[Poohbah]

Smells like a BS story to me. There are numerous defenses a kit maker could use to invalidate such a patent, copyright or trademark suddenly being asserted against them after decades of unchallenged royalty free use.

Not BS. The model kit companies can't afford the teams of lawyers the aerospace companies can. The litigation costs will crush the model kit manufacturers, even if they win. This is a major argument for loser-pays litigation.

[fso301]

Not BS. The model kit companies can't afford the teams of lawyers the aerospace companies can. The litigation costs will crush the model kit manufacturers, even if they win. This is a major argument for loser-pays litigation.

For decades, the aerospace and defense companies have done nothing to stop kitmakers/gamemakers/others from using their trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Having made no attempts to protect their property, they are at serious risk of losing it.

This thing should settle out of court before summary judgement.