Joe Handley Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Has anybody noticed if VW is going nuts on licesning stuff lately? HPI Racing has had to kill their "1/10th" Baja Bug body and now I've notice that they've killed their "bug" body for the E-Savage Monster Truck as well as the RTR model that used that shell, somebody on RCCrawler has discovered that Losi has killed off all of their RTR's using "Bug" styled bodies, and now I've found that Revell of Germany has no Beetle models on their website! The only place so far I can find a "Bug" looking vehicle is on Tamiya's US site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAL Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Has anybody noticed if VW is going nuts on licesning stuff lately? HPI Racing has had to kill their "1/10th" Baja Bug body and now I've notice that they've killed their "bug" body for the E-Savage Monster Truck as well as the RTR model that used that shell, somebody on RCCrawler has discovered that Losi has killed off all of their RTR's using "Bug" styled bodies, and now I've found that Revell of Germany has no Beetle models on their website! The only place so far I can find a "Bug" looking vehicle is on Tamiya's US site Kind of a on going problem with VW/Audi I am surprised the R8 and R10 was released. They say their very greedy with licensing and want all the money. That is why there was never a A4 kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerc Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I've never gotten around the idea of why some companies are so stupid with licensing. Hell, a model kit is like a free ad for them! On a different are...Think of what the Gran Turismo game series has done for some cars like the Subaru WRX. Me being Volkswagen? I'd let kit manufacturers license my stuff, but then I would make sure they do accurate stuff. I still have a nice Baja Bug body on my Tamiya Super G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Jessee Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 "Herbie" never did have VW identification in the original or subsequent films. It was not referred to as a VW, Volkswagen, Beetle, or anything else except "Herbie" or "the little car." That was some decision on the part of Buena Vista Films. I'm not sure of the reason. But "Herbie" has never carried VW markings. Even the hubcaps on the film car are just baby moons. Terry First I've heard of it, but I do recall when Polar Lights issued their "Herbie the Love Bug" kit, it had no VW markings anywhere on it. Perhaps that was an attempt to get around the licensing which may have eventually led to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 According to wikipedia, all VW emblems and markings were removed from the Herbie cars to avoid any trademark issues. Odd, because actual Beetles were placed in theater lobbies or out in front of the theaters for some of the movie premiers. The cars were not provided by VW, however, but by local dealers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasman Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Fujimi has a current VW GTI kit out (MKV, the 2006-2009 body style, its on my bench right now). Tamiya is the only other manufactuer that I can think of currently has a VW kit. Did'nt Revell AG have a VW Bus out recently? I know Revell's new Beetle kit if discountinued a few years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 There's that old VW kit from Japan with Nazi markings (unless the Aryan Brotherhood demanded too much for royalties)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick F40 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 (edited) I've never gotten around the idea of why some companies are so stupid with licensing. Hell, a model kit is like a free ad for them! On a different are...Think of what the Gran Turismo game series has done for some cars like the Subaru WRX. Me being Volkswagen? I'd let kit manufacturers license my stuff, but then I would make sure they do accurate stuff. I still have a nice Baja Bug body on my Tamiya Super G. SWEET! pics? I agree though. Can you imagine with the Sand Scorcher body??? Edited August 27, 2008 by Nick F40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerc Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 SWEET! pics? I agree though. Can you imagine with the Sand Scorcher body??? I'll take pics tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Fujimi has a current VW GTI kit out (MKV, the 2006-2009 body style, its on my bench right now). Tamiya is the only other manufactuer that I can think of currently has a VW kit. Did'nt Revell AG have a VW Bus out recently? I know Revell's new Beetle kit if discountinued a few years ago I wonder if Fujimi will do the new Scirocco? That would be cool... I'd love to see some more current Audi kits besides the R8....I'd love to see the RS4, S5, S8, and TTS kitted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick F40 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I wonder if Fujimi will do the new Scirocco? That would be cool... I'd love to see some more current Audi kits besides the R8....I'd love to see the RS4, S5, S8, and TTS kitted... MEEE TOO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAL Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 MEEE TOO! Probably wont happen until Porsche buys VW, and it's coming sooner than later. My brother who works pretty far up in Bentely said the other day look out.... most of VW/Audi USA corp people are getting the axe because of how poorly they have performed - consider that VW is and has been in the top 5 biggest manufactures for a long time and America is the largest market for autos; however, for VW the States is one of their smallet markets. It doesn't add up, well because by and large VW has never been one to build cars for Americans. Nevertheless, Porsche has been pretty good about licensing. They keep a very close eye on it, but are reasonable about what they charge. So when that all happens and the dust settles it will change for VW/Audi too. But understand you have two forces that are at work here when it comes to licensing. 1. the Legal aspect. VW or anyone else doesn't want some 3rd part to do anything that may damage their image intentionally or invertantly - so you have the lawyers say protect yourself protect yourself protect yourself, which cost money. 2. The finacial aspect, where it's costing them to protect themself and the bean counters are saying you really need to be collecting royalties for what is basically our product. Agreed that some companies take this to a whole new level and are just not worth dealing with. Again though, the two toughest companies out there on licensing and keeping track of it.... Ferrari, who are just insane about it, but will work with you, and as already mentioned Porsche. Porsche WILL find you if you are using any of there stuff without asking, right down to the font, no mater how small or under the radar you may be. They will find you and you will get a Cease and Desist order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted August 31, 2008 Author Share Posted August 31, 2008 From what we've gotten at work for from Horizon Hobby (Losi's parent company), htey have been told to take all their bug looking products off teh amrket by VW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronw Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Fujimi has a current VW GTI kit out (MKV, the 2006-2009 body style, its on my bench right now). Tamiya is the only other manufactuer that I can think of currently has a VW kit. Did'nt Revell AG have a VW Bus out recently? I know Revell's new Beetle kit if discountinued a few years ago Revell had a Golf(?) GTI a few years back, late 90's-2000ish version. It will always be the Rabbit to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmvw guy Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Maybe I should take vw out of my user name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I see so many posts on here about why manufacturers would make it so hard to pay for and get licensing for model kits. Forget about "free advertising." It isn't there. Listen, the manufacturers make tons of money from licensing their logo to a million different entities, and model kits are not at the top of their list. They don't see it as "free advertising," which they don't need at all, but as an income opportunity. Just stop thinking about the supposed advantages, which don't exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Maybe I should take vw out of my user name? You win this month's "Resurrecting the Oldest Thread" award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmvw guy Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 You win this month's "Resurrecting the Oldest Thread" award. Thanks Harry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 We had two in one day Guys, the Lindberg/Palmer Challenger thread popped up too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Will this make older releases of vw kits worth more?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 Doubt it, I think VW had been flexing their legal muscle at that time since all of the VW/Audi r/c stuff came up at the same time. They have since allowed other stuff to be made or modified enough to be legally reissued as a VW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 You win this month's "Resurrecting the Oldest Thread" award. You mean to say ... the sky fell ... 4 years ago ... and we hardly noticed? Whoa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyBad Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Sooo, My question is.... When is a topic too old to be replied too? And if when... why don't old topics past that date be erased or deleted? Just wondering..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielG Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 You mean to say ... the sky fell ... 4 years ago ... and we hardly noticed? Whoa. Good grief, I sell the stuff and I TOTALLY missed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenrat Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Sooo, My question is.... When is a topic too old to be replied too? And if when... why don't old topics past that date be erased or deleted? Just wondering..... I think it depends on what your reply is. Asking for an update is one thing. Replying as though it's just a current thread is another. At least give a clue that you realise how old the thread is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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