I seem to recall that some years ago, UP sued Microsoft for using an unauthorized image of one of their trains in one of the company’s print or TV advertisements, but could find no other information about the lawsuit in the Seattle paper. What was the issue at hand, and does anyone recall how the suit got decided?
Riprap
If my memory is correct, Microsoft was going to feature UP locomotives for its Train Simulator and UP wanted the royalty so they went to BNSF.
UP didn’t want to be part of MSTS because they were afraid people were going to steal their trains.
With the rash of recent locomotive thefts throughout the country by persons who play MSTS, their fears seem to have been justified [;)]
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Lawyers[banghead]! Amazing the way they think![}:)]
So, what you’re saying is that BNSF provided the locos for free?!
Yes, that’s what I recall, BNSF allowed use of their scheme at no cost. Also, the actual locomotive, No. 4723 has the Microsoft Train Simulator printed on the locomotive
And how is it that “they” think? And, I am sure UP’s trademark rant was all the brain child of a lawyer . . .
Moreover, if you let Microsoft use your trademark, you are going to have a considerably more difficult time preventing a rap video from using a Centenial UP locomotive in which they are blowing up cars from the track or something like that–true story, which may well have been the impetus for UP’s decision.
If UP doesn’t protect its trademark, it can surrender the right to do so. As far as I am concerned, a company that spends millions of dollars a year on a steam program–to say nothing of some of its other active historic engines–to bolster its public image has every right to see to it that its trademark is not used in ways that are impermissible.
But, maybe that is silly lawyer thinking.
Gabe
3 cheers for BNSF !!![:D]
Sorry, but I can’t say the same for “that other railroad”.
From what I hear about MSTS, you probably couldn’t steal a locomotive anyway. Those danged enginners keep shutting their locomotives down in the nearby yard and MSTS doesn’t have a convenient start up menu. I can deal with the fact that they lock the doors now, and I can even deal with them removing reverse levers. It’s finding a place to plug my keyboard in that’s confusing.
I wouldn’t know. I am too busy trying to get an autotrain down the backside of Marias Pass, but I keep derailing the last car! And everytime I pass a red signal the locomotive automatically stops! What is with that, anyway?
I believe BNSF also allowed cab access to Marias Pass, though the game developers made the geometry steeper so people would “feel” like they were actually climbing a mountain.
Yeah, the last time a bunch of kids broke into a parked train, they couldn’t get it going either. No place to plug in the keyboard and they couldn’t find the tab key on the display to get permission to pass the red light and get going.
The stock routes just plain suck in my opinion. Pick up a good after market route like 3D Trainstuff. Makes it much more fun.
I would like to see some more routes for the UP, possibly Sherman Hill or Echo canyon. But most of the ones I have downloaded, I can never get to work, I think I have only 2 or 3 that do.
Well, ya get what you pay for. I have got a couple free ones that work. North Coast Ry (NWP) runs great, has good graphics and pleanty of track and I got it for free, but that’s the exception. The ones I have bought from 3-D Trainstuff all run great and they come with lots of prototypical rolling stock too. Then there are ones I have downloaded that were a complete waste of time.