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> > the Guild of Bricksmiths creates sets, instructions and
> > boxes mimicking Lego products (even using their own bricks) and then sell
> > them for exorbitant amounts of money. How do they get away with it without
> > Lego coming down on them? Only Lego has the answer to that question.
Darn, I am no expert ( DIANE ), but the BrickGuild and the BrickSmiths
"get away with it" the same way that the used CD market and book market
"gets away with it." The courts have some what determined that the re-sale
of items by licensed businesses is within the law and does not violate
copyright, trademark, or intellectual property issues.
The Brick Guild does several things right. First, to be a member you must
qualify (see the website for the details). Next the instructions are created
by hand using LDraw and various other supporting programs. This does not
violate the copyright nor the patents that LEGO Group holds on their
products. Third, the BrickGuild members purchase their products from LEGO
Direct or LEGO Retail and re-sort the bricks into their "Original Sets."
This is essentially the same as a re-seller that purchases the original
components from the manufacturer and sells them to the consumer. Essentially
the Bricksmiths are using LEGO Group as the OEM and then using the parts for
specialized products.
The price is exorbitant because they must purchase several sets or parts
from BrickLink sellers to complete the set. This is an expensive
proposition, as I have learned from assembling my first MOCs. The final
thing that they do right is that they keep under LEGO's radar. I am certain
the powers that be are fully aware of the members of the BrickGuild and are
examining products from their for future MOC line potentials, but their low
volume and high prices keep them selling to an extermely limited market.
Besides their lawyers can always argue that they generate business for the
company through outright purchases of their product, which is never against
the law. Its only against the law to cut the manufacturer out of the
process, not to include them.
My humble Opinion
Todd
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Solid Aluminum 2x4 Bricks!
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| (...) I agree with most of what Todd speculates about with respect to LEGO(r)'s view of things as they relate to Guild of Bricksmiths(tm) operations as probably being accurate speculations (they agree with my own speculations about LD and TLC). (...) (22 years ago, 4-Jun-02, to lugnet.market.buy-sell-trade)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Solid Aluminum 2x4 Bricks!
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| (...) I'm not a lawyer, nor am I defending the beliefs of the guild. But I do know a bit about the Lego "Fair Use Policy". Some of the things in it... A) DON'T use "LEGO" in your domain name.....big "no-no" (anything with brick is acceptable). B) IF (...) (22 years ago, 4-Jun-02, to lugnet.market.buy-sell-trade)
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