cacoleFor some reason everyone jumped into UP's case about this but didn't mention that NS and CSX have been doing the same for many years.If you read the very fine print on some of the Walthers, Athearn, and other advertisements in Model Railroader you'll see phrases like 'Union Pacific licensed product,' 'CSX proprietary marks used by permission,' etc. BNSF is just jumping on the gravy train after seeing everyone else get by with it.
For some reason everyone jumped into UP's case about this but didn't mention that NS and CSX have been doing the same for many years.
If you read the very fine print on some of the Walthers, Athearn, and other advertisements in Model Railroader you'll see phrases like 'Union Pacific licensed product,' 'CSX proprietary marks used by permission,' etc. BNSF is just jumping on the gravy train after seeing everyone else get by with it.
If I'm not mistaken it was a token fee to insure the trademark/copyright was protected and did not result in a cash grab. In this regard I have no objections, My issue is and I've said it before "They" get free advertizing and we get a product reasonably priced and... (this will open a can of worms) are not paying for someone's name. BNSF it in the "moving industry" not the Fashion and entertainment underside of the food chain.
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If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Heartland Division CB&Q Imagine, if you will, a world with no lawyers. .....................
Imagine, if you will, a world with no lawyers. .....................
Yes, everytime I pay car insurance, home insurance, and watch cheesy lawyers commercials about how I should sue everybody and anybody for any reason.
Be careful, I expressed my opinion about lawyers here not long ago and you would have thought everyone here is a lawyer.
It didn't change my opinion though......
Back to the thread topic, it is very dis-heartening to see this happen again after the drama with the UP about the same thing, I wonder if MTH will step up again?
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
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Then God help us all since we would have no legal protection not even from the rough cops.
CSX and Amtrak requires a fee.
UP still requires a fee..
IMHO they are well within their legal rights to protect their copyrighted logo.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I imagine that world every single day...
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
It might not necessarily be a hard up for money thing, it could be that the BNSF name is a trademark and they would basically just be seeking the rightful payment for the use of that trademark. Just like Revell-Monogram has to seek the permission from GM, Ford, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, ect when they build scale models of vehicles, aircraft, ect. I don't exactly agree with it since all it means is a price increase, but at the same time, its something that would be "right" in the sense of the law.
I haven't seen this posted yet but if it was disregard.
I was reading in another magazine BNSF has decided it will do what UP was going to do and that is to seek royalties from the MR industry. One would think after the UP proposal and subsequent agreement, negotiated by Mr. Wolf, we wouldn't be reliving this. BNSF must be hard up for cash I guess?
Fergie