I'm by no means an expert, but I believe that Ratchet can't be trademarked because it's an actual thing. That's why all Ratchet toys include an "Autobot" before the name. The same goes with Jazz, Rumble, Rewind and similar. It could be a contributor in Ruckus' name-change too.

 

Ya know, if I was to ever create my own fiction I would use vague, not trademark able names. Instead of Ratchet I'd use Socket.

I'm surprised Bumblebee has a TM, since bumblebees are a thing.

 

Well it certianly makes it a lot harder. Nonsensical words are so much easier to trademark. As for things that actually exist, I believe a trademark only covers specific areas like ours would be toys/robots/actio figures. Only larger ones with more ground like Optimus Prime can cover multiple areas and because it's made up it's a lot easier to identify as infringement.

 

Well, thare are tons of names that are things: Tracks, Soundwave, Pipes, Brawn, Tailgate, Swerve, Whirl, etc.

 

It's a lot more complicated than that.

Armada Hot Shot was originally called Bumblebee but was changed because they couldn't get the name.

Ironically, Movie Bumblebee was called Hot Shot until they managed to get the Bumblebee name back.

Ratchet was lost as well, but they managed to use it with the Autobot prefix (I think first secured with the RID Universe repaint).

Back then, I believe it was Aaron Archer who said they didn't like to use the prefixes on mainline figures. That changed with the 2007 movie and Animated when they wanted to use Ratchet.

 

I believe Bumblebee came back into use for the 2006 Classic line, so it was important to name the character as close to his 1984 name as possible there. So they used a common word again.

Once Hasbro realized people LIKED Bumblebee, that lead to them using it for the Bay movies and Animated, possibly using Bumblebee is such excess that some fans felt it was Bumblebee overload.

Hasbro uses Bumblebee now for a yellow robot toy character, but obviously anyone can use the common word who are using it in other fields (Bumblebee Tuna isn't going to bother Hasbro.) If someone make a yellow robot who turned into a car named Bumblebee inside the USA, Hasbro MIGHT get pissed.

 

I'm almost positive that Archer said at Botcon 2007 that they got the name for the movie but utilized it for Classics Bumblebee first.

 

They used Classics Bee to help secure the Trademark. If you're using it, hou've got it.

I believe this would be helpful in this scenario though.

Trademark - Transformers Wiki
Plenty of info for how the bussiness works here.

 

Bumblebee has been a name Hasbro had been trying to get back for YEARS. As mentioned, Armada's Hot Shot was to be Bumblebee until that fell through. Same with Shockwave.

I remember a LOT of rumors in 2005 about a new Bumblebee "toy" (and maybe even a Hasbro site listing? The website had a number of hidden links at the time detailing unproduced minicon two pack bios), with popular speculation being an individual (well, two pack) release of Armada Sparkplug to secure the name. Just as what happened with Shockwave, whose 2005 Alternator release was called "Shockblast", while the name was used in 2006 on a minicon redeco.

It was just good fortune that things lined up for us to get Classics Bumblebee as our first new Bumblebee in over a decade. But had Hasbro NOT been able to secure the name, you can bet that the movie character would have been Hot Shot.

 

I was hoping we'd get a Rodimus Prime to oppose Galvatron.

Seeing as how they seem to be doing movie characters, we may get a TR Kup as well.

 

So Sixshot is he Titan Returns or Prine Wars 3?

 

I'd say 2017 Titans Return

 

We might there's no word / rumors yet as for kup I do believe there could be one. It's rumored that the 1986 movie cast will have deluxe figures so that said arcee and springer could happen. But i would not be surprised if not giving the generations release a while back.

If springer did happen he'd be a voyager but I don't see it happening in Titans Return.

 

Okay great thank you.

 

a Platinum boxset release of Generations Arcee and Springer in decos similar Takara's Legends would almost make too much sense...

 

anyone think that Star Saber and Victory Leo would make awesome additions to TR?

 

Did you notice the Powermaster Optimus Orion Pax head is a dead ringer for Kup?

 

Do you have a pic for reference?

 

I certainly did.