Transformers When Shia goes to buy Bumblebee...

[tdeverea]

did anyone notice in one of the newer clips that Bernie Mac offers to sell him an old beat up Volkswagen Beetle instead? It's parked right next to the Camaro and Mac shows him the Beetle when Shia's Dad refuses to pay $5000 for the real Bumblebee. I thought it was a nice touch since they weren't able to use it for the actual character...

 

[Avangarde]

That or a kick in the nuts for the fanboys, meh.

 

[Jdef]

I'm sure they thought that was a way of honoring Transformer's roots. I bet they didn't know that it comes off as a slap in the face to the fans....

 

[tdeverea]

I don't see why it's a slap in the face. Reps from Volkswagen made it known in a public statement that they didn't want their product used as Bumblebee in the movie.

 

[Fried Gold]

It's more of a slap in the face to VW, than to the fans.

 

[tdeverea]

It's more of a slap in the face to VW, than to the fans.

HA! That's what I was thinking in the back of my mind!

 

[KenK]

It's more of a slap in the face to VW, than to the fans.

Basically.

 

[lars573]

That or a kick in the nuts for the fanboys, meh.

Yeah because it's not like Bay-Berg tried to make BB a VW Bug and VW told them no how no way. Oh wait.....

 

[CFlash]

Yeah because it's not like Bay-Berg tried to make BB a VW Bug and VW told them no how no way. Oh wait.....

They wouldn't PAY HIM to do it. They didn't forbid him from using it. They can't.

 

[DorkyFresh]

I'm sure they thought that was a way of honoring Transformer's roots. I bet they didn't know that it comes off as a slap in the face to the fans....

most of the comments i've read about the beetle being there were mostly positive along the lines of "well if they VW wouldn't let use the Beetle as a featured car then at least they were considerate enough to pay homage"

 

[Jdef]

most of the comments i've read about the beetle being there were mostly positive along the lines of "well if they VW wouldn't let use the Beetle as a featured car then at least they were considerate enough to pay homage"

I'm glad you guys around here feel this way... I guess I've just been hanging around some unreasonable fantards

 

[Nivek]

Honestly people... how is Shias character supposed to pick up a chick like Megan Fox in some old VW bug?

You cant do crap in a VW.

 

[tdeverea]

Honestly people... how is Shias character supposed to pick up a chick like Megan Fox in some old VW bug?

You cant do crap in a VW.

Touche (two-shay).

LOL!

 

[CFlash]

Honestly people... how is Shias character supposed to pick up a chick like Megan Fox in some old VW bug?

You cant do crap in a VW.

I drove an 8yr old Nissan Sentra and I picked up a hot chic and married her. Hotter than Megan Fox IMO and many people's. Then again I did try to soup it up with chrome and tinted windows. So I'm not exactly innocent in the tacky department.

 

[TNC9852002]

I don't see why it's a slap in the face. Reps from Volkswagen made it known in a public statement that they didn't want their product used as Bumblebee in the movie.

That's what I was thinking..

-TNC

 

[mMark]

I can't help.

when I see this title, I can't help thinking of when bumblebee made that noise to destroy all other cars so Sam has to pick up him. That's sweet.

I love Bumblebee.

 

[The Lizard]

They wouldn't PAY HIM to do it. They didn't forbid him from using it. They can't.

That's a good point that I keep forgetting about. QFT.

 

[lars573]

They wouldn't PAY HIM to do it. They didn't forbid him from using it. They can't.

They can and did forbid him. But it's not like it was news. Hasbro tried to get a license for the new Beetle to produce an Alternator Bumble Bee/Cliffjumper mold. VW told them no. They won't allow their products to used for warfare or violence. They have a company policy about it.

 

[CFlash]

They can and did forbid him. But it's not like it was news. Hasbro tried to get a license for the new Beetle to produce an Alternator Bumble Bee/Cliffjumper mold. VW told them no. They won't allow their products to used for warfare or violence. They have a company policy about it.

A Supreme Court case established that toys and models need permission because they are not works of art.

A movie is. Michael Bay could use the beetle in the movie (even if BB turns into a dragon or a Nazi soldier at some other point) just fine. Hasbro can then make sure the toy is different enough (have you seen Starscream's toy... it's nothing like a real-life Jet) to not infringe on VW.

This is a pretty widespread misconception. The fact is, that usually the car makers PAYS the filmmaker to use the car AND their logo (which is protected). VW wouldn't give Bay $$$ or free cars to use in the movie.

 

[CrashNburn]

i believe it!

 

[lars573]

A Supreme Court case established that toys and models need permission because they are not works of art.

A movie is. Michael Bay could use the beetle in the movie (even if BB turns into a dragon or a Nazi soldier at some other point) just fine. Hasbro can then make sure the toy is different enough (have you seen Starscream's toy... it's nothing like a real-life Jet) to not infringe on VW.

This is a pretty widespread misconception. The fact is, that usually the car makers PAYS the filmmaker to use the car AND their logo (which is protected). VW wouldn't give Bay $$$ or free cars to use in the movie.

And companies can force a film maker to keep their official products out of a movie. Usually movie people alter products they can't be bothered with getting permission for so they don't look like a real one. That classic bug in the movie was probably altered a little, probably knocking of the VW symbol or somthing.

Besides VW is a German based company. And the case I'm talking about was tried in Germany.

 

[NinjaGye]

On another note about this scene, in the yahoo exclusive trailer if you pay attention to the left of the screen at 22 seconds theres an ostrich in front of Bolivia's car lot.... anyway i just thought it was weird...

 

[CFlash]

And companies can force a film maker to keep their official products out of a movie. Usually movie people alter products they can't be bothered with getting permission for so they don't look like a real one. That classic bug in the movie was probably altered a little, probably knocking of the VW symbol or somthing.

Besides VW is a German based company. And the case I'm talking about was tried in Germany.

Companies can force that their logos not be used. Those are trademarked and "Reserved." But, even then, it's tricky. They have to prove LOTS of stuff. And, it's decided on a case by case basis. What's usually the case is that the studio, or filmmakers, producers, whatever have a contract with a competing brand that explicitely states they not "advertise" competing products (thus, you'll NEVER see Pepsi on American Idol).

More often than not, the studios just don't want to piss off a company because it will sour future relations for other things. THAT'S IT. But, there is no "LAW" civil or otherwise. VW cannot "forbid" anything. They just can't.

For more info see: Catterpillar v. Disney, and Mattel v. MCA Records.
And there many older cases going back to the beginnings of Hollywood (see the Ginger Rogers case).

P.S.
And usually, companies like VW have bases in the United States and bring their cases before courts here in the U.S. when it involves another American company... Trade Relations laws and treaties often dictate it (note: I do not know if this is the case with US/Germany treaties, but it's pretty standard).

 

[tdeverea]

This legal jibber-jabber is pretty irrelevant at this point if you ask me... I just thought that it was cool to see the Beetle in the scene (even if it was a brief moment). Transformers have been interpreted in many ways... I wish G1 fans wouldn't be so upset about the changes in the movie... but that's another thread... anyway, i'm just excited about the release. i'll be there bright and early when it opens. WHO'S COMIN' WITH ME?!

 

[kzupin]

heres the Ostrich