some changes being made to the Wildride mould when it was used as X-Brawn in RID.
     
  11. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

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    Yup, the paint apps were modified to change the shape of the headlights to make X-Brawn look slightly less like the Mercedes SUV the toy was based on. As I understand it, Hasbro was "caught" by Chrysler for Dodge Viper Sideburn, so they had to pay the license fees, and the 'super' repaint had official Dodge and Viper insignia on the toy and packaging. On the upside, it gave Hasbro an 'in' with Dodge for later licensed Alternators toys.

    (note: my post is more hearsay and speculation than fact :)  )
     
  12. Autovolt 127

    Autovolt 127 Get In The Titan, Prime!

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    Hell No They Didn't and I Love Cybertron Crosswire espicially since It's my Favourite sports car

    anyone else Forgot G1 Red alert a Repaint of Lamborgini Twins

    and P.S Classics Bumblebee/Cliffjmuper is a Peugout 206
     
  13. godsenddeath

    godsenddeath . TFW2005 Supporter

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    It's not that close, there are several fairly notable differences.


    Bugatti is part of Volkswagen group, so if it were a replica of a Veyron, they probably wouldn't be too happy about it.
     
  14. Colorflash

    Colorflash European Variant

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  15. Bumble Prime

    Bumble Prime all the time

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    oh if only i had access and money to buy that car.....id be the coolest kid on the block with my 1:1 scale hot rod
     
  16. onesock

    onesock Banned

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    Wasn't he an old GTO?
     
  17. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were super-deformed toy cars based on Choro-Q vehicles to begin with. They should be perfectly fine legally, even though all reissues had to get rid of the "Dunlop" markings on the tires.

    Jazz and the other Autobot Cars... that's a good question. May have something to do with the models being older and no longer in production? Dunno. Hasbro supposedly ran into trouble with several manufacturers back in the day (Guy Ligier springs to mind, and apparently there were more). I'd still like to know why the European version of Jazz distibuted by MB said "Porsche" on the packaging, too.

    He's "inspired" by a Veyron, not an exact copy.

    No, he's really an amalgamation of two different styles of muscle cars. I don't recall the exact models offhand, but there were several similar modles from diferent manufacturers with similar aesthetics. Downshift merges two primary designs, one for the front part and one for the rear end, plus the color scheme. There's no real car that features all these different elements at once.