Union Pacifc Stinks...or even Worse

[ole6768]

Have you seen the April edition of Model Railroader? UP has filed suit against MTH for not signing up with their licensing requirements. And no, it is not their April's fools article. Now, I really don't know much about MTH nor have any of their products but the UP sure seems to have its nose out of joint or maybe simply wants to fill its pockets with cash. I think I'll see if I have any UP cars in the roster and stick it in the stripper to get rid of their beloved trademark and name. Lee in Tucson

[dl85vette]

my fave LHS told me he won't stock the shelves with UP unless someone wants to order something as the dealer cost is more for UP products. What hobbyists need to do is send UP emails/letters saying that due to UP's selfishness over rights, we will no longer buy any model trains that wear UP colors. Maybe then they'll get the point. Sad part is...does UP gets royalty from the merged RR like SP and DRG&W,etc...? Or is it strictly the UP winged logo and colors that they are trademarking? dave only have 2 or 3 MDC UP cars. All my L/L UP GP20s are taking a bath for custom paintjobs anyways. dave

[ole6768]

The OP (for Onion Pacific) covers all the rail lines they have taken over in the past: some lines around Chicago (can't remember them), SP, WP and DRG&W to name a few. I seem to recall a picture story in Trains of how the OP was painting a box car for each of those acquired lines just to show that they still were 'using' those forgotten trademarks. That smells as bad as a rotten onion. And we need to tell them in our mail that it comes to shipping decisions, it won't go by OP. Lee in Tucson

[ginzokid]

The funny thing here is that the royalties they could gain from the sales of models depicting any of Uncle Pete's purchased and fallen flags is negligible in the whole money making scheme. Think about the millions involved in the actual operation of UP. Do you really think that the tax or license fees garnered from the model industry makes a tinker's damn in the UP coffer? Get real. It is only the lawyers getting rich again. From what I have read, most of the model manufacturers are cow-towing and paying the license fee. It's not that big and the model makers would suffer in the long run. Think about it. Really. A lot of us model fallen flags and if there were no models or decals available for our favorite roads, we would probably not be in this hobby any more. It's just too bad that we all fall under the influence of the almighty buck in the hands of the shyster lawyer. Lawyers and politicians...... B-)

[untabubba]

I'm gonna throw a UP boxcar in my blender and mail the pieces to someone at UP! ..........it will be a Bachmann, of course! ]:) Mr. Breeze

[dl85vette]

I'm still waiting for an opportunity to take a picture of CN locos and have their CN police goons come after me. Haven't been able to verify that story yet. CP is pretty good. I was at Weston one day on the street that's only 5 ft from the tracks where a guy was coupling some tank cars and I'm there with the camera and he asked me how I was doing. The day I was out when the pager went off,the engineer waved as he went by. Still gotta make some friends there so I can get to see the loco shops. Or better yet a ride on a loco. Which in this day in age is prob next to impossible due to security and rules, and insurance liabilities. dave should become a volunteer worker for Prarie Dog Central.

[nascarpetlover]

Could be another reason to not be happy with a brother in law as he works for the UP. Use to get the UP calendar every year, but not this year. They charge employee's a small fee of $20.00 each for them, or at least if you try to get more than one for yourself. I still have at least the 3 or 4 years of them. Maybe I should list them on eBay to some UP suckers are just use them to start the BBQ this summer. Lou

[untabubba]

They charge employee's a small fee of $20.00 each for them Pretty expensive toilet paper!!!!!! :O ]:) Mr. Breze

[nascarpetlover]

That is what he told us. Although he could be just unable to get them and that was the reason he used on us. Lou

[beastranger]

Careful Lou, if you try to sell them on E-bay, UP might find out and sue you, fire your brother-in-law, trash your trains and turn you into "the fugitive". Punk

[nascarpetlover]

Will just hop a BNSF freight and leave town. Maybe even an Amtrak. Lou

[ole6768]

Another item I thought of was just who the OP is taking to court: MTH and previously Lionel, both primarily O scale outfits. Does that mean O scalers told them to forget it and the HO (being the biggest portion of model railroading)and the rest of the scales all agreed to the OP demands? I can just imagine a bunch of lawyers going into the OP offices on selling them on a deal of a lifetime. Hey OP, let us go after that trademark money from the modelers and we will give you 10% of the take and you don't have to do anything but cash the checks. What a great PR move! Lee in Tucson