No more UP for me!

[Anonymous]

I have decided that I am only going to buy Lionel Lines, BNSF, NS, and their predecessor lines. That's all! Hey, it's a free country, and I have the right NOT to buy, just like they have the right to charge for their name! No complaints here.

[Anonymous]

To each his own said the woman when she kissed her cow. But my guess is that if the courts rule in favor of UP, which I'm almost sure they will, other railroads will follow suit. I personally think you guys are getting all worked up for nothing. Have you purchased any John Deere, NASCAR, or other "name brand" toys? I'm sure you have. The cost includes licensing to these companies. Why shouldn't UP get theirs as well[?]

And while we're at it, how much of a jump in price should be expected? It shouldn't be that much, but knowing Lionel they'll cry and milk it for all it's worth. If they had followed the rules and gone along to begin with, it would not have come to this. I mean if you can buy a NASCAR die cast for $4.99 at Wal-Mart with all its heavy licensing on it, I'm sure the cost won't be that high for this mess.

And I might add that if Lionel and Athearn had done the right thing (it is the right thing because UP owns these TMs!) years ago, you would now be paying included in your price, a fee to UP. The only reason we all know anything about this is because the Brady bunch at Lionel is a bunch of cry babies. If this were my TM they were using and not paying me royalites, you can better your sweet boiler that I'd have them in court!

[Anonymous]

Kent,

I'm with you. It's not just the increased cost that I can't afford, It's the principle of this whole STUPID mess. Yee Gads! I have ten times the number of cars that I need or can run, so I do not feel that I am cutting off my nose to spite my face.

If I see that any particular manufacturer is pricing their PU cars higher than the others I will continue to buy their other roadnames. BUT, if they price all cars the same and spread out the PU "ransom" over their whole line, then they just lost me as a customer. Am I hurting myself? I really don't think so.

A thought... What if I started the "UP Decal Company" that produced only UP decals. Might the overall dollar value of these decals fall under the trigger point for licensing? Of couirse that would never happen, mainly because everyone wants painted lettering. I don't see many O Gaugers painting and decaling their rolling stock. Just maybe the 2 rail scale guys.

These are interesting times.

Tony

[Big_Boy_4005]

If you guys want to register your opinions on this whole mess, I have started a poll over on MR. My theory is that all of this negative publicity may make UP license fees almost worthless. I feel that UP has over estimated the value of it's logo. Modelers just aren't that attached and loyal to UP. There are plenty of other railroads.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16778

[Anonymous]

Elliot

It cost UP money to make their name valuable enough for Lionel to want to use. Why should Lionel use it for FREE??

Boycott the guy who steals it not the guy whose paid money to make it worth something !!


Alan

Alan

[Allen Jenkins]

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/ba/06-03-04-307130.html , so, what's all your paranoia about the fact your using a product un- regulated by and unauthorized by the very entity that carved a life out of this great land. Here, in a moment of hesitation, a corporate, is to pay out the *** for just what a part of the environment has incurred opon the rights of way, and so needed it is, to compensate for punitive damages, which will never be repaid. Sony finances a video, played on MTV, "Big Locomotive," 1989, which depicts a UP DD40X in a high speed collision on a basement model railroad. Get It? A BASEMENT MODEL RAILROAD! Shows the world how.... Then Areosmith, bless their hearts, produced "Living on the Edge." ....and so. What would you do? The law can't touch this, the only legal rercouse is to do formally what is being done. And, at the expense of higher pricing (also called the cost of doing business), remember, these companies, howerver cherished, however loved, are actually, flagrantly breaking the very copyright laws they would use to sue your very *** off with. So use the bandwidth for something constructive. Save a life, or something. Many threads are under-way to suggest Uncle Pete should just kick the bucket! Enjoy Getting Over It!acj.

[nblum]

Well, personally, UP can put any price they like on their trademark. I consider it without value and could care less if Lionel and Athearn and every other manufacturer decides to never again produce a single piece of UP rolling stock. The railroads used to be a romantic, essential part of every American's daily life. Now they are part of the scenery, and ugly scenery at that, IMO. Lionel and Athearn owe UP nothing for all the years they used the trademark unmolested, the law is clear on that. Now's the time to negotiate a fee free use of UP trademarks with UP having approval over the design work, and have an end to the corporate posturing and bullying. If not, I say, a model railroader, to heck with the UP, if I never see another new UP model, it's OK with me :).

[Anonymous]

There's already too much corporate greed going on in America and elsewhere today. This UP controversy is just a minnow in a sea and no one is going to pay any attention to a bunch of model railroaders whining and moaning. Just get over it![:0]

[Anonymous]

OOOK!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies, guys, and I apologize if I offended anyone, because that was not my intention. I'm not going to debate the legal merits or who's right or wrong, because I really don't care. I just don't want to support all this legal wrangling with my dollars. If BNSF wants to do this, then I won't buy new Santa Fe product either.... I will just buy postwar and prewar. Sound stupid? That's okay, it's a free country, and I really don't need to buy any of this stuff to be happy. I'm just tired of the crapola. And I like the earlier stuff.... It makes me forget about the nonsense and stupidity of today. Once again, I apologize to anyone who takes offense.... but I guess I can't help that anyway....

[3railguy]

Mr Santa-Fe Kent. You said nothing offensive. I would not let any responses bother you. The purpose of this wonderful hobby is to relax. If it bothers you that you have to pay the UP to relax, by all means don't buy any UP equipment!! How can you relax when the UP is sticking their hands in your wallet? I know I sure couldn't, I'd plead rape. You are entitled to your feelings and your right to relax however you want to.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AlanHN

Elliot

It cost UP money to make their name valuable enough for Lionel to want to use. Why should Lionel use it for FREE??

Boycott the guy who steals it not the guy whose paid money to make it worth something !!


Alan

Alan

I'm sorry Alan, but I think you have this backward. Lionel stole NOTHING, UP turned a blind eye for 100 years. UP's logo isn't worth a nickel, if modelers don't want to pay for it. Lionel is just the middle man here, they produce what they think we want to buy. If we say we won't buy UP, it's no skin off Lionel's nose, they just won't make it. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

No more UP for me either, unless they make it in Z scale.

[Anonymous]

I may have exhausted my point in the other thread, but I would't pay for another U.P. I only have the few that I have since I liked the paint. Give me a U.P. and I'll take it, ask me to pay for one, no way!! For me its not whose right or wrong it is all about principle.
We as americans have the right to buy what ever we want. I wouldn't give them another dime.
Angelo

[Anonymous]

People, people!!!! Have we not we discussed, debated, talked about, reviewed, analyzed, mentioned, gone over, argued, complained about, and considered this matter enough yet? Let's move on--we'll live.

See you around the forums (and different topics),
Daniel