Simple they created characters named Hook, Jazz, Ratchet, Shockwave, Bluestreak, Outback, and Hot Rod in the 80's. 20 years later there are movies named Bluestreak and Hook, movies TV shows and restaurants the globe over named Outback, a popular video game character named Ratchet. You see where I'm going. Copyright and trademark laws in the US have a few quirks. I'll skip the legalize, in a nut shell it amounts to "Use it or lose it." Hasbro didn't use it, so Hasbro losed it. From what I've gathered Hasbro will try the Autobot/Decepticon *G1 name we lost* routine if only 1 or 2 other parties have that name copyrighted/trademarked. If it's a whole assload of groups they go, "f-it were giving the toy a new name." Which is usually a bastardized version of the old name or the Japanese name. Hence whey in TF lines today you have Shockblast, Silverstreak, Rodimus, and Hightower. Instead of Shockwave, Bluestrak, Hot Rod, or Hook.
I don't think so, Hasbro only ever did it in regard to names they copyrighted between 1984 and 1989 for the G1 TF line.
