My assumption is that the really big toy makers have an unspoken agreement (or "Gentleman's Agreement") where they don't do homages or "similar but different" copies of each other's IP. The reason for this is because I think (a) its hard to prove IP infringement on toys in court and (b) it's costly, so its not worth the time/money. So, instead, everyone "plays fair" and avoids stepping on each other's toes by not doing homages and copies.

Would it upset Mattel if Hasbro did a green tiger Transformers? I think it would, if it had orange stripes. That's Cringer and Hasbro would definitely be using that character's popularity to sell the figure. I mean, imagine if Mattel released a MOTU vehicle that was a red, white and blue flat-nose retro-futuristic truck that could be disassembled and turned into "power armor" for He-Man. It just conveniently sorta looks like Optimus in vehicle mode and "power armor" mode. Hasbro would be extremely upset but could they do anything about it?

Hasbro can't argue in court that all red flat-nose semi truck toys are copying Optimus's design. That's a generic design. Robots are also a generic idea. Hasbro didn't invent the idea of sentient mechanical beings either. The only thing they clearly can protect is the Autobot/Decepticon badges and copyright the names.

IANAL, I could be talking out of my exhaust pipe but I think these are the reasons why toy companies avoid 'homages.' It's why the Jurassic Park toys have the JP sticker/tattoo-- they can't stop other companies from producing dinosaur toys.

 

The more I read of this battle cat debate the more convinced I am it'll just be the prototype orange tiger colour, if SG Tigertron even becomes a thing.

 

You think it's normal to have your hands go down to your knees while standing?

 

For humans? No. For transforming robots from another planet that turn into anything from a handheld cassette player to a gorilla? Who knows.

 

Yes, actually.

 

Well there's problem, Shattered Glass Cheetor already have that colors from the standard tiger Tigatron, for a Shattered Glass Tigatron would be easier if he is a black tiger with white stripes rather than being homage to a rival company.

 

it does go for a pretty penny now...I don't see them re-releasing it unless the plot demands it.

 

Funpub SG Cheetor has those colors, like how they're doing SG Megatron from ER Megatron instead of Galvatron there is nothing to say the new SG stuff is going to be exactly like the old SG stuff.

 

Any reason why? Most of the exclusive redecos have been obscure characters, and it is rare for Hasbro to produce a mold that doesn't have at least one redeco. Grimlock is the obvious one for Dinobot. Skywarp or Prowl would be the best options I can think of for Airrazor.

 

I was talking about the show, not the toys.

 

BZ!!!!!!

 

But that Megatron is likely to keep the same colors the original SG Megatron used. Maybe a SG Tigatron could use Nightprowler's colors.

 

Any word on Studio Series 86 Gnaw?

Is he tubby? Is he tall? Is he coming soon?

 

Well the image broke so all I have the cursed one to go off of.

 

I would like a new Build King.... and Rail-Racer. I know.... very little chance...

 

THE ORIGINAL RAIL RACER IS SOOO NICE. i WAS MESSING WITH IT IN MY BOYS ROOM THE OTHER DAY AND it was the first time I have touched it and I was blown away, very cool toy

 

Words cannot describe my need for a new Railracer.

 

Do you guys think they should do a Cheetor repaint into Witterquick from Visionaries?

 

No, but Kingdom Galvatron's hands do not go down to his knees, not even with the shoulders at the lower positions.



In a well-proportioned humanoid, the wrists are level with the crotch. Kingdom Galvatron's are properly placed. They're also far above the knees.

As an aside, due to the way Transformers toy hips are jointed, there's often an optical illusion present that makes hands appear farther down than they actually are. The top of the thigh goes into the torso -- where it must, if it wants to replicate sitting without having the hips jointed *below* the torso. But because the thighs go up so high, it makes the hands appear lower than they should, even if they don't actually reach the knees.

Regardless, Kingdom Galvatron's proportions are fine.

 

They would just announce Magnaboss, not sneak in a bunch of retools without saying what they did.