[Crazy Jetty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

Good point, though I think it only applies to characters that actually appeared in the films and even then, they would be co-owned since it's Hasbro's IP. Also, I wouldn't think the studios could lay any claim to off-screen/supplemental characters like Bludgeon. Otherwise, the entire ROTF line would be co-owned by Paramount and I'm pretty sure Hasbro is business-savvy enough to avoid that pitfall.

If anything, Paramount probably gets residuals from toy sales just as Hasbro gets residuals from ticket/DVD sales.

Also, GM and Shelby get a piece of the action any time one of their vehicle likenesses is the alt mode for a toy.

Well, I'm a member of the TF club, and the club forums are my primary message board.
This is what we've all pretty much put together from cryptic responces based on what they club says.
They are *not* allowed to use any molds from the movie lines, in any shape or form.
They've made a few other remarks that have made us realize that if the package has the movie studio trademark on it, it's definatively off limits (Unless the molds appeared before the line, and were repainted into it, like the target scouts, and the walmart classics exclusives).
This means that Hasbro cannot use the molds anywhere, without paying the studio, and without giving them credit.
And save for the Real Gears, the entire first movie line, onscreen and offscreen characters have the movie studio logos on them, and the RotF line propper has the logos on them. Now, we're getting into sketchy areas. Some of the Hunt line doesn't have studio logos, and this Reveal the Shield campaign gets REAL dodgy. So we're no longer clear on the stuff that's currently out, like Bludgeon, HftD Dirge, and Seaspray. (Maybe Hasbro got themselves a better contract)
But, at least for the first line it doesn't matter if the character never appeared on screen, it was owned by the studio (Stocade, and ospray for examples). And if the mold used the distinctive movie style, it was owned by the studio. Hasbro may own the intellectual property, but it does seem that the studio owns the likeness rights for not only the characetrs in it, bt the likeness for the style.

But, we're unsure on the latest molds that mixes the style, and doesn't have the Dreamworks copyrights, but are still set movieverse. The club hasn't commented on that, and they won't know until they try to use one, or Hasbro announces to them they're available.
(I haven't bought a movie TF in so long, I can't even remember if Bludgeon has the studio logos on them)