Oh, it just got REAL. (Vengeance/bumblebee)

[Tony_SS]

Wow...first I've seen of this. Congrats Amir on a job well done. I think you have a good attitude about clearly being ripped off. I guess it goes with the territory when you're in the visual arts business, which kind of sucks.

Whats clear is that they did a down right horrible version on theirs. It looks like crap. Yours on the other hand is well proportioned, detailed, and so on. I think you deserve some major credit, and like mentioned this a great opportunity here.

You should come up with a Bumblee logo and start selling your car as a diecast.

[MrQuick]

yea, I am just a bit skiddish as I want to deal with someone local-ish

Start it up yourself. Find a few guys to work with that know fiberglass or plastic fabrication.

Too bad you aren't closer. There is a shop selling a plastic press oven that would be perfect for making flares and tubs. All you need is a good machinist with vision.

I'd throw some funds in the pot for capital.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

And your Dobie says, "whatcha doin' Dad?" lol

I've had four Vince. Best dogs ever IMO.

[garickman]

KARMA?????

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/...31017/b471231/

[scott_fx]

I still say the heck with the flares...limited market. Die cast cars, remote controlled cars, hot wheels. Kids will be your target market. License your cars design to the toy makers.

yeah, it's all about I.P. here. your energy should be focused on that aspect of it. if you actually proved and won in court that this was your IP, i wonder if you could get a cut of all the merchandising.... the 3rd movie brought in a billion dollars at the box office. think hasboro made a few hundred million on toys

[MrQuick]

fight for royalties? Evel Knievel made his money from his toy line. Bubblebee street fighter toys and gear would be a hit. Maybe even a Mr Vengeance action figure line.

[WS6]

Damn Amir. I'm just now finding out about this. Sorry they ripped off your design and didn't even bother to ask. Considering how the F&F franchise used the real version of "famous" cars in many scenes, I'm surprised Transformers didn't bother to even try.

I would do as other have suggested about speaking with a lawyer when it comes to all the merchandising. It's at least worth a few phone calls to see about protecting yourself.

Glad you're not letting this get to you. After all, it's like you already said, the car's in your garage and you know it came first.

[TonyL]

Damn Amir. I'm just now finding out about this. Sorry they ripped off your design and didn't even bother to ask. Considering how the F&F franchise used the real version of "famous" cars in many scenes, I'm surprised Transformers didn't bother to even try.

I would do as other have suggested about speaking with a lawyer when it comes to all the merchandising. It's at least worth a few phone calls to see about protecting yourself.

Glad you're not letting this get to you. After all, it's like you already said, the car's in your garage and you know it came first.

In the fast and furious movies, they came to Steve strope and others and *asked* for permission and help to recreate the cars they wanted use though. This is different. Blatant disrespect.

[ill steez]

In all seriousness, I think it would be worth at least talking to a Copyright attorney about this. There is a strong argument that you could have protection over the appearance of Vengeance as a "compilation," and even though you never registered anything within the Copyright office, you still may be entitled to damages and profits as a result of the car.

Some notes on what I'm referring to:
Statutory Language §101 – A “compilation” is a work formed by the collection and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that are selected, coordinated, or arranged in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship. The term compilation includes “collective works”.
The term "compilation" is typically used to describe factual works, such as the organization of an Encyclopedia, however it can also be used to protect non-factual works. A combination of unprotectable elements may qualify for copyright protection if the elements are sufficiently numerous and their selection and arrangement is sufficiently original.

In the case of Vengeance, I would say that there is a strong argument that the combination of unprotectable elements, including the matte black paint, RS stripe, 19" wheels of the same style, along with literally every other aesthetic component can be used to to establish originality. Furthermore, the fender flares - while somewhat distinct from the ones which the Transformers car has - are likely protectable themselves.

Looking at the car Paramount assembled, it's pretty clear that they may have anticipated you seeing it ans possibly coming after them. They made a handful of changes to your design with the intention of differentiating it enough to set it apart. The flares are distinct, the mirrors appear distinct, and the yellow is absent from your car.

Either way - I definitely think it's worth pursuing. Little Vengeance toys are going to make a lot of money.

Oh one other thing - REGISTER VENGEANCE AS A COMPILATION, **STAT**
Registration is a prerequisite to filing a copyright infringement action. At the time of the infringement if the work is not registered it's okay, but you must register it within the statutory time period before bringing an action.

[Aficionado]

(null)

Not sure copyright registration is required to file suit, but it may limit some of the remedies available if it's not been done. But it's been a while since I took that class in law school....

Either way, Amir, talk to an IP lawyer.

[CamaroMike]

Thats pretty cool but I can see how it might make you a little upset

[ill steez]

Not sure copyright registration is required to file suit, but it may limit some of the remedies available if it's not been done. But it's been a while since I took that class in law school....

Either way, Amir, talk to an IP lawyer.

I'm fairly certain it is, but an attorney that specializes in Copyright would obviously know better. My specialty is patents.

[Aficionado]

Not sure copyright registration is required to file suit, but it may limit some of the remedies available if it's not been done. But it's been a while since I took that class in law school....

Either way, Amir, talk to an IP lawyer.

I'm fairly certain it is, but an attorney that specializes in Copyright would obviously know better. My specialty is patents.

Haha. You're closer than me; I'm a career prosecutor.

[Removed user as requested]

I think this whole thread is pissing in the wind. If vengeance can get royalties for a movie copying his car and file suit etc...

We would all be stuffed. People with black 68 chargers can go to court for copying someone else, general lee owners go to court copying the movie without asking holywood/designers of it to paint there own that way. I could go to court for having a black chevelle with white stripes because somebody else built one like it. People with mustang eleanors can go to court copying a movie car, people with green 68 mustangs can go to court because of bullit and and and and and you get the picture. Yeah sure, painting a car 1 way vs finer detail, but copy is copy regardless of what level it is at. If vengeance can get something over copy, we can all go and file suit.

So who built what first, we have all copied someone to a certain degree.

There is no case in this. Just cooling the mouth over nothing.

[silvermonte]

I think this whole thread is pissing in the wind. If vengeance can get royalties for a movie copying his car and file suit etc...

We would all be stuffed. People with black 68 chargers can go to court for copying someone else, general lee owners go to court copying the movie without asking holywood/designers of it to paint there own that way. I could go to court for having a black chevelle with white stripes because somebody else built one like it. People with mustang eleanors can go to court copying a movie car, people with green 68 mustangs can go to court because of bullit and and and and and you get the picture. Yeah sure, painting a car 1 way vs finer detail, but copy is copy regardless of what level it is at. If vengeance can get something over copy, we can all go and file suit.

So who built what first, we have all copied someone to a certain degree.

There is no case in this. Just cooling the mouth over nothing.

The point here is that they copied his car and are now making a profit off of that. The point that was made in a previous post is that you can paint you car like General Lee, but the second you start making money from that car the big guys come knocking.

[Removed user as requested]

1: They are making money off the movie. That car didn't make up the entire movie.

2: Many general lee owners, eleanor owners etc use there car as wedding cars. Thus making money out of the car. Also anyone that uses there car for wedding can be seen/interpreted that way.

3: The owner of vengeance never said nobody can copy his car. No copyright/patent was made for the car.

It's simply tough luck. You cant make a car then think about money patents etc after someone did something with it. They made the car like that because they thought it looked cool. They were smart enough to 'make money of it'. If the owner never thought about that before and thus never patented his design, idea, cant just try and cash in now.

That is simply bad luck.

[mc84_zz4]

Amir, I saw the movie and was excited for them using your car, and now I see this thread, and I'm thinking what some others have mentioned, but I'm not sure there is anything there.
It's not about the money, I'm with you on that.
It could even become a partnership of sorts in the future (?)
Best of luck man, I hope you get to ride the front of the wave on this, it may feel like a grind at times, but could turn into a blessing.

[mikedc]

Going up against a big Hollywood studio in court can be risky business. The sold-out corporate whores in charge of the US legal system are just about corrupt enough to rule that Amir's car is somehow violating the studio's rights.


I would start by investigating what Amir's legal rights to his own car's image actually are. Once those bases are covered, maybe try for some kind of friendly out-of-court deal with the "Transformers" producers. And be sure to mention the fact that the F&F crew credited the cars they copied in those movies. If nothing else it might get the next customizer proper credit.