AcademyofDrX wrote:primalxconvoy wrote:I believe that, although they own the IP, Hasbro can't make TOYS that are identical to the original Bandai versions, as they don't own the rights to them. Takara, in Japan, can't have anything to do with them, as it's Hasbro that owns the rights to everything but the original molds outside Japan.
This is false. Toy likenesses aren't protected IP. Toys are generally governed by patents, which are limited, and expire after twenty years.
That's not completely true. Although in the case of most TF toys, it's the insignia, character names, etc that are legally protected (via patents, copyrights, etc), making full copies of products can be illegal. Usually, it's up to the IP holder to make a claim, which is why so many knockoff or "3P" products are "legal". However, if Bandai wanted to take action against Hasbro for, say, making near identical (Gobots) products, then they might have a case.
The difficulties with IP are linked to the issues you have stated, but they're also linked to others and aren't so black and white.
Similar issues have arisen regarding "Robotech" and other IP from Japan too, and these have occurred after 20 years of expiry.