Were there always Trademark Licenses for model kits ?

[Greg Myers]

I was thinking about this the other day. When the model car industry really got started they were mostly based on Promotional kits. or at best kits based on the car manufactures Promo's. Did they need Licenses to sell these kits?

What if the model company's didn't need to licenses trademarks to sell kits? Where would we be today? What would the kits be like?

By the way the new '57 Ford (registered trademark) has " No Name" tires.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Greg Myers

[High octane]

While I'm not 100% sure, I would say that the model companies ALWAYS had to have licenses to produce any model car whether it was a promo or kit.

[wisdonm]

Heck no. Some greedy corporate lawyers thought up this way to nickle and dime the industry. They say they are protecting their intellectual property. They should be paying us to display their products. It used to be that when you bought something automotive, they included free decals, in hopes that you would display them and thereby give them free advertising.

Goodyear and Bosch started this nonsense, and I have been using Hoosier decals instead, ever since.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Harry P.

[lordairgtar]

There have been liscensing agreements since the beginning. It was different years ago however. Some auto companies approached the model companies to make promos (JoHan, AMT, MPC) with the knowledge that perhaps kits would be developed from them. A liscense was just that, an agreement between two companies. As Don said, lawyers got involved or accountants thinking a bit of money can be made here. Also, companies are becoming increasingly protective of their property, trademarks and processes.