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H.R. 607, The Military Toy Replica Act (6 comments ↓)
H.R. 607 would prohibit defense contractors from requiring licenses or fees for use of military likenesses and designations.
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Colin Kunkel
I am absolutely amazed at the greediness of the defense contractors in this case. Plastic model aircraft have existed for many, many years, and up until now, it was no problem for a model company to produce a model of a certain aircraft. Now, it is all of a sudden a bad thing and money must be paid out to do so; and to think that the defense contractors are getting anal enough to go back as far as World War 2 and say that such and such an aircraft was made by this company, that no longer exists because we bought out the parent company ages ago is ridiculous! But, I guess, if there is money to be made nowadays, it's fair game to screw everyone over. All this will do will drive the cost of model kits up and eventually run companies out of business.
Model companies and builders are not hurting these defense contractors and they are not losing any money whatsoever. this bill is laughable at best and a waste of Congress' time and efforts, and it needs to be defeated.
Dave Ferrari
I would think the bill should be PASSED to "prohibit defense contractors from requiring licenses or fees for use of military likenesses and designations." While the Bill is a waste of legislators' time and a show of greed by the industry, passage will help model makers.
Scott
The thing that is really shameful about all this is that, from what I understand, most corporations are not that anal. Instead, it was freelance lawyers who brought up the idea to these corporations as to how they could make a bit more pocket change at the expense of hobbyists.
You'll also note that this does not apply outside the US and that the bill states that it will not affect past products, only new or renewed contracts. Basically, like most of the Bush Administration's efforts, it only sounds nice, but will have not real effect on the status quo, allowing corporations to continue to run roughshod over the consumer.
It is a sad commentary that American politicians are the best that special interests can buy.
Gerald
Tacking on a licensing fee adds to the already increasing costs of these kits and toys. Price them out of the reach of the average consumer and hobbiest you'll force companies out of business and end the brand awareness that has been created over decades from the exploits of the equipment in actual us and being replicated for the everyday 'Joe' to enjoy and reflect back on. Why are these private firms being allowed tax citizens? We paid for the development of these machines, which allowed their manufacturers an opportunity to profit while producing them. Fair is fair, don't stifle the model and toy companies from the same chance you were afforded by us taxpaying citizen. Pass the bill, save a piece of history in miniature form, keep a great hobby alive so when the youth of today become board with computers in the future they have a place to turn to expand their minds and imaginations as we did so many years ago.
Kenneth
If this bill passes, it will probably drive some smaller model companies out of business and their models would no longer be available. The larger companies would be required to pass their "FEES" on to the consumer.
I started building models at the young age of 10 and it helped me to learn to follow directions and inprove my hand/eye corrodination. What will young boys do for model planes, tanks, or ships if the companies go out of business of the kits too costly to afford.
Seems all the BIG companies are interested in any more is MONEY. They do not care about something that would keep a young man off the streets and getting into trouble. They would probably sue someone if they carved a model out of balsa as well.
Hope our government has better sense, but that may be asking too much.
Frank
Say, weren't all those military toys financed with our tax dollars? Where does the military-industrial complex get off asking for yet more of our dollars?