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Lego Loses Its Unique Right To Make Lego Blocks
tsa writes "The European Department of Justice has decided that the Danish company Lego does not have exclusive rights to the lego building block anymore (sorry, it's in Dutch). Lego went to court after a Canadian firm had made blocks that were so like lego blocks that they even fit the real blocks made by Lego. The European judge decided that the design of the lego blocks is not protected by European trademarks and so anyone can make the blocks." If true, hopefully this will open doors for people interested in inexpensive bulk purchase of bricks of specific sizes and colors. Perhaps at long last I can build a life-sized Hemos statue for my office.
yes, god forbid a multi-billion dollar corporation comes up with more than one innovative idea in ~70 years. lego bricks aren't a natural monopoly, and you certainly don't need a monopoly to make a profit (otherwise why would anyone try to compete with Lego?). if they can't survive without a monopoly then, oh well--that's free market capitalism, right?
besides, they're still the most recognizable makers of construction brick toys. their company name is well-known throughout most of the world, and they are immediately recognizable as the "original" lego toy makers. if anyone wanted to market a licensed lego-based construction set based on their IP, then they will go to Lego first, not just for the name-recognition, but also for their established distribution and marketing network.
if not, then future Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc. lego sets will be sold by a different company who won't be able to charge as much money for them. either way consumers will still get what they want, and probably for cheaper.
>Lego was naar het Europese Hof van justitie gestapt in de strijd tegen
>de Canadese concurrent Mega Brands, die een blokje op de markt heeft
>gebracht dat past op die van Lego. Het Hof oordeelde vandaag dat het
>ontwerp van Lego niet is beschermd door het Europees merkenrecht en dat
>er dus geen sprake mag zijn van alleenrecht.
Here's a translation, I've tried to use more English expressions where I can:
Lego has been to the European head of justice in the battle against Canadian competitor Mega Brands, who have put Lego-compatible blocks on the market. The head decided today that Lego's design isn't protected on the European market and that there is no talk of them having a monopoly....
At least they have multiple Legos, so no matter if one goes down, there are always others.
So, without even going to Harry's Hofbrau, the Canadian company did a EU-DOJ (sort of Hail Mary) on the Lego Company, and pulled an Apple "Brick Job" on the Legos. So, effectively, any former Lego protections have been BRICKED.
Now, Legos can be embraced and extended, and extended and embraced.
But, a burning question? How many Lego bricks equal an approximate veritable "ton of bricks"?
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"