Subject:
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Re: Star Wars Minifig Packs - Thoughts
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.starwars
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Date:
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Mon, 3 Apr 2000 19:55:35 GMT
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Highlighted:
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(details)
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1451 times
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Hasbro owns the license for "action figures and vehicles over 1 inch tall" and
Galoob (now Hasbro) owns it for "action figures and vehicles under 1 inch"
How does this relate to TLC? Well, when the contracts were negotiated a couple
years back, there was an explicit, seperate contract for "Construction Toys"
which was left open, which was obvously intended for Lego. Hasbro & Galoob
knew about this "Construction Toy" license, since it was in the papers (this
was about a year before the Lego license was announced), and it was no secret
that Lucas wanted to do something with Lego. Ultimately, I'm certain that
minifigs fall under the "construction toy" definition, even if sold
individually AND pre-assembled, like the keychains, so if TLC wants to make a
mini-fig only set, they ceratinly will, and have every right to. It is most
likely that we haven't seen any do to the fact that its more profitable to sell
the figs in a larger set than it would be to sell them by themselves. TLC
knows the demand for Vader, Fett, Han, Chewie et al, and knows that they'll
make a LOT more $$$ by making us spend $200 to get them (in larger sets) than
by selling them in a single set for $6.
Just my thoughts on the matter
Kevin
In lugnet.starwars, Eric Joslin writes:
> Ok, so I've been thinking about Star Wars minifig packs, and I think I might
> have found a reason we'll never, ever see them, which is sad. But before you
> hate me and say I'm the bearer of bad tidings, hear me out, because there • might
> be hope.
>
> Ok. So we all know that Hasbro bought Kenner to get the Star Wars license
> (well, the alternate report that I've heard on that is that Hasbro bought
> Kenner just to revive the Star Wars line under Kenner's auspices, for an
> extra-retro feel for old timers like me). Hasbro/Kenner's license is for
> "action figures, accessories, and playsets". Galoob, meanwhile, secured a
> license to manufature and sell toys of "vehicles", and therefore could make
> Micro Machines, Action Fleet, and so on.
>
> As the hype for Episode I began ramping up (well, for us *real* SW fans that
> was a while before the release, like two or three years) Hasbro announced that
> it has bought Galoob, making them the only manufacturer of Star Wars toys.
> That's pretty good, when you think of it- every dollar spent by retailers on
> Star Wars toys was going to be going to Hasbro.
>
> Then, LucasFilm and Lego announce the license for Lego toys. Hasbro, of
> course, thought this was a violation of their licenses, and were told (in
> court? I don't remember) that the Lego license was for "construction toys".
>
> So it is possible that we'll never see a pack of SW minifigs because putting
> one out would incite Hasbro in some way, or might actually just fully violate
> licensing agreements.
>
> But, I did say something about there being hope, so: With the MTT, you get a
> great set of parts, and 7 Battle Droids. At that rate, two or three of them
> combines with other sets, like the Naboo Swamp and Naboo Fighter, and the AAT,
> and you can have a fairly formidable force of Battle Droids. So maybe Lego
> will put out a set with a similar number of Stormtroopers, or a smallish set
> with one or two Stormtroopers. It's a shame that Lego already produced the
> Landspeeder from Episode IV, because that set would seem to be a natural for
> inclusion of one, two, or even up to four Stormtroopers. Can anyone else • think
> of a small-ish vehicle set that could easily include Stormtroopers?
>
> Anyway. Slow day at work, so I thought I'd ruminate a bit.
>
> eric
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Star Wars Minifig Packs - Thoughts
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| I tend to agree with you Kevin. Once a minifig is clasiified as a condtruction toy and not an action figure then it shouldn't matter whether it is part of a big set or a small set. As an aside...while there is obviously some competition between (...) (25 years ago, 3-Apr-00, to lugnet.starwars)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Star Wars Minifig Packs - Thoughts
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| Ok, so I've been thinking about Star Wars minifig packs, and I think I might have found a reason we'll never, ever see them, which is sad. But before you hate me and say I'm the bearer of bad tidings, hear me out, because there might be hope. Ok. So (...) (25 years ago, 2-Apr-00, to lugnet.starwars)
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