Superkalle

Well, these things happen from time to time. Most often when you've been playing around with the bricks for a while trying different combinations, and most often when you have a hinge or other type of joint involved. LDD has a bit of slack allowed in the connection, because otherwise even the slightest missmatch would make the bricks fail to connect, and it would drive all of us nuts If you rebuild the structure from scratch, it will all connect nicely.

Nope, not that I know of at least.

Exactly! In this case, it would be a legal technique since the leverage allows kids to take it appart. But then there might be the issues of putting them on (much force needed). That's why it's extra strange to see it in a Space Police set, which is very much directed towards kids.

You have to zip them first, then it will work.

Why did you post the entire press-release? And also, the link to the press release has allready been posted previously in this topic so that people could read it.

I heard about the Pizza oven from a designer in Billund when we were there with the EB event this spring. Where did you get your information about the sauna?

Yes....me want chocolate....then me will....be....calm... Thanks for the screenshot

Screenshots anyone

TLG has now posted their own press-release that explains well what this is about. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=218350&countrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false (via Brickset.com) As have been clarified earlier in this thread, it is about using the LEGO brick image as a trademark, but this seems to go beyond that and be of extreme importance to TLG as this quoute shows: The LEGO Group’s desire to register the brick as a three-dimensional trademark is not for marketing reasons alone. “It is naturally a matter of concern to us that use of the brick by others can dilute the trademark. But the worst aspect is that consumers will be misled. Analyses show that 40-60% of shoppers believe they are buying a LEGO product when in fact they are purchasing a different product. Shoppers can see there is a different name on the box – but they believe it is a product line or company owned by us,” says Peter Kjær [head of the LEGO Group’s Intellectual Property Section]. It's not hard to understand why. The LEGO brick IS TLG. It's like saying that Coca-Cola does not anymore has sole right to their own logo. That would be the end for Coca-Cola. Everything is in the brand name. So even if this topic is only about the brick as a trademark, it is a very important issue for TLG.

Any chance of a screenshot so it's possible to see exactly what the message is and where it appears?

Yeah, it's a well known problem. It seem TLG (or rather design lab at LEGO) aren't yet sure how to handle this type of connection. Normally they won't allow connecting more then one stud to a technic hole. This is because technic holes are slightly smaller then normal anti-stud holes, and the tighter fit would lead to that kids cannot take them off. But apperantly from the example you found, Lego designers chose to break the Lego Legal principles when it suits them. Very annoying for us LDD builders indeed. I reported this to TLG!

Can you be more specific about the Debug error, preferably a screenshot. Regarding turning off internet connection, I think there is a line you can add to the preferences.ini to stop LDD from contacting internet. But beware - it won't check for new version then either. I'll see if I can find the line and get back here soon.

Wouldn't it almost be better to start a new topic if it turns out that Trans Black etc are missing. Now your bumping the topic before there even anything to add.

Lookin' good If you want you can upload the LXF-files. Then we can have a look at the structural stability/technique and give you tips on that too.

There will be a flex-tool in LDD 4.0, but we'll have to wait and see what it will bend. Only thing we're waiting for now is the LDD 4 release date.

Not being a pirates-man myself, I can't help but to be completely overwhelmed by this MOC. Beautiful details, not to ostentatious, the right curves....

Maybe, maybe But I'm curious, has anyone seen a toy shop sell both LEGO and a clone brand in EU? Was it then a big store or a small corner-shop? Also, what are the rules that LEGO has for a shop to sell LEGO. Does it have to have certain floor space? Does the shop have to buy for certain amount? Must it be displayed in a certain way?

The problem with starting a sub-forum is that there needs to be certain traffic/action if the sub-forum is not to feel dead. Also EB is primarily a forum, i.e. a place for discussions and activity. Sometimes static topics, like collecting/preservation/cleaning may be better off that focus on these things (since there is less inflow of dsscussions compared to MOC building and such). But an index topic can be a good way to test the interest of a subject before taking it to the next level (being a sub-forum). On the other hand, creating an index can sometimes be a high hurdle to get things moving. Firstly, you need someone to start it and actively keep track of topics, and secondly index topics don't have a lot of attraction power (not fun to read basically). It's a bit like then hen and the egg. There will be no index if people don't post - and people wont' post if they can't see certain "critical mass". There needs to be a few persons who take a subject seriously to get things going. Small/odd topics someimes have the risk of drowning in the flood of other topics before they have a chance to take off. It's like launching a small bark boat on a roaring river. It doesn't take long before it vanishes. One solution could be to have a staging area of new sub-forums where you try out ideas. You can allow them to be there for a few months and see what happens. If there is a lot of interest, it can take off, if not, it will self-die.

Thanks for clariyfing that. The problem is that in the press this has not been expressed like that. In my daily newspaper there was a short notice this morning which gave you the feeling that it was more about the right to use the Lego-brick. There was even mentioning about the 1958 invention with the tubes. But I can see that you are right Front. I'll change the FP text to better reflect this. But it is a fact that LEGO is putting conciderable effort into preventing others from marketing LEGO-clone brands. Toy shops that put clone brands in the store can be threatened with stopped delievies from LEGO if the do. To think of it, I've never seen a swedish toy shop that has both LEGO and clone brands.

Well, there are other ways to save. Plastic is one of the costs. Then there is labour cost, taxes, property/factories. And with labour cost it doesn't have to mean cut down on staff - it can mean work more efficient. Also, please note - TLG has always scared the general public with "chinese plastic is toxic". This is simply not the case. All goods imported to EU, US and other regions are subject to the health regulations there. So no worries there.

What do you mean sad. In what way? In the US TLG has not had the same right to prevent clone brands which could help explain the lower prices there. I think the decision is a victory for consumers in general - competition is always good, but is a victory for AFOLs? I don't know.

Lego loses trademark challenge at top EU court BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Danish toymaker Lego failed on Tuesday to quash an EU agency's decision revoking trademark rights for its colourful snap-together plastic building blocks, after a top European court dismissed its appeal. This means that LEGO can no longer prevent other companies from using the LEGO brick (e.g. the 2x4) in marketing purposes, something that they spent conciderable effort in preventing over the years. So what will be the consequences in the long run? More clone brands? Lower prices? Read more and discuss here

From Reuters ================================= Lego loses trademark challenge at top EU court BRUSSELS, Sept 14 | Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:39am EDT BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Danish toymaker Lego failed on Tuesday to quash an EU agency's decision revoking trademark rights for its colourful snap-together plastic building blocks, after a top European court dismissed its appeal. The Luxembourg-based European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld a 2008 ruling by the General Court, which dismissed Lego's challenge to the decision by trademark agency OHIM. "The Lego brick is not registrable as a Community trade mark. It is a sign consisting exclusively of the shape of goods necessary to obtain a technical result," the ECJ said. ================================= Read more here Hm, it's going to be interesting to see what the consequences will be. Higher inflow of clone brands to EU? Lower LEGO prices in EU (down towards US level)?

Interesting that you get to see the picking procedure. My observations: 1) Handpicked bricks (no automatic vibration feeders, no spout or feeding table, no scale that speed up counting - each brick picked indivudally from large bins) 2) Counted once again manually (no control weight scale that I could see) 3) Manually glued together package wrapping. No wonder it's expensive