RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I thought that the castings were from your own parts with hand carved figures and not cast copies from another manufacturers product. Andy makes a very good point as you can get seriously sued for breaching the intellectual property rights of the original manufacturer if you are not careful, even if the company has discontinued the line. They will still want to protect their goods. They may have the copyright for 10yrs after the goods have been discontinued. Large companies spend millions of pounds protecting their items from people copying their goods and they won't don't differentiate between somebody making a few pounds on e-bay and a copy manufacturer making parts by the 1,000s.

My advice is don't sell something unless you've made it all yourself as it's not worth the risk. The parts that I sold were castings from my own patterns and tempting though it is, there is no way I'd cast a part that somebody else has made. It's too risky.

Fair point,

That said if the original company no longer exists and the models are not being produced by any other manufacturer Im struggling to see the problem.

Copied from originals, not exactly, though cant deny I used them as a basic idea. Nor did I or would I claim they are hand carved I am in the process of making my own models but how original can a US tankers hat in any scale be ?

Not trying to make millions or fleece the proletariat you understand, just provide stuff to fellow model tankers. I will heed your advice and remain positive.

Hi Nic,
COPYRIGHT ,That was my thoughts when first I saw your castings, the field pack/bag looks very much like some I have just bought from a company in the US. Also the jerry can and ammo box look like the Tamiya kit ones. Don't want to be a killjoy here , but be carefull mate.
sparks

OK,
no Tamiya involvement what so ever, like I said nothing I have prototyped from is to the best of my knowledge (and I have done a bit of research on this) in production by any company that currently exists, I have modded it and the Ammo boxes I made myself !! easy with a bit of plasticard and some fine wire
None of the things I am doing are currently in production to the best of my knowledge. Original figures are on the way. Its like having a conversation with your mum.

I hear what your all saying maybe its a trait of our once great nation, that the loudest voices are the critics naysayers and pesimists.

Not sure if its protocol on a forum but if the starter asks for it to be locked would that be possible ? I wont be contributing anymore.

How can a 1/16 jerrycan be copyright, or ammoboxes to for that matter? I know a bunch of companys that makes ammoboxes, jerrycans, showels, axes etc, I presume they allready checked the copyright before making the stuff (or they know its no kopyright/they dont give a crap). I belive you guys dont meen to criticise, just raise a warning hand, me, I just hope to se some more of this splendid stuff, like the field pack and drivers, cant get enough of those

I agree on the fact that it's difficult to not make one thing the same as everybody else when it comes to wheels and jerry cans. I guess nobody would haul you over the coals, it's just that if you were challenged over the jerry you have to prove that you've made the master out of plasticard, or whatever and then cast that from your mould. That way you can prove the provenance of the whole master, casting process and that it belongs to you. What I did for a 1/32 Merlin Engine casting that I produced was take dated photos of the plasticard original and then sent the plastic casting to myself, including the spare mold in the post recorded delivery left un-opened, just in-case another manufacturer thought I'd knicked their original.

I certainly don't want to stop your enterprise at all, just you hear of these big companies like Coca-Cola and Mc donalds suing some poor bugger because he advertised a big mac at his bugger van. I am being overly caustious I guess so I'll shut up now.

I don't think any of us are trying to rain on your parade, just trying to point out any possible pit falls.
But if your happy you've got that covered, then good luck to you.
sparks