"Something Fishy Here." Topic

I was browsing the boards and found a link to eM-4 (I had never heard of this dealer before) in this thread
TMP link

I was curious and began browsing the site when I came across this
link

I could tell these were obviously ripped from the oop copplestone halflings
picture
(I couldn't fins any more good pics)

I looked around eM-4's site to see if I could find if they had purchased the molds or the rights to sell modified Copplestone figs and didn't see anything. Maybe someone knows more about this than I. I was thinking I should contact Copplestone but, as I'm no expert on copyrights and not sure these figs aren't somehow legit as the Copplestone ones are oop I thought I'd see what ya'll had to say.

nothing fishy at all, em4 are very well known, respected and long established and own the rights to those ranges they sell.

Looking at the two side by side, I'm not seeing a rip off. Yes, some of the poses are similar, and the shape of some of the figures is similar, but they don't appear to be exact copies. They are probably original works.

They are the old Fantasy Warrior minis which eM-4 own the rights to produce.

I think you'll have a hard time stirring up the torch and pitchfork brigade on this one.

Those are not rip-offs of the Copplestone Castings halflings. They are from the old Grenadier "Fantasy Warriors" range.

There are more companies who have legitimately purchased this range than you can shake a stick at, and em-4 is one. You can find some of the history at this not-too-recent Frothers page:

link

I'd be cautious about suggesting that em-4 is not completely within its rights to advertise and sell these. If something smells fishy, maybe it's time to take out the trash.

Allen

Cool. I thought it might be ligit. Thats why I asked.

I believe em4 also sells the old Grenadier barbarians which were also sculpted by Copplestone.

Yep. Copplestone sculpted all of it so I guess maybe he was copying his own intellectual property. I'd like to see that court case.

"I guess maybe he was copying his own intellectual property. I'd like to see that court case."

Look up the case involving John Fogerty sometime. Sued for imitating himself.

Maybe your topic should be less condemning when you are unsure.

Thanks,

John

Made a bit of a tit of yourself there Sgt Carl.

I dunno. Someone as efficient and pleasant to deal with as Doug must be hiding something unwholesome, surely?

Definitely the smart move – why on earth would you, oh, send a company an email asking "those look nice, are they Copplestone?" when you can post on a public board "something fishy here" instead. Obviously it's deeply damning against EM-4 that you've never heard of them. It's not like they've been going for a good few years, selling a range that pre-dates the one you think they're ripping off…. Oh, is that wrong…?

Copplestone sculpted all of it so I guess maybe he was copying his own intellectual property.

I would presume that the original deal with Grenadier probably involved the copyrights for the figures sculpted for the Fantasy Warriors line being transferred to Grenadier, so they would no longer be Mr Copplestone's property.

Griefbringer

Well, I'm sure Doug could clarify the situation if he opens up this thread.
When Mark Copplestone started to produce his own modern/near future figs he had to make some changes to the masters to avoid infringing the original rights, that's why the heads are not the same. At least that's how I understand it.

Well, I'm sure Doug could clarify the situation if he opens up this thread.

why does it need clarifying?

there's absolutely nothing fishy here at all (which has been clearly pointed out by a number of people).

How could it be any clearer?

What's that horrible Styx song? "Too much time on my hands?"

Having looked at the pictures and the Copplestone figures that I have. As the US show dealer for Mr Coppelstone these last 8 years I can say that these are not the same figures. Although the poses are simmilar.

Mark has done some wonderful work for other companies. None of us know for sure,(except Mark) what figures he has done and for who in the past.

I suggest that next time you ask the question direct to Mark
or at least to me and I would find out for you rather than casting aspersions on a reputable Company.

Have you thought to ask him direct?
It would be good manners.

I have had people post a similar thread about me and the poster even contacted the manufacturer direct without even thinking to ask me first.
The manufacturer knew about me selling what looked like his stuff as I was buying off him.

I was not impressed to say the least to be accused of being less than ethical.

Michael
angelbarracks.co.uk

why does it need clarifying?

Fair cop, poor phrasing on my part. I meant to say that Doug would be able to verify that he has rights to these sculpts. I know the history of the old Grenadier figures is a saga but Doug's rights are not disputed.

Hahahaha…this thread is funny.

I went to Tesco's the other day and they were selling…HEINZ products!

Good god, I thought. I wonder if Heinz know about this? There were also beans that looked suspiciously like Heinz but they had a different label on them…they were Branston! I hope Tesco's realise the mess they'll be in if Heinz find out…

…seems a bit fishy to me ;).

First post could have been:

'Are Em4 a reputable company and do they sell old Copplestone figures?'

Rather than:

'Some slanderous post'.

People…they do make me smile sometimes :).