I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

Hey dudes and dudettes

I was just wondering about naming convention for third party transformers. Say i made a construction bot combiner of my own design...

Can you use an old transformer name so long as you put something like "X20 devastator"

or does it have to be spelled differently? "X20 Dev-E-stator"

or does it have to be a different word: "X20 Devastation"

or is it just safer to use something completely different? "X20 Buildbot"

Thanks for your help!

Jonathan

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

Hasbro trademarks their names, so it's safest to use something completely different, like Buildbot. Although Devastation would also qualify as "different".

Hence Eject and Rewind become Ejector and Rewinder.

Although Fansproject goes even further: Warbot, Munitioneer, and Explorer.

I should point out there are probably also concerns with making your bots too similar to theirs, but Hasbro and Takara don't really seem to be going after third parties too hard these kinds of things.

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

Okay thank you! I think i'll go with my own name then (i googled it and it's not a transformer... yet)

My transformer is going to be something based on a older transformer but the transformation sequence is completely different. The alt mode however is pretty close though... But they can't copyright a generic thing like a car or whatever right? should i paint it in very different colours than the original? Or does it matter much? It will look okay in both colour schemes.

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

Honestly, it only matters if you're planning to reproduce and sell copies of it.
If you're making a one-off for you own collection, Hasbro really won't care. In fact, they've stated at conventions that they encourage people to kitbash and modify, and come up with their own things, providing it's for one's own collection and not made for profit.

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

When it comes to naming it's all about what Hasbro currently has registered or licensed.

With some luck you can even get awhile with the name of the ACTUAL CHARACTER. Case in point, TFcon 2010's Nightbird. Since Hasbro never registered the name or licensed it and no other company did, it was free for use.

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

The closer you go to the actual name, the more you're poking the bear, really.

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

the bare what?

Re: I have a question about Third Party Naming Conventions
 

The bearer of litigation.