UE, Billy Trucks, FLM, RCM

[_paralyzed_]

I wonder how big Mike wants to grow RCM?

Billy Trucks is back up and selling knockoff UE parts. Robin Oury never patented anything.

Between RCM and FLM they have the ability to reverse engineer all the UE parts and start making them, and they have a place to sell them. And in my eyes these two companies are just as prestigous as UE.

If I wasn't crippled I would have been making lightning chassis' years ago and becoming rich. I just could never afford the parts to reverse engineer.

You guys get where I'm going with this?

MIKE! Close the open market. Make UE knockoffs!

Any opinions?

[JERRY2KONE]

Now that is pretty interesting news Harold. No wonder Robin was always so pissed off at the world. He had a great product and could have really done something with it and kept it going. Though he was always complaining that there is no money in making stuff for R/C. This is a chance for someone else to jump in and make a few bucks. If people are paying $800 for the lightning SuperMaxx chassis on Ebay then there has to be some money in reproducing them. I like the RCM/Fastlane chassis because of the price and it works well, but the lightning chassis is truly a nice piece of CNC hardware. The attention to detail on the lightning is a good example for others to follow for high quality R/C products for sure. I to wish someone would snatch the opportunity and start making some equivilant stuff. Same thing with the UltraMaxx gear sets for the two speed E-Maxx tranny. I know there is always arguments against using the two speed tranny, but who cars if people want to buy them. I have 6 of them now with metal gears installed. Sorry to say though Harold I doubt if anyone wants to take this one on and do anything with it.

[_paralyzed_]

Well, Billy boy did the footwork and figured out the legality. There is no reason not to. I gotta buy a waterjet..........

[Takedown]

Damn, this is a pretty ingenius but a total asshole move at the same time.

[_paralyzed_]

it's business...

[jordan...]

IMHO i think it would be bad for RCM. Look how this whole fiasco has affected Billytrucks, i have dealt many times with him and have been very satisfied with his great customer service. But this whole copy parts thing taints his good reputation, and im sure many will not deal with him anymore. If RCM and FLM get in on this as well, itll just reduce them to the same level as Billytrucks and also Integy dont forget. UE is UE, nuff said.

[George16]

He opened up the door so to speak. We'll see if UE will start making parts again like promised by Robin.

[magman]

With Mike's business ever expanding, with his business now, he could probably keep 2 cnc machines running 24/7...Add this new idea and Mike would never be seen again....

I agree with some of the above thoughts....interesting concept

I'm not holding my breath....I'd love to see it happen. Realize I am not a betting man, but I'd almost bet we're never going to see those new parts.

I really, really hope I'm wrong, its just I've watched that saga for tooo long to not be a touch jaded and pessimistic.

[JERRY2KONE]

You see this is my point exactly. I can understand being angry about this if it was interfering with UE sales, but UE stocks have been pretty much none existant for a long time now. It is obvious that Robin is not going to support our interest in any of this or he would have kept filling the shelves so we could buy his stuff. If UE is not going to make the gear we want anymore, then why not have someone else copy it and sell it??? It is only an integrity issue if you are directly competing against the original designer/manufatcurer. This is obviously not the case here. Robin has given up on us a long time ago.

[ssspconcepts]

I don't personally know Mike, but doubt he will want to do something like that because he probably doesn't want to taint his reputation by being perceived as somebody that would infringe upon the competition by using someone else's proprietary designs-even if it was "their" fault not to do the leg work of getting the appropriate patent. I speculate that Mike will release his own line of patented and trade marked products that are compatible with many different rc brands. The slipperential is a perfect example...a slipper and diff combined...that will work in almost any rc vehicle that uses a center diff or center slipper. If it is marketed properly and the demand is high....then you could see Losi, Associated, X-Ray, Kyosho, etc. all clamboring to offer some version of his patented slipperential with their latest new and improved buggy/truggy. Look at the "new" diffs that X-Ray and Losi just came out with...lord only knows who really has the patent. It could be that one of these big companies tries to buy the slipperential patent out from under Mike...I hope he perseveres and stays the course as I think it would benefit him in the long run.

As for UE stuff...it is a shame that Robin doesn't retart his production. The craftsmanship of his parts (not the ofna based components) is truly second to none. My guess it just is not cost effective to maintain that level of attention to detail. He was probably barely making any money on what he was producing.

[ssspconcepts]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

You see this is my point exactly. I can understand being angry about this if it was interfering with UE sales, but UE stocks have been pretty much none existant for a long time now. It is obvious that Robin is not going to support our interest in any of this or he would have kept filling the shelves so we could buy his stuff. If UE is not going to make the gear we want anymore, then why not have someone else copy it and sell it??? It is only an integrity issue if you are directly competing against the original designer/manufatcurer. This is obviously not the case here. Robin has given up on us a long time ago.

Your point on integrity is true and I agree...but it is from the buyer's perspective. I am sure Robin and other market competitors have a very different opinion. Otherwise we wouldn't continue to see folks get so emotional on this topic and we wouldn't continue to see the outbursts.

[jayjay283]

I agree with what SSS and all of you said, I worked for a comany that had patents, they seemed to run out after ??? 25, 15 years I dunno the lady who ran this operation never renued them and others tried to make the stuff, but it just wasnt the same. No name behind it. They tired but the name UE or in my case BIG RED just carries on. Why copy when Mike can make better stuff, he IMO just needs more workers or a better audience who will purchase. Im sure if we started an.."I want to buy a maxx motor mount like paralized has (single maxx bad boy) and send him $50 down payment after 20 pre orders he would have to love us lol

[crazyjr]

Originally Posted by ssspconcepts

I don't personally know Mike, but doubt he will want to do something like that because he probably doesn't want to taint his reputation by being perceived as somebody that would infringe upon the competition by using someone else's proprietary designs-even if it was "their" fault not to do the leg work of getting the appropriate patent. I speculate that Mike will release his own line of patented and trade marked products that are compatible with many different rc brands. The slipperential is a perfect example...a slipper and diff combined...that will work in almost any rc vehicle that uses a center diff or center slipper. If it is marketed properly and the demand is high....then you could see Losi, Associated, X-Ray, Kyosho, etc. all clamboring to offer some version of his patented slipperential with their latest new and improved buggy/truggy. Look at the "new" diffs that X-Ray and Losi just came out with...lord only knows who really has the patent. It could be that one of these big companies tries to buy the slipperential patent out from under Mike...I hope he perseveres and stays the course as I think it would benefit him in the long run.

As for UE stuff...it is a shame that Robin doesn't retart his production. The craftsmanship of his parts (not the ofna based components) is truly second to none. My guess it just is not cost effective to maintain that level of attention to detail. He was probably barely making any money on what he was producing.

I agree to a point, and understand mike might not want into it. But would you rather buy from someone that makes quality copies (with permission of course) or cheap knockoffs. If Mike were to do this, I'm sure he'd do it right and ask to copy, using the identical materials, so as to not take away from the origional quality and durability. Someone less dedicated than mike (to the hobby and to UE) would take shortcuts and soon UE would be a joke and myth

[What's_nitro?]

IMO, if UE didn't have a design patent for any of their parts, then I see no problem with what BT did. I never saw any of the actual auctions, so the only issue would be if he were selling them as "100% UE" parts, since the name itself is copyrighted.

Aside from that, I agree with _paralyzed_. If I could afford a CNC machine I'd be making them too. Just put "Like UE" in the description, not "UE parts".