Willy Miniatures : new KS !!

[burgun824]

I'd think it's more a question of will he be in trouble for producing a mini that so closely resembles the image of someone else's property and potential copy right infringement. I'm not entirely sure how all of that works but I would strongly recommend checking into it before proceding with this project.

[bound for glory]

well, the way i look at it, you can buy the figure or not. i'm sure the head in question is different enough that he need not worry about any legal problems.
he(willy) has a right to freely express his ideas in miniature. the head in question is'nt tiny(like the gw thrud or the figures from herasy), so this should be a non issue.

[Darkson]

So, even though someone that work's with Carl (Heresybloke) has said Carl would probably have to take legal action, you still think he should do it?

Are you a lawyer by any chance, as they'd be the only winner in this case?


Plus GW are waiting for someone to make a BB Thrud/Thrudd: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=34320&hilit=Thrud&start=90#p620907
Really worth pulling GW Legal's tail?

[SBG]

I have to admit that even I, who has a limited knowledge of the minis out there, thought it was a too closely looking mini to that-barbarian-I-now-know-is-Thrud.

I really thought: "I've seen this mini somewhere".

Just my two cents.

Fred

[bound for glory]

i'm not about to argue the point. willy made the figure, he, no doubt, stands by his work(which is amazing, btw).
again, we are talking about a miniature that will most likely sell small numbers. the buyer can back carl(a person no one here knows) by not using the head in question.
don't like it, don't buy it. who the hell are we to tell anyone what to make? if he gets in legal trouble(i highly doubt it), how does it effect anyone here?

[thechosengobbo]

who the hell are we to tell anyone what to make? if he gets in legal trouble(i highly doubt it), how does it effect anyone here?

Surely if a great miniature manufacturer gets in legal trouble, and can no longer afford to produce miniatures (let's be honest, most of the FF mini companies aren't exactly large) then we will no longet be seeing new miniatures from them? Plus we wouldn't be able to get the miniatures they'd already produced.

I actually like a lot of the GW minis, in a nostalgic sort of way (I remember the heady days when we were allowed to like the company, and nobody else had muscled into the FF miis market) so I wouldn't mind too much if that was the only selectione we had, but diversity is always a good thing. Not warning a mini manufacturer about possible legal action will damage that diversity.

[Darkson]

don't like it, don't buy it. who the hell are we to tell anyone what to make? if he gets in legal trouble(i highly doubt it), how does it effect anyone here?

Using that poor logic, maybe he should make Space Marines.

[Corvidius]

don't like it, don't buy it. who the hell are we to tell anyone what to make? if he gets in legal trouble(i highly doubt it), how does it effect anyone here?

Using that poor logic, maybe he should make Space Marines.

I've always wondered how Kabuki or Scibor get away with it. Lovely models but it's clear what they are meant to be.

[bound for glory]

so, dark, you object to what? the head in question, or the whole figure? not that it matters to me, mind. i like the figure and the head in question, and will be ordering one along with the awsome rat ogre.
and if this goes where i think it will, it won't be long before "members" start "gaspez'ing" willy. and thats s**t.

[Darkson]

I object to him ripping off what is the trademark of a independent artist that helps the Blood Bowl community raise thousands of pounds for charity.

And yes, if he produces this it will be another manufactuer I won't buy from, and I won't be sorry when he get's sued.

[Heff]

I for one am not about to Gazpez anybody, love willys stuff and want to see him stay in business, but looking at the mini
1 it is posed to look like it should be leaning on an axe
2 it is freakishly over muscled and out of proportion
3 it is Hugely overscale
4 "that head" is a third smaller than the other ones and is wearing a helmet that is identical to thruds.

now I have two thoughts

1 willy does lovely figures, and this one is the exception that proves the rule, its UGLY.
2 Thruds ip owner told Willy when he did the running barbarian that he would sue. Willy abandoned that and now comes back with this. drop the head and you have a generic cartoon barbarian, with it you have an IP violation. Should BFG etc WANT to thrud it up then source yourself a 15mil or a 20mil head and stick that on.

To my mind willy sails close with his star players but they are generic enough to avoid problems. THAT head crosses the line. My opinion is that this figure, with the head, is a dynamite turd in Willys fragrant rose garden.

[Virral]

I totally agree with those saying the head should go. Personally I think Thrudds clothes and helmet are lifted directly from Conan but his combination of tiny head and hugely over muscled body is pretty identifiable and unique. In combination with the clothes that tiny head tips it over from being an absurdly muscled guy cracking his knuckles, to Thrudd.

I think a lot of the negativity is coming from people who seem to think there is a difference between copying stuff from the "good guys" and the "bad guys". Personally I don't think it matters where the original is from, what should matter is if it's a cheeky "homage" or an outright copy. In this case unfortunately I think it's fallen into latter category but fortunately it could be easily fixed by removing that one head from the packs.

[Corvidius]

Comparing Willys model
and
GW Thrudd
and
Heresy Thrud

There are obvious similarities and I would certainly identify the WM model with the controversial head as Thrud.

If Willy was selling the head on it's own or the body on it's own then there'd be no issue I think, as individually they are generic enough, but the fact that they are clearly a set and let's be honest, it's meant to be Thrud.

I also think it looks good as a Thrud model and I reckon that's the only selling point of it.

[bouncergriim]

That could be a good compromise, have the head sprue be a separate purchase as a conversion set and the body with shoulderpad/head set be the standard fare.

I hate to see lawyers involved and uglyness like that. I really like most of willies scupts, but I also think that treading lightly is important especially if it involves other smaller mini manufactures (or GW evil legal department).

[bound for glory]

I object to him ripping off what is the trademark of a independent artist that helps the Blood Bowl community raise thousands of pounds for charity.

And yes, if he produces this it will be another manufactuer I won't buy from, and I won't be sorry when he get's sued.

i'm very sure he does'nt care if you don't buy his miniatures...