[SPLIT LIP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

Really? Looking up "bootleg" on Wikipedia redirects me to counterfeit merchandise, which is explained as "To counterfeit means to imitate something. Counterfeit products are fakes or unauthorized replicas of the real product."

So how can this be a bootleg if there's no real product it replicates?

Are... are you serious?

The product it's replicating is Power Rangers. It doesn't have to be an illicit reproduction of a specific toy, it's still a bootleg because it is replicating a product (more specifically an IP, but that's still a product) the creator does not own.

Maybe "knock off' is more accurate, but if I saw a 'super transform car' that's clearly Bumblebee at Dollerama I'd still call it a bootleg even if it's not technically accurate to any existing figure. It's still not "third party" because again, that's for a third party who's producing the license that's not the license owner or consumer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

When a Transformers fan says 3rd Party they mean "3rd Party Unlicensed," I think. Because unique items which are not directly based on an existing product aren't bootlegs or knockoffs. It's an unlicensed use of copyrighted ideas. And they avoid legal actions by not using trademarked symbols or names to make it harder to work against them.

Oh trust me, it doesn't make it harder at all. Bandai could easily go against these. The only reason Hasbro doesn't (for the most part, Fanstoys Grimlock) is because 3P practically makes no dent in their revenue and they've repeatedly stated their fine with 3P because they target a different market.

Bandai, however, I feel is less secure than that and could easily go after these. Maybe they won't (and I hope they don't because I'm sure plenty of people out there would like some high quality PR statues) but they absolutely can if they deemed it worth their while.

Quote:

I don't know, maybe it's splitting hairs, I'm just interested in this because I wouldn't call a unique figure a bootleg just because it uses an existing design.

It's absolutely splitting hairs, because one way or another, they're not official, and third party in the grander world outside toys refers to something official. "Unlicensed third party" is a misnomer of sorts, akin to saying "unlicensed official."