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Post by Empress Palpatine on Feb 1, 2009 19:58:54 GMT -6
Technically speaking, the legal concerns centered around using any Lego toy could be an issue with any commercial item used.
To keep Lego Vader as a potential choice, I'm going to try using Lego's "Contact Us" forum and simply ask them for permission. Yes, nothing may come of it, or it may end up with a flat-out rejection, but I want to ask before simply letting it go.
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Post by Darth Vilgore on Feb 1, 2009 22:13:20 GMT -6
[DD] PS - who is being crushed by Vader underneath Jar-Jar? Is that a McEwan Obi-Wan?
It is. From the Mustafar playsets. One of the "worst" Figures entered in the BCA this cycle.
The Vader/death star statue doez have an "Antique" hue to it. Bacically its subtle gold.
Glad you guyz liked the graphics. Pleaze show us you really like them by adding them to your blog.
Today (sunday) we didn't really work on graphics. Instead most of the day was spent building a diorama. The pix will be uploaded soon.
Az far as permission goes. I have the attitude of use it till we are told we cant. But I have been kicked out Canada so I may not be the best person to listen to.
Will try to keep working on graphix later this week. Have some non-sw stuff going on. I do have at least 2 more ads that I have taken pictures for. Just need to nail the captions before I finalize them.
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dj121
BCA Member
Posts: 47
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Post by dj121 on Feb 2, 2009 16:37:26 GMT -6
Hey Darth Dianthus, that little Vader is from a Star Wars monopoly set. They are cast in pewter, and over time they do tarnish a bit like silver. So it could very well have a gold tone to it already, albeit unintentional. I have the same tokens and they all kinda look a little gold-ish now.
Maybe we coule email Lego and ask permission? It's not like it would be distributed for profit. They might give written authorised permission if they are asked about the use of the Lego Vader.
Just a suggestion.
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dj121
BCA Member
Posts: 47
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Post by dj121 on Feb 2, 2009 16:38:39 GMT -6
OOPS !!!! Sorry Empy, I didn't even see the post that you were a step ahead of me on the permission trail! Good luck!!
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Post by Darth Dianthus on Feb 2, 2009 18:41:15 GMT -6
Great idea, Empy; no harm in asking! I really do like LEGO Vader, I think he is close to perfect in suggesting "collecting star wars", so if we get permission (or - and I am not recommending this - decide to ignore the issue entirely) then it gets my vote. You are right, apart from LFL IP, there will be issues with any commercial item used. I know it probably seems so unlikely that we would get into trouble, but especially when it comes to having a "clean" image for potential sponsors, it is not an issue I believe we should ignore. Also, LEGO is particularly litigious, and they have gone after non-profit websites before. Their fairplay page makes it clear that they will not tolerate anything that suggests sponsorship of a website by LEGO, or association with them. Az far as permission goes. I have the attitude of use it till we are told we cant. But I have been kicked out Canada so I may not be the best person to listen to. Ha, seriously? What did you do? Try to pay for a $6 item using only nickels?
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Post by Darth Boobius on Feb 3, 2009 13:29:27 GMT -6
Well I guess you guys got the badges under control, nice job Empy!
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Post by Empress Palpatine on Feb 3, 2009 17:00:07 GMT -6
LEGO Direct Ref.024820930A; EN-CA Thank you for contacting us on 02/02/09 and for your interest in LEGO® brand products. Our copyright materials, such as brand names and trademarks, can be used for personal and non-commercial projects or activities only. Please be sure to spell the brand name "LEGO" in capital letters and use it as an adjective and not a noun, for example you should write "Models built of LEGO bricks" and not "Models built of Legos". The first time you use the word "LEGO" it should be followed by the "®" symbol for registered trademark. Please note that we cannot grant permission to use the red LEGO logo. For more information on this issue, please consult our Fair Play policy, which can be found on our website at www.LEGO.com/info/fairplay.asp. Thank you again for contacting us. We wish your family many happy hours of creative building with LEGO brand toys in the years to come. Sharee LEGO Direct Consumer Services ^ Reply e-mail - forwarding to BCA e-mail account. Thanks, Boobius. ;D
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Post by Darth Dianthus on Feb 4, 2009 16:59:11 GMT -6
Thanks, Empress!
An interesting response; I wish they could have said, "Gold Vader minifig statue Yes" or "Gold Vader minifig statue No" rather than giving us the boilerplate from their fairplay page. Particularly as, if we will have a problem, it will not be with the use if their IP per se but whether they believe that having a minifig as our statue constitutes an attempt to portray or suggest sponsorship or association with them. Sheesh - expecting a clear answer from a corporate legal department, what's my problem?
So what do you guys think, is LEGO (sorry, the LEGO® group of companies) saying we can have gold Vader as our statue or not?
To me, it seems like, Empy asked, and they didn't say 'no'. Maybe that is as close to a 'yes' as a corporate legal department gets.
Anyway, we have two entries for potential statues so far, both Vaders, one LEGO, one monopoly. Are there any other ideas for a statue or is a gold Vader the unbeatable way to suggest Star Wars collecting?
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Post by Empress Palpatine on Feb 4, 2009 17:23:59 GMT -6
Since I don't think we can be seen as being "commercial", I think they stick us in the category of being too harmless to be noticed, therefore they'd be happy to ignore us, as long as we use capital letters and an R in a circle.
Jawas are the collectors of the Star Wars galaxy, I think they could be a fair option, but they don't quite have the recognition factor Vader holds.
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Post by Darth Dianthus on Feb 5, 2009 16:36:17 GMT -6
The Jawas! Of course, you had used them to good effect in the BCA badge you made, yet I completely forgot about them!
I agree with you on your analysis of the LEGO® response, although I think they have left themselves the option of deciding later that we are either commercial or using their IP in a bad way. But yeah, gold minifig Vader statue is definitely back in the running for the honour of being our statue!
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Post by Darth Vilgore on Feb 5, 2009 18:38:35 GMT -6
Yeah I see the point that anything licenced could be an issue.
However we are a non commercial Site. And if we do get "Paying" sponsers than we should keep track of our records and have that money go to pay for better prizes. (I know this is something that is a non-issue right now, but I also serve the master of completeness).
I'm Cool with whichever we decide to use as a logo. I just made one to give options. I'm sure I'll have 2 more soon just because.
I can (and plan) on tweeking the pewter statue that I have already done. Bacically it was kinda a test shot to see if you guys liked it and if I should keep spending my time on it.
Ali Fett has suggested something unheard of. Since we are all about a contest. Then hold a special catagory next cycle for people to submit their creations to be our new logo.
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Post by Darth Vilgore on Feb 5, 2009 18:49:06 GMT -6
DD: Ha, seriously? What did you do? Try to pay for a $6 item using only nickels?
As funny as that is.....no.
I accidently got caught riding my motorcycle without a motorcycle licence a few dozen times.
Anyway bacically its not a ticket, you have to appear in court.
And I didn't appear in court a few timez. (they wanted me up early. That wasnt easy to do after a night of drinking)
So they'd sent the cops to my house to arrest me and "make" me appear.
Anyway like 3 years go by and I had not been in trouble. So I had a load going to Canada (in my 18 wheeler). The Mounties ask me if I've ever been arrested. So I was honest and told them Hell NO!! What Do I Look like a delinquent? (seriously I told them I had)
So heres the thing. Riding a motorcycle without a licence. Mistermeaner. (Florida and Canada)
Not appearing in court, Mistermeaner in Florida. Felony in Canada.
Anyway they took me and my g/f (now my wife Ali) to seperate interogation rooms and asked about my horrible life of crime. They unceremonyously asked me to leave their fine country and not come back for five years after getting written permission from the counsulors office.
I crossed the border one time after that by accident and got my happy self back to the states before I was caught.
I have not tried going back to Canada.
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Post by Darth Vilgore on Feb 7, 2009 14:57:58 GMT -6
Empress. I am currently working on a few ads with Jawas in them. Just gonna take me a bit more time to get the perfect captions nailed.
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Post by Empress Palpatine on Feb 7, 2009 17:15:43 GMT -6
Good. I'm afraid I gave up on trying to find a jawa image I liked. Jawas are very under-represented in image searches, it seems.
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Post by Darth Vilgore on Feb 21, 2009 9:01:52 GMT -6
This thread has been quiet. What was ever decided for our logo?
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