Howdy Guys,
I have been away from the forum this week, I have gone back to work. However, I did want to comment on this topic.
The defense contractors, ie... Lockheed martin, Boeing, general dynamics etc.. were trying to make a fast buck by forcing model companies and anyone who replicated the "likeness" of military equipment, to have a license to do so.
However, (and this story mainly applies to the USA), since it is "we the people" who pay taxes which pay for the defense department to be able to purchase the military hardware from the contractors.....with our money no less, then the military equipment is not the property of the contractors, but the property of "we the people".
One a contractor is commissioned to fill an order for the US government and is paid (with tax dollars), the contractors lose all claims to the rights to the equipment, including toy licensing. Once its paid for, its the property of the people of the United States.
So, I can proudly claim that I own a small part of some of the worlds most sophisticated military hardware lol. I may run to the airbase this weekend and see if I can take a C 130 out for a spin lol. I promise to have it back by 5 pm.
But seriously, this topic was a hot topic in the cardmodels forum also. Especially since cardmodelers design their own models and sometimes sell them.
Anyway, I just wanted to put the topic in a different perspective, as seen thru the eyes of an american modeler/taxpayer who is glad to see this "licensing topic" discussed and hopefully put to rest, making it perfectly legal to design military model in the likeness of current hardware.
Have a good day,
Greg
PS: By the way, check out the United States newest stealth fighter, it uses the ultimate in stealth technology. Feel free to design a model of it guys lol
