4 ms·

Also interesting that the trademark for Lego bricks has expired. Does not seem to hurt them too much though: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/09/15/eu.lego.

Also interesting that the trademark for Lego bricks has expired. Does not seem to hurt them too much though: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/09/15/eu.lego.trademark/ http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/09/15/eu.lego.trademark...

PostOnce 10y ago
That's trademarking an image of a red brick, LEGO still has has a trademark on the word LEGO and probably many other things, which I assume effectively means that LEGO can't sue Mega for using pictures of red bricks on their packaging. All they need is the word LEGO, because _everyone_ knows that non-LEGO products are inferior. Non-LEGO bricks are up there in infamy with "the player 2 controller" that wasn't made by the console maker.
mortenjorck 10y ago
Note about trademark law: Trademarks don't expire; they can really only be ruled abandoned or unenforceable. It was an interesting and perhaps unorthodox use of trademark in the first place, and the kind of thing you would normally file a design patent for – though of course, Lego has been around far longer than any country's patents last (thus the existence of Mega Bloks).
nevster 10y ago
If you've ever had the misfortune to try any of the clones, you'd understand why - they're crap. There's a level of quality to Lego bricks and how well they stick together. That and the quality of the designs. Those things are missing in the clones I've tried. (Presents to my kids from well-meaning people.)
- blacksmith_tb 10y ago
  Agreed - Lego uses better plastics (ABS) and has much tighter tolerances than the imitators. I expect their designers also benefit from having a huge library of parts to draw on.
- f_allwein 10y ago
  Weird though, isn't it? If the design is not protected, you'd figure somebody would make bricks of the same quality for a lower price. Business opportunity...?
  - PostOnce 10y ago
    i think you are confusing trademarks and patents
  - nevster 10y ago
    It's all about the manufacturing process - the precision, tolerances, and quality control.
  - tomjen3 10y ago
    Unlikely. Lego has spent a lifetime learning how to make the bricks really well. Plus the only reason they are still around are their partnership - and you can't make a star wars lego brick, no matter how good your tolerances are.
    - detaro 10y ago
      Mega Bloks (which seems to be the biggest compatible competitor) also has a surprising range of licensed franchises, targeting both kids (e.g. Despicable Me, Spongebob) and adults (e.g. Halo). Still nowhere near the market power of Lego of course.
- spaceisballer 10y ago
  It's nice to see that there are companies making quality products. It's worth paying a little bit more for something that is of better quality. Meanwhile most companies are trying to make the cheapest items so people will buy them regardless of quality.
- tonyedgecombe 10y ago
  Yes, for the most part the lego from my childhood (40 years ago) is still playable.

PostOnce 10y ago

That's trademarking an image of a red brick, LEGO still has has a trademark on the word LEGO and probably many other things, which I assume effectively means that LEGO can't sue Mega for using pictures of red bricks on their packaging. All they need is the word LEGO, because _everyone_ knows that non-LEGO products are inferior. Non-LEGO bricks are up there in infamy with "the player 2 controller" that wasn't made by the console maker.

mortenjorck 10y ago

Note about trademark law: Trademarks don't expire; they can really only be ruled abandoned or unenforceable. It was an interesting and perhaps unorthodox use of trademark in the first place, and the kind of thing you would normally file a design patent for – though of course, Lego has been around far longer than any country's patents last (thus the existence of Mega Bloks).

nevster 10y ago

If you've ever had the misfortune to try any of the clones, you'd understand why - they're crap. There's a level of quality to Lego bricks and how well they stick together. That and the quality of the designs. Those things are missing in the clones I've tried. (Presents to my kids from well-meaning people.)

blacksmith_tb 10y ago
Agreed - Lego uses better plastics (ABS) and has much tighter tolerances than the imitators. I expect their designers also benefit from having a huge library of parts to draw on.
f_allwein 10y ago
Weird though, isn't it? If the design is not protected, you'd figure somebody would make bricks of the same quality for a lower price. Business opportunity...?
- PostOnce 10y ago
  i think you are confusing trademarks and patents
- nevster 10y ago
  It's all about the manufacturing process - the precision, tolerances, and quality control.
- tomjen3 10y ago
  Unlikely. Lego has spent a lifetime learning how to make the bricks really well. Plus the only reason they are still around are their partnership - and you can't make a star wars lego brick, no matter how good your tolerances are.
  - detaro 10y ago
    Mega Bloks (which seems to be the biggest compatible competitor) also has a surprising range of licensed franchises, targeting both kids (e.g. Despicable Me, Spongebob) and adults (e.g. Halo). Still nowhere near the market power of Lego of course.
spaceisballer 10y ago
It's nice to see that there are companies making quality products. It's worth paying a little bit more for something that is of better quality. Meanwhile most companies are trying to make the cheapest items so people will buy them regardless of quality.
tonyedgecombe 10y ago
Yes, for the most part the lego from my childhood (40 years ago) is still playable.