Even if he is *NOT* selling them... either he owns the character design or it is derivative of DON's... either way, you don't own it and it is reasonable to cite the source when using it to promote your commercial product.

How do you know he owns the design? Did you ask him? How do you know I didnt' sell him the design, or that someone else didn't make the piece for him and that THEY own the design? You don't know anything. (Just to be clear this is NOT my design and neither I nor RSP has ever sold ANYTHING to JD)

 

Is it so hard to simply give credit to fellow community artists? If it belongs to someone else, for christ's sake just credit it.

Its not hard to credit artists for thier work. You'll notice that we're requireing usernames and forums along with e-mail for this contest with each submission. Thats so we can properly credit each colorist. You'll also notice if you'd taken a minute from your ranting that we've credited the line artist as well in all of our posted pictures. We do credit artists. We have no obligation to credit every single person who ever hand a hand in a final product thats many steps removed from its origin. Unless we're making some claims to a hand in that origin, which we're not.

 

Get a grip, and for goodness sake get some real information before you contiunue with this.

 

- H

RSP

We have no obligation to credit every single person who ever hand a hand in a final product thats many steps removed from its origin. Unless we're making some claims to a hand in that origin, which we're not.

 

I disagree.

 

You are a commercial business running an official promotion to promote your product, and it looks to me that you are using a trademarked character design to promote your work. A trademark you do not own or have permission (DON) to use.

 

If you’re going to use derivative works for financial gain, Conveniently failing to site sources assumes ownership and implies permission. So why not pre-emptivly get and documentation and permission for use of the trademarks and copyrights? Why are you so adverse to letting the source of a character design be so easily publicly known?

 

Oh that's right... because your main product is a blatant infringement on Hasbro's trademarked character ARCEE. To admit your other character promoting your product is derivative in any way would open you up to legal retaliation by Hasbro or other license holders.

 

When you do something truly original in your existence and wish to sell it... let us know, Or when you obtain a license to sell trademarked Hasbro characters, that would be great too. Until then, I consider you a destructive force on the fandom damaging the franchise and causing direct financial harm to license holders like Palisades and First4Heroes.

You are a commercial business running an official promotion to promote your product, and it looks to me that you are using a trademarked character design to promote your work. A trademark you do not own or have permission (DON) to use.

 

All I have to say is that I'm just really glad you're not on our side.

You are so wrong it just plain scary. It appears that rather than gather the information and knowledge that you so desperately need to discuss this subject intelligently that you're simply happy to throw around some words that appear to fit.

 

 

If you’re going to use derivative works for financial gain, conveniently failing to site sources assumes ownership and implies permission. So why not pre-emptively get and documentation and permission for use of the trademarks and copyrights? Why are you so adverse to letting the source of a character design be so easily publicly known?

 

See above...

 

 

 

Oh that's right... because your main product is a blatant infringement on Hasbro's trademarked character ARCEE. To admit your other character promoting your product is derivative in any way would open you up to legal retaliation by Hasbro or other license holders.

Man, its way to late to talk about that. We're doing something risky, partly for our own reasons and partly for everyone who's wanted one of these CyberFembots since before they knew what they were. It’s really a shame you don't understand that.

 

It’s also a shame you have no idea what a Trademark is...

Good news!

I do:

 

Definitions of Trademark:

 

A name, word, symbol, or device that allows the trademark owner to dictate its use in identifying a product, eg, logos and brand names.

 

 

 

I also know what a copyright is:

 

Definitions of copyright:

 

A form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, US Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works.

 

 

 

I also know what a patent is:

 

A grant by the federal government to an inventor of the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling his or her invention. There are three kinds of patents in the United States: a utility patent on the functional aspects of products and processes; a design patent on the ornamental design of useful objects; and a plant patent on a new variety of a living plant. Patents do not protect ideas, only structures and methods that apply technological concepts. Each type of patent confers the right to exclude others from a precisely defined scope of technology, industrial design

 

Here's the thing my ignorant friend. We're working on this project for both our own personal reasons (I really wish I could say profit) as well as for everyone who can't do what we're doing. We want to provide something that no one ever has before in a way that's never been done. (So help me if you bring up the BotCon98 Arcee....)

 

We're taking all the risk (And you're right, this project is risky)

We're paying all the money, and paying and paying and paying.

We're spending all the time.

 

I think its very short sighted and simple to throw around words like Trademark and infringement, when you obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

 

 

When you do something truly original in your existence and wish to sell it... let us know, Or when you obtain a license to sell trademarked Hasbro characters, that would be great too. Until then, I consider you a destructive force on the fandom damaging the franchise and causing direct financial harm to license holders like Palisades and First4Heroes.

Hey, when you say "us" I think you'd better ask the rest of the community if they want you speaking for them. Yea, I'll really think you better ask.

 

Palisades and First4Heroes (Dude by the way... its First4Figures found here: http://www.first4figures.com/) See this is what I mean about being miss-informed and ignorant...

 

As I was saying.. These two companies sell STATUES. We don't sell STATUES we sell transforming CYBERFEMBOTS. Big difference. We're not cutting into their business one little bit.

 

As far as being a destructive force... hell we'd be happy to be ANY force on the community... as it is mostly we get ignored, harassed, threatened or badgered by ignorant loudmouths like you who have some personal axe to grind...

 

Speaking of that. Why us? Why not rip into Reprolables.com found here: http://www.reprolables.com or JD Productions found here: http://www.jd-p.net or Transrepro found here: http://www.transrepro.com? All three of these places ARE making EXACT duplicates of copyrighted material. They're not changing it, they're not modifying it or in any way making it their own artistic vision. JD sells DIRECT cast copies of RETAIL Takara and Hasbro pieces. Reprolables sells DIRECT copies of copyrighted labels. Transrepro sells DIRECT copies of Takara and Hasbro pieces. Why not include these people in your Axis of Evil? Why not? Chances are you've purchased items from them or will in the future?

 

Even more to the point why are these places allowed to continue doing business? They're DIRECTLY and OPENLY selling copies of copyrighted material. What gives?

 

I'll tell you. They're no threat to anyone and Hasbro and Takara (the late Takara I should say) know this. They're providing a product and service that no one else is and quite honestly don't make all that much money if anything doing it.  These people are DIRECTLY copying RETAIL products, and providing a service that is invaluable to the community. It would be a crime to hinder these fine establisments. We at Rabid Squirrel Productions salute them and the fine work they do.

 

We've used Thousands of pictures, fan art, history, personal skill, artistic interpretation and many other things to create our one product. We have not DIRECTLY copied anything. Are there similarities? We don't think so but we know opinions will differ on this.

 

We're providing something the community wants. Something we've put our heart and souls into for more than two years now. Something that we hope will add, not detract from the community at large and fill a hole thats been open for many many years. When we've sold our last CyberFembot and this is all over. I hope that the community remembers us fondly. Only time will tell I guess.

 

You still there?

If not don’t' worry. This is for everyone else reading this clusterF*** of a thread that you've helped sidetrack.

 

Sorry for the distraction folks.

Shows Over.

 

Back to coloring.

 

Cheers!

 

- Hal

Rabid Squirrel Productions

On a more plesant note we've gotten our first submission.

Mest4life135 from tfmaster.com has submitted three colored pieces.

Check them out in our new contest entry page here:

 

http://www.a-rabid-squirrel.com/conenter.htm

 

Cheers!

- Hal

Wow!

Hal, I am in no position to spit out 70-100 bucks for a toy....

But Damn those are nice.  I dont know what the Coloring contest is, but on all fronts i say Keep up the Awsome work!

 

I am an advocate for any Fan Art and customs!  I am also fully agree wiht anyone who enriches our hobby by providing services that Hastoak refuses (which is fine - thats their right not to create items tailored directly for the fandom)

 

Thanks for Doing something cool!

 

Hunter

whoa whoa whoa!!!!

 

what is going on here?!?!

 

 

i come back from a night out bowling and stuff and I see this. Now i've only read a portion of the back and forth posts between you guys but i can assume that it only gets worse

 

 

 

First off, there's nothing I, nor TFans, can do about this contest. We cant make him change designs or flat out stop the contest.

 

Second, the TWW Bumblebee design isnt under ownership of Don's, its Hasbro's. All artwork and stories produced by Dreamwave are owned by Hasbro. With that said, the arguement is like saying someone who made fan art of someone elses fan art of Hasbros toys is wrong and infringing on Hasbros rights.  If that was the case all fan art would be banned.

 

BUT the fact that someone took the design and altered it to make it their own IS perfectly legal. [Knock-off companies do it ALL the time]

This just happens to be a very nice and very expensive one.

 

Anyways, i'm not quite sure what to do with this thread. Its locked, that much is for sure.

 

As for what to do with this whole situation, i'm gonna talk it up with other mods and staff to see what they think. You two can feel free to finish out this arguement in PMs if you'd like but until then I dont wanna hear another word about this.

 

o____o''