U.P. move shocks model railroaders - Omaha World-Herald

I haven't seen much new in the way of body styles. Mostly old die jobs wrapped up in new paint schemes. Newer 80s and 90s car model years excepted of course, but even those are pretty rare from what little I've looked.

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

So how about if we drop athletics and replace it with "straight A student". Does that change the equation any? If he worked, the GPA would probably suffer some.

Let kids be kids. The cold hard reality of the adult world will slap him upside the head in, oh, about 6 months. Let him enjoy the few months he has left. We waited 17-1/2 years. I for one can wait another 6 months.

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

Actually, a recent cover article in "Model Retailer" magazine (a Kalmbach publication) had a manufacturer state that the licensing agreements to make new model car kits cost just as much as the tooling. The article went on to say that this is a prime reason why there are not too many new kit releases coming out anymore. Also, that manufacturers would rather re-release older kits so as not to have to deal with new agreements. Sure, die-cast and other interests are not helping, but do not minimize the effects of high cost licensing agreements. It's a real problem for that (and possibly this) hobby...

Paul A. Cutler III

An interesting post, which confirms the views held by many who have contributed to this discussion.

My other concern is this: If UP feel they are entitled to license their artwork and paint, how long before the manufacturers of locomotives and rolling stock decide to jump on the bandwagon?

Interesting. Do you know if the lisence with the prototype car manufacturers (Johnstown, Trinity, etc.) or with the prototype railroads the cars are lettered for?

Mark, I gather that the article mentioned was referring to model automobiles, rather than railroad cars. But your question is related to the comment that I made in response to Paul's post. If UP can license the reproduction of their artwork and livery, what's to stop EMD, or Bombardier from licensing reproductions of the actual equipment?

Oh yeah, taken in context I can see that now.

Maybe, just maybe. But it is a tough world out there, and it starts YOUNG. He might be the rare exception, but in general, this recipe I have seen not work 1000s of times.

What is to stop them is the US Copyright office. If they can copyright a design shape, then OK. But that is hard to do.

1. Pretty much ALL companies license their logos for other manufacturers to use on different products. Even Lionel charges Hallmark when they produce those little train ornaments. Even football teams charge a fee to put their logo on hats and shirts.

1. This would actually be more expensive than what UP has done. Remember, if a company has sales below ,000 there is no fee at all! UP is looking out for the little guy.

2. When was Santa Fe running F3's? Wasn't that 50 years ago? When they at least had passenger trains the public was familiar with? How many successful companies are still running their business the exact same way they did 50 years ago?

Kent in SD

If that is the case, then on what basis do the automobile manufacturers license their products?

As far as I know the shape of anything can't be copyrighted however any emblem, name on the shape etc. can. Taking this to the UP case if shapes could be protected then it would be an infringement to model a boxcar for example even though it was nameless. But wait a minute, manufactures sold the same boxcar to many different RRs. Boy we have a mess now. I think what might happen in UPs case is cars will be manufactured without the name. You can then buy the name separately as an inexpensive glue on (decals??). That way all the money UP can make is on a 25 cent decal. That's really going to add up to the bucks.

Only if you're charging people to listen to you. If you do it for free, no problem.

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

automobile requires a license if reproduced as a scale model.< I would very much doubt it however you need to be very careful of advertising. I have seen HO models that are advertised as generic cars of the 50s but are very much a GM car for example!

What do you with a problem like MRIA? Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

Oh. I'd better remove the turnstiles, then. :-)

Only if there's an H-D lawyer in the tub with you.