The older pieces fell out of copyright. So Lego differentiated by making new peices, to stay ahead of the knockoffs. At least that was my understanding in the

The older pieces fell out of copyright. So Lego differentiated by making new peices, to stay ahead of the knockoffs. At least that was my understanding in the mid-90s, when I worked in the toy industry. I'm still conflicted about it. Though I can't deny the creativity on display at any LUG or brickcon, I greatly miss the simplicity. I own too much Lego and I've given up trying to rationally organize loose peices.