(Sep. 11, 2016 8:50 AM)Takowowo Wrote: (Sep. 11, 2016 5:50 AM)Real_ilinnuc Wrote: (Sep. 10, 2016 3:17 AM)Bey Brad Wrote: Lol, you don't seriously think that's the reason? Beyblade has historically done well here. Maybe they're using Canada as a test market.
You would think just releasing the toys would be a good test, but they are releasing the show there first and everything. This seems like less of a test, and more "Burst is like... 50% ready, so instead of waiting a bit, let's just try and scoop up as much cash as we can."
-John Johnson, leader of Hasbro's "Shafting the USA" division. "
I don't know if you guys missed it but Zankye has a video explaining why.
Right here
Tl;dw Trademarks: the names were/ literally just not fully trademarked in the States. The last time I checked the trademarks were awaiting opposition or extension to opposition.
Yeah, I did miss this video. Cheers.
Argh, what a nightmare for Hasbro though. A pending trademark is not usually a reason to delay a toy release (does the US have some weird law about this?) but I can imagine it being an issue for broadcasting the television show. When you have a trademark shared between two properties (the toy and the show) most countries have laws about the ways in which the trademarks can be used to promote each property on free-to-air television.
Pretty sure Kai-V mentioned that in Canada, they have some system for releasing toys and shows in a particular sequence so that the show is not classed as 'advertising' and I can imagine the US having something similar. Obviously it wasn't an issue in Canada because their trademarking system is apparently super efficient - but according to Zankye, the US is dragging the chain.
I guess my original thought was: why Canada? Or at least, why those few targeted areas of Canada which the WBO has particularly good access to (major city TRUs). Why not just... California? Or just Vermont? Or just New York? No offence Canada, but you're a whole different country to the center of Beyblade consumerism. The trademark issue is the only factor which seems to address this question with any tangible excuse.
I would also say, it's interesting to see Hasbro acknowledging Beyblade's history and embracing the role of older participants in the hobby (parents). I have not seen them do this before and it smells very WBO. I mean... Why would they not pay attention to the one and only continuous source of Beyblade knowledge in the western world? It's like a gigantic, free, focus group that never ends!