Incitement to Radical Action!!!!!!! Boycot UP

[Anonymous]

Well James, I guess that will work ... until BNSF starts THEIR fee !!!

Sorry!
Couldn't resist!
Glad you didn't leave!

I wonder when MAYTAG will start THEIR fee for the CRIP ???

[Anonymous]

BNSF is to PR concious to go through such shinanagans. When Walthers Came out with the Dash 8 40B BNSF Paid Walthers to do one in BNSF colors. Keep in mind the models came out before any of the prototypes were repainted All becasue BNSF wanted the models out. It harkens back to the days when Santa Fe paid Lionel to do its F-3s in the Warbonnet Scheme.

James

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Conrail Guy

HERES A GOOD IDEA! WHY DOESN'T EVERRYONE ONE SHUT THE **** UP ABOUT UP! I'M SO SICK OF UP THIS AND UP THAT! UP SUCKS! BOYCOTT UP! FORGET THIS AND START TALKING ABOUT MODEL RAILROADING!Phew got that out of my system.

No one is forcing you to read these threads. If you don't like them, don't read the.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ACL Fan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Conrail Guy

HERES A GOOD IDEA! WHY DOESN'T EVERRYONE ONE SHUT THE **** UP ABOUT UP! I'M SO SICK OF UP THIS AND UP THAT! UP SUCKS! BOYCOTT UP! FORGET THIS AND START TALKING ABOUT MODEL RAILROADING!Phew got that out of my system.

No one is forcing you to read these threads. If you don't like them, don't read the.

Crap...this is twice I'm agreeing with ACL. See what you guys are doing to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Can I throw out an upside to all of this? Well I am anyway! With UP lisceninig there products, hopefully they will make the the MRR companies make more prototypical models. I know most are highly detailed and right on but now every detail could be correct down to the rivets (great news for all the rivett counters out there). Instead of using stock equipment and just painting different roadnames maybe they'll start producing each roadnames distinct different cars or engines.
On another note do we need so many different UP/csx liscening topics? Would it kill us to let some die and save one or two for the front page so I don't have to scroll through so many topics dealing with the same thing.
Andrew Miller

[Anonymous]

I agree w/ Andrew's post above re: let this topic die, and consolidate the whole damn UP royalties / licensing topic under one thread, if it must be discussed at all. Right now this Forum is so preoccupied with this UP stuff, it seems analogous to Chicken Little screaming "The sky is falling !"

I think that AntonioFP45 has the right idea, and he has initiated a topic that proposes a far more productive approach to consider for everyone concerned about this UP directive adding to the cost of our hobby, whether we model UP or a 'fallen flag'. ( Refer to "Let's do something positive and realistic regarding this boycott" ) I suggest that topic should be the central focal point for any mature suggestions that will address the real issue(s) at hand.

It's about the money isn't it? It should be, because we can affect what direction the manufacturers take, but we'll not have one iota of influence over UP if we, as a group, threaten to boycott UP branded models. Admittedly, from my prespective anyway, UP hasn't demonstrated particularly fine-honed public relations skills as of late, and they're not alone in corporate America these days.

Guys and gals, flaming each other and getting close to a coronary over this issue is dumb. Why not take a different approach and lets collectively explore a way to nip any price gouging issue in advance. The more facts we have, the better equipped we'll be, as a group, to confront the model manufacturers and distributors, in a professional manner, where they can clearly calculate how much money they will lose if they attempt to treat us as hayseed turkeys that just fell off the turnip truck.. There is strength in numbers.

In other words, if they screw w/ us we'll spend our money elsewhere, and that is the message we probably should send. . .

If each manufacturer decides to add a licensing / royality price adder for the fee imposed on them that is not proportionate to the real cost of that fee, and if that fee is uniformly excessive (perhaps even a form of price fixing), we'll then make enough noise for at least a couple of 'ambulance chasers' to nail them. (I'm sure that there are more than a few lawyers that are also model railroaders.) I don't think that the legitimate manufacturers would be so arrogant to allow it to escalate that far, although I could see them trying to amotize the adder across their product line. If they're reasonable in how they do that, the actual cost increase to us should be negligable.

As it has been pointed out already, the subject of licensing and royalty payments affects many products we buy and its going to be with us for a long time. Auto manufacturers collect a royalty in some fashion from all the model cars manufacturers. It seems to affect the little guys - the model car cottage industry - the hardest. I suspect that problem will unfortunately filter down to model railroading speciality suppliers such as makers of UP specific diesel details, decal makers, limited run craftsman kits of specific UP prototypes, and even some paint manufacturers that may have to come out w/ substitute names for prototype UP colors. {How about "Miss Piggy yellow" and "three blind mice gray"? }

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745

Can I throw out an upside to all of this? Well I am anyway! With UP lisceninig there products, hopefully they will make the the MRR companies make more prototypical models.

I wi***hat too but if you see what type unrealistic stuff MTH makes (IE UP AC6000 in the wrong paint scheme) you know it won't happen. UP just used that as an excuse to do this.

[Anonymous]

I agree 100% with what Union Pacific is doing. they are well within their rights. they are not charging even a tiny fraction of what other companies charge for the use of their trademarks. Union Pacific models will now and always find a home on my layout (as long as they are appropriate for my era and location).

why dont we hear all this whining and crying when it comes to Amtrak granting an exclusive license to Walthers for use of their logo? or why doesnt everyone cry about every other company and sports team that charges outrageous prices for the use of their logos?

i guess it is that no one likes change. and everyone, having been brainwashed by the liberal media, loves to pick on big corporations.


long live Union Pacific Railroad.

[Anonymous]

I model Union Pacific, and will keep on doing so, To think it will somehow hurt UP by not buying models of their equipment is stupid, They are only doing what they have the legal right to do, Protect their trademark, and you can rest assured that other Class 1 Railroads will follow suit, so what will all you whiners and boycotters model then? Maybe you"ll sell all your models, and take up playing Golf.

Mac

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TA462

I just went from Golf to model railroading.[:D] Its funny no matter what your hobby is people find things to complain about. I was sick of the golf world, people complaining about club sizes and balls, etc. Everybody trying to keep up with the latest equipment etc. I was fed up with it so I decided to try model railroading. I decided to model Union Pacific because I really liked the looks of their stuff. Turns out I may have made a mistake, I should have just went with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, being I'm Canadian.

I disagree with you TA462. Go ahead and model Union Pacific--it's your railroad. Don't allow anything to detract from your enjoyment of a great hobby--people, licensing issues or what have you. [8D]

[Anonymous]

TA462.....Don"t let the UP Bashers get you down, They are in the minority, They just spout off a lot.


Mac

[AggroJones]

I think the majority group here are the Canadians!

[jabrown1971]

Yes-let it die.....but let me eulogize first. Everyone puts a trademark on their products. Amtrak is a trademark, Greyhound is a trademark, Union Pacific is a trade mark.......see my point. Let the UP license their products, and get an exclusive deal with one manufacturer-Kato comes to mind. I don't see how prices could go higher than they have already. You all mean to tell me you won't pay an extra dollar for a UP shield, but you will pay 275 and up for a model with sound and ditch lights and not think twice. I personally pay extra for the DCC decoders even though I don't use them. Come on-let's wake up and smell the diesel here. No boycott for UP, but maybe UP products would start disappearing from manufacturers cataloges. The music industry is suing people who download off the internet, so of course UP will go after custom painters and those who do their own. Remember anyone can paint Armour yellow, scarlet red and gray on a GP40, but the decals in the end will come from-a UP licsened manufacturer, they will get their money in the end. Now I better quit typing UP so much or I will be infringing on a trademark.......................UP Yours..........repectfully