Coleco strong-arming homebrew publishers and fan sites

[Akito01]

Craziness! There's no way they own the trademark on Burgertime - there was a new (if poor) version of the game done just 5 years ago (but admittedly was eventually delisted) .

 

Guys - can we please keep this thread on topic!!! And on that subject:

 

 

 

The trademarks supposedly "owned" by Coleco Holding LLC listed at the above link are:

 

 

• ColecoVision Flashback
• Pepper II
• Jungle Hunt
• Frenzy
• Choplifter! (Abandoned)
• Jumpman Junior
• Space Fury
• Bump 'N' Jump
• Burgertime (Abandoned)
• Coleco (hand-helds)
• Coleco (video games)
• Head to Head
• ColecoVision
• Electronic Quarterback (Abandoned)
• Coleco Vision (Abandoned)
• Plus some older abandoned ones.

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

 

Here's another comment that has just been posted at the above link. <Sarcasm on> Coleco sound like a wonderful company so I just don't understand why Robb was so unreasonable with them. <Sarcasm off> Red text is my highlighting.

 

e7331 says:

May 26, 2017 at 12:12 pm

For starters, I’m currently working on two different projects with Coleco, however I will keep this comment as unbiased at possible, since, above all, gaming is my passion. That being said, I do have some inside information regarding this matter, and I’m interested to see how the community reacts to my point of view.

1. They asked nicely for them to take down a pornographic game post.(And i DO mean pornographic as a very loose term.) It wasn’t as disrespect, or even trying to strong arm the community into anything. The reason why is because they are in the process of releasing Coleco products marketed for kids. When they asked them to take it down (again, NOT DEMANDED), they became indignant, and started to threaten them with the exact repercussions they’re facing now, which is, “You can’t tell us what to do, and we’re going to turn the community against you if you try”.

2. I’ve read a few different posts from people, pitchforks in hand, bemoaning about how wrong it is that Coleco is trying to target, and shut down the home brew community. This.. is actually kind of hilarious. Coleco is currently employing three different home brew programmers to work on various projects. I know at least one of the developers declined to comment on this matter because said person is afraid of community backlash… if that tells you something.

3. I spent some time with one of the current owners of Coleco. I can pretty much tell you as a fact that he bought into the Coleco IP to work on as a passion project. That dude has the craziest GI Joe collection I’ve ever seen, and he loves all things 80’s. Does he want the upcoming projects to be successful? Of course. But these projects are far the image of a money grabbing scheme that some people are trying to paint. The people I’ve met with seemed extremely busy with a multitude of different projects, gaming and non-gaming alike. It didn’t seem to me like the type of operation that would be involved with petty things such as attacking its own community.

4. The Chameleon fiasco occurred before I started working with Coleco. I read through the entire forum posts in disbelief just like some of you did. So when the company contacted me to do work with them, I really wanted to know what was going on with that situation before I agreed to work with them. From what I understand, Coleco wanted to partner with somebody, who, again, is highly involved in the Retro Gaming/Home brew community, to create a console. My professional opinion is that the team trying to produce that console was a little bit over their head, but well intentioned.. And that Coleco was offering its trademark to market the console, but wasn’t involved with much else. So, in retrospect, the fact that Coleco still tries to have the retro gaming community involved in creating products is.. to put lightly.. surprising? I think any other company would immediately write off trying to do business with members of its small homebrew community after that debacle.

That’s my two cents. The entire gaming community is notorious for shitting on the companies that make them. Business as usual I suppose.

My thoughts are what a load of biased BS.

 

Derp.

 

I was reading this and that comment sounded so much like a shill by the company, then I read,

 

 

The Chameleon fiasco occurred before I started working with Coleco.

 

and was like, "yup."

[Flojomojo]

 

There's at least one voice of sanity that replied to the post:

 

RÖB says:

May 26, 2017 at 1:51 pm

I, as a complete bystander who has nothing to do with this scene either by hay of coleco or the fan boys, immediately dismiss this as fictitious on the basis of posts that I have read that provide proof of the interaction that has occurred between coleco and that fan club that coleco now denies and is deleting comments from where they can (such as facebook) rather than attempting to in any way address the legitimate concerns of onlookers.

 

The deleting comments on Facebook and other locations is very interesting - and completely damning against them. Glad that the evidence, and the truth, has been preserved in this thread where they cannot touch it.

Voice of sanity, heh. Read a little more -- that RöB person is a kook. He also assumed that AtariAge was being hacked or taken offline for posting things -- but it was his network configuration. So he assumed (without evidence) that it was AtariAge blocking his access because he's on a VPN. Then he said he "turns his back on sites" that do that. I wouldn't trust his ability to determine "fictitious" (his word) statements from the truth.

[opcode]

So many lies and false accusations. My deal with them was for an one time license, not "one run" as they say, big difference for those familiar with what one time license means. In exchanges I am pretty comfortable saying that I did my part by promoting them when requested and providing free consulting.

No one was "looking the other way" as we were always in touch during all runs.

Behind the scene accusations I stole his specs for the new console, I am still waiting for them to prove that by posting here any specs they sent me so we can compare (his "better than a NES" thing).

As for using their logo, first contact about the matter was 2 weeks ago, through improper channels (my wife personal FB, even though they have my email), when my wife was asked to provide proof of royalties payment and a copy of the agreement. I replied that I would discuss the matter with someone inside the company that actually knows about it and had a copy of the agreement. I sent the email and never got an answer until all of this started.

So I understand they desire to protect the brand they grabbed (using a Ben Heck's portable CV picture they took from his website), but the way all of this was handled was disastrous.

[opcode]

Oh yeah, forgot something. I left the console project because I learned coleco was in touch with the individual that had been selling non authorized copies of our games for about a year. I asked Coleco to stop any further deals and explained the situation. Coleoc refused (thier right), I quit (my right). Now that is the same individual that claims in the Coleco official FB page that he got authorization to sell copies of our games from Coleco (I posted a screenshot here a while ago). It is also the same individual that provided Coleco with copies of copyright complains we filled against him last year (also posted here somewhere). And also the same individual Coleco told us just a few days ago they would be protecting us from.

[opcode]

And how all of that can lead to a fan page receiving copyright infringement complains is beyond me.

[Ikrananka]

And also the same individual Coleco told us just a few days ago they would be protecting us from.

 

Wow - seriously, they stated that they're going to protect him? From the vicious homebrewers who have been attacking a poor bootlegger of THEIR work? If anything I'd say it might have needed to be the other way around - that is if he had been of any significance.

 

If this is what they have said then they are much worse than I thought and clearly have no interest at all in the truly working with the community that has kept the ColecoVision alive all of these years. Cardillo and his ©rap team are just pathetic.

[Northcoastgamer]

Please let WCT know about it!

 

 

They have already been notified. I have also been in contact with Nintendo, Microsoft, the Better Business Bureau, Federal Agencies and some other folks as well. My friends I can assure you,

 

[opcode]

 

Wow - seriously, they stated that they're going to protect him? From the vicious homebrewers who have been attacking a poor bootlegger of THEIR work? If anything I'd say it might have needed to be the other way around - that is if he had been of any significance.

 

If this is what they have said then they are much worse than I thought and clearly have no interest at all in the truly working with the community that has kept the ColecoVision alive all of these years. Cardillo and his ©rap team are just pathetic.

No no. They said that if we agree to their terms they would protect us from bootleggers. Now how many CV homebrew bootleggers do you know? And the fact that the aforementioned bootlegger is now helping them to attach Robb. Just search for their last post. They stated that there.

[enoofu]

Don't forgot Wicked Cool Toys, and Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc as they are being damaged by all those Cabbage Patch Toys images and trademarks RWB is using

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Believe a lot of the issues between RWB (Mark Thomann, and Chris Cardillo) and the community is that they don't understand Gaming and technical related collecting in general. Things such as editing roms and trying to make clones of games for hobby purposes generally isn't frown on but encouraged

 

Sounds like they are just are shrinkwrap collectors and don't understand the old Coleco audience one bit

[keepdreamin]

at this point, why would any homebrew dev want to partner with these guys at any level?

 

would you want these guys promoting your game after seeing their PR skills?

 

there's no reason anyone should stop making games for the CV. RWB certainly doesn't have the right to dictate content. just don't slap trademarked logos you don't have the right to on your product. simple

Edited May 27, 2017 by keepdreamin

[Keatah]

at this point, why would any homebrew dev want to partner with these guys at any level?

 

..because $$$.

[keepdreamin]

 

..because $$$.

 

sounds like there's better odds at a casino

[keepdreamin]

 

 

Sounds like they are just are shrinkwrap collectors

 

No, they are simply business men who are wringing whatever profits are left out of an ancient brand.

[Flojomojo]

...because $$$.

More like ¢¢¢, I would think.

[DuggerVideoGames]

No no. They said that if we agree to their terms they would protect us from bootleggers. Now how many CV homebrew bootleggers do you know? And the fact that the aforementioned bootlegger is now helping them to attach Robb. Just search for their last post. They stated that there.

They operate like mobsters who hit up street vendors for "protection money".

[mr_me]

...

Believe a lot of the issues between RWB (Mark Thomann, and Chris Cardillo) and the community is that they don't understand Gaming and technical related collecting in general. Things such as editing roms and trying to make clones of games for hobby purposes generally isn't frown on but encouraged

...

Some IP owners encourage it, some tolerate it, and some stop it. Best to do it in a way that is respectfull to the IP owners. With Colecovision games and the MSX Kung-Fu Master, I don't even know who the IP owners are; but it's not RWB. I don't think RWB cares about "bootlegging" games since they might be "bootlegging" games themselves. They are just trying to establish ownership of the colecovision trademark.

 

More like ¢¢¢, I would think.

You never know. Intellivision Productions sold over four million "direct-to-tv" game units. Actually, it was a licensing deal with Technosource.

[Flojomojo]

Maybe COLECOtm worries that if they "suffer and permit" infringing things with their name on it, they could have to pay damages somewhere down the line. I will not share my opinion on that delicious schedenfruede pie of an idea.

 

I've heard that the Technosource Intellivision TV game did quite well. I believe it -- as one of the early plug&play units, it came out when lots of these things were doing well at retail. I ordered one direct from Intellivision, excited to see an unbranded Deadly Discs game. The thing was a shit sandwich and I returned it, which really says something because I usually like everything. Maybe one could sell 1Mil of anything in the pre-smartphone TV game era.

 

While I would happily accept any surplus funds from the "didn't sell enough units to bother with another run" Colecovision Flashback, I still wonder how much CV homebrews could really be worth.

[Ikrananka]

 

 

Here's another comment that has just been posted at the above link. <Sarcasm on> Coleco sound like a wonderful company so I just don't understand why Robb was so unreasonable with them. <Sarcasm off> Red text is my highlighting.

 

e7331 says:

May 26, 2017 at 12:12 pm

... I’m currently working on two different projects with Coleco, however I will keep this comment as unbiased at possible, since, above all, gaming is my passion....

My thoughts are what a load of biased BS.

 

 

So, this guy who tried to pretend he was the voice of unbiased reason has now shown his true colours by pointing people to a despicable extremist hate website. I'm not going to repeat what he said here, but suggest you take a look and judge for yourself. I'm wondering if this isn't Fred himself seeing as this is exactly his type of M.O.

[Jess Ragan]

Yeah, anyone who uses Encyclopedia Dumbassica as a source deserves as much serious consideration as the kook on the corner brandishing an "End of the World" sign.

[TPR]

Oh this is great! Check out the latest group Coleco is promoting at their expo:

 

Then let's click on their website and what do we see?

 

That's right! Their product uses the official Nintendo logo!

 

So Coleco & Chris Cardillo - Since this is something you're promoting and OBVIOUSLY you've done your due diligence before showcasing this group, is it safe to assume that we can use the Coleco logos as long as we write "Unlicensed by Coleco Holdings LLC" because clearly that would be hypocritical of you to promote one group and bash another for doing *THE EXACT SAME THING!!!*

 

Don't bother replying, I know the answer...

[Flojomojo]

Because it's not *their* mark, of course.

 

I wonder how much it cost to acquire COLECOtm, anyway? I don't suppose that would be public information, would it?

[DuggerVideoGames]

Oh this is great! Check out the latest group Coleco is promoting at their expo:

Screen Shot 2017-05-27 at 19.51.06.png

 

Then let's click on their website and what do we see?

2cf2f4ec518618fb6f3219ad1576be94_original.png

 

That's right! Their product uses the official Nintendo logo!

Screen Shot 2017-05-27 at 19.35.54.png

 

So Coleco & Chris Cardillo - Since this is something you're promoting and OBVIOUSLY you've done your due diligence before showcasing this group, is it safe to assume that we can use the Coleco logos as long as we write "Unlicensed by Coleco Holdings LLC" because clearly that would be hypocritical of you to promote one group and bash another for doing *THE EXACT SAME THING!!!*

 

Don't bother replying, I know the answer...

So they say it's an NES cart but it's NOT for the NES. They're dumber than I originally thought. Of course those hypocrites are fine with others using the Nintendo logo and supporting those who use the Nintendo logo. They're fine with whatever they say is okay; they're contradictory and hypocritical jerks.

Edited May 28, 2017 by DuggerVideoGames

[PlaysWithWolves]

The cynical view would be the whole thing is trickery, because unless one actually pays attention the mind just assumes it's the official licensed one (this one's from Gargoyle's Quest 2):

 

 

I guess the more charitable view might be that they were just having fun with the label design while having some amount of CYA.

 

 

That's right! Their product uses the official Nintendo logo!

Screen Shot 2017-05-27 at 19.35.54.png

 

So Coleco & Chris Cardillo - Since this is something you're promoting and OBVIOUSLY you've done your due diligence before showcasing this group, is it safe to assume that we can use the Coleco logos as long as we write "Unlicensed by Coleco Holdings LLC" because clearly that would be hypocritical of you to promote one group and bash another for doing *THE EXACT SAME THING!!!*

 

Don't bother replying, I know the answer...

Edited May 28, 2017 by PlaysWithWolves

[Omega-TI]

This thread is by far the wildest, most out-of-this-world bizarrely entertaining one I've followed in a while. It's got everything, absurdity, tragedy, hypocrisy, humor, you name it, it's in here! What could possibly come next?