Subject:
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Ldraw Logo on Studs
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad
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Date:
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Sat, 20 Apr 2002 04:43:02 GMT
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Viewed:
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565 times
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Hey Y'all:
After seeing Hafner's renders of his new Duplo bricks I became intrigued by
the fact that the bricks have studs that read "Ldraw" on them. So I
searched back and found two threads discussing the issue. Now while I don't
expect to change anyone's mind about how the issue has been decided, I think
the decision arrived at may have been the wrong one.
While Ldraw and all of the related tools are intended to visualize
everyone's favorite brand of toy construction bricks, they are not the thing
itself -- or put another way: virtual bricks are not the same as real
bricks. Indeed, there are Ldraw compatible files available to render
Knex-like elements, Mega Bloks-like elements, and possibly other
construction toy/clone-like elements. Soon, there may even be hybrid
elements being developed, or in other instances elements for which there are
no commercial precedents -- original creations in the Ldraw format. Ldraw is
a thing very uniquely itself and I don't think there is anyone, or any
corporation, that can say even as little as "boo" about it.
Commercial construction toy companies may or may not have their own CAD
render software, but I am going to assume it is not Ldraw in any case. If
they happen to have some kind of proprietary software -- well, fine -- I
expect we would not be allowed to use it and we might even see some
litigation over the matter if anyone did try to use it. But Ldraw is not
proprietary. Nor was it created for a commercial usage. TLC has its CAD
software, and we have our own -- created by, supported by, used by, and
owned by the Ldraw user community.
Further, I can't see that there are any issues concerning rights to
copyright, trademark, or even a probably nonexistent rights of publicity if
Ldraw decides NOT to use the "Lego" logo. Whereas alternatively, if Ldraw
DOES choose to officially sanction the use of the Lego logo, as it
apparently has at the behest of TLC's attorneys, it may be setting a
dangerous precedent. If nothing else, EVERY instance of use of the Lego
logo will be subject to possible review and possible sanction (penalty) from
TLC. Isn't that giving them a little to much say in how things are done,
or how they might progress? These virtual bricks do not belong to anyone,
but more especially they do not belong to TLC. Personally, I don't at all
like the idea that any Ldraw activities are being "allowed" by the leave of
The Lego Company -- that's just not the correct spirit of things Ldraw-wise.
In the instance of Brickfest where apparently a banner was hung with an
Ldraw logo bearing "Lego" marked studs, I think that should have been
considered a favor to TLC but not something that should have been in any way
considered to be required of Ldraw.org. I can well see that in the spirit
of cooperation members of Ldraw.org thought "Sure, why not? We give them
'Lego' marked studs, they give us a venue to discuss Ldraw tools." So
please undestand that I am not really questioning that decision as such,
although it is a related issue. What I am questioning more specifically is
the use of the "Lego" logo in user created Ldraw tools -- particularly in
tools like L3PAO.
That L3PAO should have been designed such that it renders the "Lego" logo
more or less automatically is causing hundreds if not thousands of persons
to infringe the Trademark rights of TLC without even giving it much thought.
But in reality, Ldraw bricks have nothing to do with TLC at all. In fact,
TLC does make commercially available CAD products so I am amazed that they
haven't complained of this feature in L3PAO -- except that they may have
motive. That motive may simply be that they are at the moment considering
L3PAO "Lego" rendered studs a kind of free advertising. If they were to
change their minds about this, they could claim infringement of the use of
their trademarked logo at any time...
Even if one rejects all of the above for one reason or another -- I can't
see why Ldraw.org is so willing to give up this GREAT opportunity to brand
their own name upon bricks virtual. Why are they giving away the
opportunity to brand Ldraw for free?
Some things to think about perhaps?
-- Hop-Frog
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Ldraw Logo on Studs
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| (...) Yes this is TRUE, but LDRAW's (the organization) POLICY is to NEVER EVER create, post, or distribute any other pieces other than Offical LEGO parts! I don't think this policy is EVER going to change for a number of reason; the top two IMO (...) (23 years ago, 20-Apr-02, to lugnet.cad)
| | | Re: Ldraw Logo on Studs
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| (...) Just a quick comment here: I remember having read that LEGO have officially, explicitly said that putting "LDRAW" on studs is bad. If I remember correctly, they objected to this use on a convention poster. Fredrik (23 years ago, 22-Apr-02, to lugnet.cad)
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