natureboyfauser
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 2, 2013 22:28:32 GMT -5
Posts: 662 
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Post by natureboyfauser on Jun 26, 2021 12:08:08 GMT -5
The WWE Elite SCALE library is an incredible tool. You take that diverse/Massive library with Mattel's ability to add clothing and the potential for other lines is through the roof.
I would think they could reuse body sculpts for Star Trek figures ... RUK could be Andre the Giant, but Kirk, Picard, Spock, etc ... main cast could be scaled size and aliens could be the best ever. Same with James Bond figures. Jaws could be Andre the Giant too or Big Show. The women's wwe figures could be used for so many of the famous ladies from James Bond and Star Trek.
With LED lighting the idea of build a bridge, build an engineering room, build a sickbay becomes so much more plausible than ever before. Is there the market though? For me? YES! The Star Trek shows and movies continues ... so will James Bond. Just a thought Mattel and my fellow collectors.
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secondwhiteline
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 18, 2015 13:06:39 GMT -5
Posts: 1,468
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Post by secondwhiteline on Jun 26, 2021 14:44:24 GMT -5
This is gonna sound weird, but often licensors don't allow parts-sharing with other lines (it wasn't always that way - Kenner was a master of reusing old parts between lines). Mattel would probably have to get clearance from WWE to reuse tooling from this for other properties. And even if that gets okayed you're locking up tooling from this line to produce other figures, which sounds like a logistical nightmare for a line that produces as steadily as WWE Elite.
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natureboyfauser
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 2, 2013 22:28:32 GMT -5
Posts: 662
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Post by natureboyfauser on Jun 26, 2021 16:41:23 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. You have far more knowledge than I do. Interesting. I understand how WWE would have say in who they make and their looks based on the license but it's hard to believe they would also have a say in the moldings? For Mattel's sake I hope that is not the case. Of course I hope they keep making WWE at the same pace with more legends ... but it seems they make so many other lines that this would be just reusing things they have in their library. But what the heck do I know. Just a fan wanting to see it happen because of my love for the scale size.
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Post by JC Motors on Jun 27, 2021 10:12:50 GMT -5
This is gonna sound weird, but often licensors don't allow parts-sharing with other lines (it wasn't always that way - Kenner was a master of reusing old parts between lines). Mattel would probably have to get clearance from WWE to reuse tooling from this for other properties. And even if that gets okayed you're locking up tooling from this line to produce other figures, which sounds like a logistical nightmare for a line that produces as steadily as WWE Elite. You are 100% correct on that. I remember when Jakks had the Rocky Line the figures were RA bodied. I remember some of the Rocky figures having WWE stamped in the feet of the figures. However since they had the rights for Mr. T as Clubber Lang, Jakks wasn't allowed to use Mr. T's likeness for the CS line. They also couldn't reuse the Thunderlips head for their CS line or any WWE line. |
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secondwhiteline
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 18, 2015 13:06:39 GMT -5
Posts: 1,468
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Post by secondwhiteline on Jun 27, 2021 18:04:56 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. You have far more knowledge than I do. Interesting. I understand how WWE would have say in who they make and their looks based on the license but it's hard to believe they would also have a say in the moldings? For Mattel's sake I hope that is not the case. Of course I hope they keep making WWE at the same pace with more legends ... but it seems they make so many other lines that this would be just reusing things they have in their library. But what the heck do I know. Just a fan wanting to see it happen because of my love for the scale size.
I think there's probably legal reasons that are pretty nebulous but exist enough that companies are better safe than sorry. But the biggest reason probably is just the logistics of it - Mattel doesn't want a situation where WWE says, "Hey, we've got some Andre merch planned for the Mania 3 anniversary next year, we need some Andres on the shelves," but a bunch of the Andre tools are reserved by a different Mattel team because they're making a Richard Kiel in the next wave of Adam Sandler Ultimates.
I know there was an issue for Mattel about some sharing of parts between Masters of the Universe Classics and DC Universe Classics. There were a few examples of parts-sharing that made it onto the shelves there, like the bird that got used as an accessory for Beast Boy and Vixen and the Wonder Twins was definitely also in MOTU for Sorceress and a couple of other figures. Mattel probably had a little more leeway because MOTU is their own house line, but I think they tried to use some MOTU parts for the Dark Knight Returns Batman and got rejected. I really gotta see if Scott Neitlich has a video up about that, in case I'm remembering it wrong.
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secondwhiteline
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 18, 2015 13:06:39 GMT -5
Posts: 1,468
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Post by secondwhiteline on Jun 27, 2021 18:09:41 GMT -5
This is gonna sound weird, but often licensors don't allow parts-sharing with other lines (it wasn't always that way - Kenner was a master of reusing old parts between lines). Mattel would probably have to get clearance from WWE to reuse tooling from this for other properties. And even if that gets okayed you're locking up tooling from this line to produce other figures, which sounds like a logistical nightmare for a line that produces as steadily as WWE Elite. You are 100% correct on that. I remember when Jakks had the Rocky Line the figures were RA bodied. I remember some of the Rocky figures having WWE stamped in the feet of the figures. However since they had the rights for Mr. T as Clubber Lang, Jakks wasn't allowed to use Mr. T's likeness for the CS line. They also couldn't reuse the Thunderlips head for their CS line or any WWE line.
Oh man, they had the rights stamped on there and everything? I'm honestly a bit surprised MGM didn't have an issue with that.
And definitely, likeness rights are very specifically attached to the distinct IP you're signing a release for. I think a lot of people assume they're broader than they are.
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natureboyfauser
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 2, 2013 22:28:32 GMT -5
Posts: 662
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Post by natureboyfauser on Jun 28, 2021 9:35:22 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. So sad to have such a great library only for one entity.
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