Is it legal to sell moc instructions?

[legoisawesome]

I actually started this topic at the forum information and questions forum, but there were no satisfactory answers.

So I'm asking this question here as lego technic is one of the fields of lego where many moc instructions are made, and sometimes sold.

Is it legal to sell instuctions for my own creation?

Let's say I made a replica of Mercedes S class, made instructions for it, and sold them.

1.Don't I have to pay the Lego company for their parts' design?

2.Don't I have to pay Mercedes for their car's design?

I would love some comments, and I expect that people who have sold their instructions in the past could answer to this topic.

Thanks,

[suffocation]

Yes, no and no.

[legoisawesome]

@suffocation Could you tell me why?

Edited August 18, 2017 by legoisawesome

[BrickbyBrickTechnic]

Haven't you already made this topic once?

[suffocation]

That's a question for a competent jurist.

[legoisawesome]

@BrickbyBrickTechnic Yes, I mentioned that on the first line.

[MAB]

You were also given the answer last time too. You can sell your own instructions. If the company whose IP you are infringing objects to the use of their name, they are likely to ask you to stop in the first instance.

[suffocation]

5 minutes ago, MAB said:

[...] If the company whose IP you are infringing objects to the use of their name, they are likely to ask you to stop in the first instance. [...]

Given the time and effort that go into modelling a vehicle to the extent that it can be called a recognisable replica (only aesthetically, of course, because any patented inner workings are sure to be light-years beyond what is feasible with Lego) and making instructions for it, I doubt anyone is going to make a living out of selling instructions. Even then, what kind of bum rap would a company get if they told a respected MOCker to pull his/her instructions from the web? It's free exposure and it's not damaging them - quite the contrary, in fact; and today more than ever, bad press goes a long way in screwing up a company.

[JopieK]

Is our sticker 'business' legal? I surely do infringe copyrights, but since LEGO does not produce the originals anymore and does not sell stickers apart from sets it is shady. So if you would make a million business out of it they would surely send you legal letters. LEGO is apart from that not too keen on using "lego" in a domain name (then you will get a notice from them, I never tried although I have a domain with LEGO in the name but have seen others getting in trouble). My experience is that it is also depending on brand policies. Certain brands don't want me to use their names, while equal brands in different countries think it is nice to see their logo on e.g. a LEGO train car. Brands don't want you to devaluate their brand that is for sure. 

[Jim]

Please don't make duplicate topics in multiple forums.

I will close this topic.

[JopieK]

Sorry didn't see it Jim ;)

[Jim]

1 minute ago, JopieK said:

Sorry didn't see it Jim ;)

No worries. There's always someone who sees it