hulkrulz4ever
Superstar
Joined on: Nov 19, 2006 0:40:44 GMT -5
Posts: 545 
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Post by hulkrulz4ever on May 10, 2017 22:55:41 GMT -5
I have always wondered if it is legal or illegal to create custom wrestling figures and sell them? Your using the wrestlers name and logos but your also not mass producing the item. How does this work?
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Post by The Violent Gentleman on May 10, 2017 23:30:40 GMT -5
I have always wondered if it is legal or illegal to create custom wrestling figures and sell them? Your using the wrestlers name and logos but your also not mass producing the item. How does this work? People sell customs on the bay. |
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chargrove
Superstar
Joined on: Nov 4, 2011 1:42:54 GMT -5
Posts: 957
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Post by chargrove on May 11, 2017 0:27:33 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't really know. I saw Bill (dude that has the biggest role in creating/designing WWE figures for Mattel) at NXT during Wrestlemania weekend and as I was chatting with him, I showed him a couple pics of my work and he loved them. He didn't honestly seem to have a problem with me purchasing the product just to rebuild them and ultimately sell them for my own benefit.
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garbagemon
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jan 5, 2016 2:04:18 GMT -5
Posts: 362
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Post by garbagemon on May 11, 2017 0:58:16 GMT -5
I can't imagine this practice would be prohibited. As you've said, it's not a mass-produced effort, and so companies such as Mattel would see little economic threat from customs. Not only that, but you have to purchase their products in order to produce said customs. Consider a similar practice: my mother loves to collect Briar Horse Statues. Some Briar collectors will buy a model, paint is themselves as a custom, and sell them for more than probably any wrestling figure custom has ever been sold for. Yet there are Briar "horse shows" all around the country, and customizers are regarded as creative artists who produce sought-after work. I have never heard of Briar stepping in to block this work. I can't recall Jakks having ever made a fuss during their heyday, and the custom work here was arguably even more prolific. In short, have fun, customize, and occasionally make a profit. It's an art piece as much as a figure.
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Post by Lego Customs! on May 11, 2017 6:46:21 GMT -5
I suppose also the figure is then a second hand product so you're not directly affecting Mattel's sales. They've already made money out of you buying the figure in the first place so it's not cutting into their profits.
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maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
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Post by maske2g on May 11, 2017 10:19:55 GMT -5
I think there are two things here.
1 I bet it's illegal to profit from the likenesses and trademarks of WWE characters. WWE would have the problem, not Mattel.
2. WWE don't have time to chase down 1 person, selling 1 action figure custom.
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Row
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Nov 30, 2016 21:42:06 GMT -5
Posts: 386
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Post by Row on May 11, 2017 13:50:25 GMT -5
Ultimate Warrior use to have Ebay remove/shutdown auctions of people selling customs of him
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Post by Sound888 on May 11, 2017 14:03:40 GMT -5
Technically, and legally, yes. Mexico also nabs people who sell custom Blue Demon merchandise.
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Henchmen4Hire
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 12, 2016 23:48:35 GMT -5
Posts: 1,311
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Post by Henchmen4Hire on May 11, 2017 16:21:15 GMT -5
The only answer that matters is "it doesn't matter". You can keep selling customs and no one can stop you, no matter how many empty threats they send you. No company is going to spend hundreds of dollars in legal fees to stop one dude from selling a custom, and worse, risk outright losing the case and paying fines for bringing such a stupid matter to the court in the first place lol. People will just keep making and selling them anyway, and they'll make even more money if they don't have to post it on ebay and lose money to the ridiculous fees on there. Commissions for customs never stop, ever.
People have been selling customs of super heroes since toys began being produced, I haven't heard of a single person being prosecuted for anything.
Edit: Except maybe Mexico, but that place is lawless anyway.
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tommyb
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 19, 2013 19:45:42 GMT -5
Posts: 535
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Post by tommyb on May 11, 2017 18:48:08 GMT -5
Because the quinity is so low in most custom cases 1 the legal term is Fan Art and is legal. If the quantity is over 5 then there is legal issues of likeness infringing and copyright
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Post by "The Gothic Superstar" Ronin on May 12, 2017 19:20:00 GMT -5
Ultimate Warrior use to have Ebay remove/shutdown auctions of people selling customs of him well yea, Warrior was a dick like that lol |
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Post by wwfoldskoolcollecta on May 22, 2017 3:45:37 GMT -5
Nike doesn't care if people customize there sneakers they even worked with a few customizers.I don't see how a big company like Mattel or Nike would care because like it was already said ur still buying there product to make it out of
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Matt Tell
Superstar
My name actually isn’t Matt.
Joined on: Sept 19, 2015 11:53:01 GMT -5
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Post by Matt Tell on May 22, 2017 5:14:22 GMT -5
It could sound illegal given you describe it that way. I don't think Mattel really cares though. The only "custom" piece of merch they would probably care about is the chinese bootlegs of Jeff Hardy since they were mass produced.
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Post by PJ on May 22, 2017 9:18:17 GMT -5
Every so often I have heard/read of people saying that their auctions were force to be closed because Mattel, DC Comics and Marvel Comics told EBay to close them. So I do think it is illegal, but for the most part the companies who own the copyrights don't really care if it is enforced.
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maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
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Post by maske2g on May 22, 2017 10:40:24 GMT -5
Ultimate Warrior use to have Ebay remove/shutdown auctions of people selling customs of him well yea, Warrior was a dick like that lol He still does.
And I'm not trying to be funny there...His manager does.
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Post by "The Gothic Superstar" Ronin on May 24, 2017 2:44:35 GMT -5
well yea, Warrior was a dick like that lol He still does.
And I'm not trying to be funny there...His manager does.
lol im not surprised, youd think with Dana on the WWEs payroll money wouldnt be an issue anymore |
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Post by SmithyPlayz on May 24, 2017 3:16:35 GMT -5
I'd really doubt it, there's loads of people selling customs on Ebay. Just make sure you put Custom in the title  |
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The Real Chillary
Main Eventer
Chillary since day one ish
Joined on: Aug 23, 2016 15:32:38 GMT -5
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Post by The Real Chillary on May 24, 2017 5:14:07 GMT -5
Ultimate Warrior use to have Ebay remove/shutdown auctions of people selling customs of him As did Rey Mysterio. |
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bigjohn8
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Joined on: Aug 24, 2015 9:57:39 GMT -5
Posts: 515
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Post by bigjohn8 on May 24, 2017 6:07:34 GMT -5
Once we purchase a figure wwe and Mattel have already made their profit. We can do whatever we want with the figure. Same thing goes for selling cars. You can buy one then repaint it and add more horsepower and flip it for a bigger turnout.
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Post by J'Dinkalage Morgoone on May 24, 2017 15:39:22 GMT -5
Thats why I make customs that are commissioned by indy guys.
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