Plastic Aircraft Model Kits are Going Away

StrategyPage ^ | 1/31/05

[fso301]

Of course, there are. But the price of asserting them in a court of law -- that's the rub. Boeing, Lockheed, et al are lawyered-up and can pursue legal action in perpetuity. For their part, kit makers are looking at legal fees that would dwarf their profit margin.

The big companies have a risk that far exceeds any potential legal cost, that being, they have allowed their patents, trademarks and copyrights to be freely used for decades. In such circumstance, a company is at serious risk of losing such rights.

[TexanByBirth]

A lot of the vendors do have American made kits, many have old Revell, Monogram, Aurora, etc....... Some of the really old kits can be expensive but most are not. Have rebuilt in adulthood several models that I built as a kid.

Unfortunately, most of the models you can find of modern US military equipment are already made overseas.....in Japan, Korea, Tiawan and China

[longtermmemmory]

Actually Harley DID apply to copyright the engine sound. Jap makers were de-tuning their engines to have the same staccato harley sound.

I never did hear what happened with the copyright application.

The sound came in part fromthe fact that Harley pistons are "chasing" each other rather than at opposite ends.

[frgoff]

Oh, man! I had one of those. The best and coolest model I ever had, except for maybe this:

[Fzob]

Well once these idiots are out of business they will sell the rights to someone that will again supply a demand. Just give it time.

[Protagoras]

In this case, I would think that encouraging certain interests - such as in our military hardware, or simply working with their hands instead of playing video games or watching TV - in our kids would be beneficial.

That's the purpose of business. Social engineering.

But no, someone saw a chance to make a buck.

How dare business try to make a buck?

I guess I should be insulted.

Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.

[68skylark]

For instance, many railroads demand a royalty to put their name on a model.

Oh that's just un-American.

[OldSmaj]

It has not been duplicated, though, that I'm aware of.

I've several friends (yeah, yeah I know, friends don't let friends ride Jap bikes), that insist their bikes sound the same as my H-D, but it's wishful thinking.

There is a huge difference between "potato, potato, potato" and "putt-putt, ring-ding-ding, putt-putt".

[Drago]

Nothing on the Revell site about it...they currently have 48 military model aircraft kits listed. See:
http://www.revell-monogram.com
Site may not be updated much tho., and there is no "latest news" section there either.

[Osage Orange]

Excuse me, "are ruining" should be "have ruined".. I'll be more accurate next time.

Alright!! Now we are flying..!! Oops...can I say flying without the Wright Bros. heirs demanding royalties?

[mugs99]

Waht *really* sucks is that these are models of things designed under governemtn contract, which, once declassified, puts them in the public domain

That's the way it was before trial lawyers ran the country. The Federal Government should slap these greedy scumbags down. We, the taxpayers, paid for those airplanes. That the government refuses to support the Public Domain rights of the people, clearly shows that government has become too corrupt to defend the rights of the people....IMHO
...

[okie01]

The big companies have a risk that far exceeds any potential legal cost, that being, they have allowed their patents, trademarks and copyrights to be freely used for decades. In such circumstance, a company is at serious risk of losing such rights.

I quite understand what you're saying. After a lifetime of involvement in packaged goods marketing, I'm well aware of trademark protection and its importance.

And, for that very reason, Boeing, et al will go to the mat -- if that's what it takes -- willfully engaging in a legal strategy of attrition, until they drive the last kit-maker out of business.

The biggest litigation budget will win the argument. Under those circumstances, the kit-makers really can't afford to "stand and fight".

[orionblamblam]

> Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.


Think of it this way: Every time you wave the Flag, you owe Uncle Sam a buck. How about that?

[LetsRok]

What about my "Monster model" kits? Are the studios going to want a royalty for a Frankenstein, Wolfman, or Dracula model?

[skeeter]

Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.

If slavish devotion to profit making where nothing of worth is produced in exchange is the measure of conservativism then yes, you can count me out.

[2Jedismom]

We got my son a Pave Hawk for Christmas and it cost $25.

[Protagoras]

If slavish devotion to profit making where nothing of worth is produced in exchange

Name such a business transaction.

is the measure of conservativism then yes, you can count me out.

You were already out.

[Nowhere Man]

Oh, fudge. This is going to impact the tabletop gaming community like no one's busines..

Toss in the role playing game community too. B-P

[Protagoras]

Think of it this way: Every time you wave the Flag, you owe Uncle Sam a buck. How about that?

Preposterous non analogy. But I'll play. I make time for the children a few times a day.

Try this, don't wave the flag, save a buck.

[fella]

Tell the greedheads that photos and drawings of their "intellectual property" will make them a lot more money of course newspapers, books etc. will all disappear too.