3rd Party Items Banned from BotCon 2015

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by Mechafire, Apr 29, 2015.

  1. edgs2099

    edgs2099 Optimistically realistic. Moderator

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    I dunno. The overly cautious side of me tells me to say, "ok" and let it alone. If Hasbro got that particular hair up their ass, they could make it fairly hard to get a hold of the 3P things all the cool people love. A couple dozen C&D letters and we're jumping through a lot more shitty hoops.


    Sure, let's all just ignore the stack and cast things hibbidy dibbety. Anarchist.
     
  2. Dark Skull

    Dark Skull Well-Known Enabler Moderator

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    *tap two blue manna*

    STIFLE.....F U.



    :p 
     
  3. Venksta

    Venksta Render Project Creations TFW2005 Supporter

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    Do we know if this affects artists and customizers? I remember at Botcon 2012, the original news about the IP ban affected artists as well, and FunPub had to come back and change the wording to allow them to still be able to attend and sell their works.

    I was planning to get a table again for Renderform this year. I feel my stuff doesn't IP infringe at all. But since this is FunPub, I sent them an email to confirm with me if my items are OK or not.
     
  4. Cheebs

    Cheebs Well-Known Member

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    I could play for another 5 years and still not fully grasp the stack.

    ...or priority
     
  5. Basilisk

    Basilisk It will give you infinite pleasure!

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    I don't think your stuff infringes on IP at all they're just upgrade kits as opposed to full on figures that are clearly designs based on Hastak's properties. (I'm not trying to sound like a 3P hater but it's just a fact)

    But they may have expanded the 3P ban onto Upgrade Kits as well.
     
  6. Chaos Prime

    Chaos Prime Combaticon

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    Well I suppose it's Hasbro's call, since they are in bed with Funpub, and it's their right to do so.
    But I can't help but feel this is a really cowardly move on Hasbro's part.
    Its like they're openly crappjng themselves over a little bit of competition, and they can't deal with it.
    Hasbro...do you want to out perform 3rd party toylines...build a better product. Combiner Wars is a good start.

    Overpriced, yes? Garbage? No. You must be confused with Hasbro's quality control on official Transformers toys.

    All of my 3p toys are in great shape, and the plastic quality is far above Hasbro's.
     
  7. Calabask

    Calabask Waspinator Cultist

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    Pete said Artists who pay for a spot at the Alley get an exemption for the day/s they are there to sell transformer related art. Whether that applies to stuff like accessories and what not, has not been clarified yet.
     
  8. grunge

    grunge The TANK

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    werent they banned last year too? but i dont blame them. while i like 3rd party items, at official shows a ban makes sense because it takes away from the main focus of the show. i wonder if custom work is included?
     
  9. Scaleface

    Scaleface Well-Known Member

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    Like TFcon? It's about TFs, whatever those are.
     
  10. Astronopolis

    Astronopolis Well-Known Member

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    It hurts us because it limits our buying options, and Hasbro stuff isn't exactly boutique high end collectible merch so there's not much of a market conflict there. It isn't a OMG WERE BEING SUBJUGATED TO HORRENDOUS TORTURE hurt, it's just limiting to us for their (marginal) gain.
     
  11. influence82

    influence82 Well-Known Member

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    I agree with the "if you have to ask, then it probably is" on what people can or cannot sell. That is enough clarification for most reasonable people. I do not like to use the term "3rd party" because they are not a party to the fiction and characters owned by Hasbro. Let us call them "Unofficial custom toys." Now we know it is not allowed, the question is how BotCon will enforce the ban. Last year, a staff member just went to the booths telling people not to sell KOs. This year, will they go so far as to force vendors out and close their booths and not refund them for violating the rules?
     
  12. Scaleface

    Scaleface Well-Known Member

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    Has Hasbro ever claimed Mugan Scope looks like Perceptor? If not, then it cannot be IP infringement. The owner of the IP has to make the claim, fanboys don't get that power. As Hasbro HAS NOT made the claim, I have to agree with Hasbro that there is no IP infringement.
     
  13. Scaleface

    Scaleface Well-Known Member

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    All the third party toys will be there.
     
  14. Scaleface

    Scaleface Well-Known Member

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    Do you plan to sell the tattoo at one of the booths? If not, then this announcement doesn't effect you.
     
  15. merphul

    merphul Well-Known Member

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    huh, any con is allowed to make their own rules, and if they're partnered/sponsored by a big company, well it's not like they're going to fight against a partners request. Not much point in arguing if this is right or not as it's their call... hell they could ban all vendors from selling anything that is not an official Optimus Prime toy. Wouldn't be smart, but they could impose any restriction they like.

    That being said, a con with only "official" products would seem a little lackluster (although on balance I haven't attended a TF related con in several years (thanks eBay)). I can't imagine anyone getting goggle eyed over, or paying serious cash for, any toy that wasn't an original G1, MP, and/or nice custom work, maybe some of the Leader stuff I guess. Limits options for vendors and fans which could limit future participation by vendors and fans. But again, all academic to me as I no longer have the energy/will to fully enjoy a convention like I used to.
     
  16. Dragonclaw

    Dragonclaw Briefly the owner of KB Toys

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    The thing is that it's been so inconsistant. 2011 saw Hasbro's booth smack dab in between 2 booths made entirely of G1 counterfeits on either side of them and TFSource selling tons of iGear seekers and their new Ramjet directly in front of them. Likely prompting the reaction for 2012...2012 was the hardcore "Don't bring it...ANY of it...in fact Hasbro may CONFISCATE your inventory if you do" almost millitant attitude. Then 2013 & 2014 completely flipped back the other way and had everything business as usual with 3rd party products being sold all over the dealer room floor. Which is why there are questions now. Are we going with the ultra hard line stance, the "hey, we're saying it's not allowed but we really wont be going table to table" lax attitude of the last 2 years, or is it somewhere in between...and if it IS somewhere in between, asking exactly where that line is drawn is a perfectly fair question for both dealers and attendees to ask...and frankly as customers they deserve a real answer.
     
  17. OptionZero

    OptionZero Well-Known Member

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    People know that TF Con and TF Con USA exist, right?

    Why would anyone Botcon?
     
  18. ZeroBG82

    ZeroBG82 Well-Known Member

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    Their con, their rules. Absolutely no problem with them enforcing a rule as long they give sufficient notice, which they seem to have.

    That said, the only reason I'd be going to a con was for the dealers, and the only items they have that I'd spend money on are 3P. Makes Botcon an easy, easy pass for me.
     
  19. ssjkazer

    ssjkazer mr dyslexia

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    This tread is a great example of the tf fandom not failing to be a disappointment
     
  20. The Honey Badger

    The Honey Badger Tfcon2016 Chicago was a blast! TFW2005 Supporter

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    its bs. I havnt gone to a botcon (been years 6-11)the past 3 years because of this. don't support the corporation!!Go to fan run cons. 10x better with way more dealers! Forget about FUNPUB! go 3rd party all day!