Pif Paf City Archived
Like the Western Modular project that came before it, Western Town - Pif Paf City was archived. Still five years out from reaching 10k.
Here is the official 1k statment:
First, congratulations on achieving over 1,600 supporters
for your project. You have created some beautifully detailed models for your
Pif Paf City. Unfortunately, the theme of this project conflicts with a
current license and we cannot consider it for production.
This decision of course takes nothing away from the great
models and presentation you have here--they're outstanding. We're sorry to
disappoint.
Opening ourselves to new product suggestions invites popular
ideas that don't always work. We are grateful for the spirit behind projects
like the Western Town - Pif Paf City, and for the opportunity to be challenged.
It keeps us sharp and looking toward the future of the LEGO brick.So this begs the question....how is a project to make it to 10k if it will be archived any time a Licensed theme conflicts with a project on Cuusoo?
Well, what I would have to say about this is that I assume it is a special case and one of the kinks that the Lego Group needs to work out over time. Remember, Cuusoo is in Beta.
Disney has been working on the Lone Ranger movie on some level since 2008 or earlier (according to Wikipedia). So I figure this is something like what went down:
Sometime between 2009 and 2011ish (probably)
Disney: "Hey, we like what you guys did with Prince of Persia, How about Lone Ranger?"
Lego:" Oh cool, that works out really well. We can give some Western Lego to the fans without a lot of risk and advertising. We even plan an update on the Horses soon so that will be a good use for them. Win-Win Lets do this!"
Disney:"Great, but we both know that the Western is very easy to dilute with modern audiences, so we want assurances you are not going to release any Western Lego before the movie".
Lego: "No problem, lets just do the boilerplate contract."
Disney: "Ok here it is."
Contract: "....Disney & Lego will work together to make a Lone Ranger Lego Line....Until the movie comes out and for X years after release Lego will not produce, advertise, or endorse any Western themed Lego independent of the Lone ranger so as not to not dilute the joint interests of both parties....."
Lego Minifig Series Guy: "Oh hey, we got cowboy minifigs coming up."
Lego "Oh yeah...is that cool with you Dis?"
Disney: "Sure."
Contract: "....Disney & Lego will work together to make a Lone Ranger Lego Line....Until the movie comes out and for X years after release Lego will not produce, advertise, or endorse any Western themed Lego independent of the Lone ranger and figures in the Minifigure Series line so as not to not dilute the joint interests of both parties....."
Many months later at one of the Cuusoo review meeting:
Lego Cuusoo "Man this Western Modular is Fantastic! The fans will love it!"
Lego Contracts "Uh...you can't make that dude, we got a contract with Disney...you can't even give it a pass as that would constitute as 'endorsement.' So, sorry dudes."
Lego Cuusoo "What! Is there anything we can do?"
Lego Contracts: "Well, we really were not considering Cuusoo when the original contract went through. We are stuck with this as is for the time being. For now, Cuusoo cannot in any way endorse or promote an exclusively western set. Next time we make a contract perhaps we will be able to take Cuusoo projects into consideration but this was all planned out years ago."
Lego Cuusoo "Doh!...Well, that is why we are in Beta I guess. Hopefully we can all be smarter about this next time."
A few months later
Lego Cuusoo: "Hey Contracts...There is another Western project that passed 1k...We are suppose to write a comment about it, can we just say good job and let them continue...or would that still be "endorsement?"'
Lego Contracts: "Well it is the 'Official Lego Comment' so yeah, that would be endorsing a Western Project, dude! We really didn't notice it the first time through with the modulars, but now we (and Disney) all know about the Western theme issue."
Lego Cuusoo: "Doh!"
END SCENE
So, I see this more as a growing pains issue for Cuusoo. Yeah, some great projects got caught in the crossfire, and I am sure that more will in the future too. At the very least I would hope that more informed contracts going forward protect Cuusoo projects form getting archived on their way to 10k. From my estimates Pif Paf had nearly five years to go before its review so it would not have been a serious threat to any franchises that Lego is dipping its toes in (well, unless the contract includes sequels as well), but in all likelihood, Lego made a very broad and sweeping contract with Disney, why wouldn't they, and Cuusoo is caught in the middle of that for the time being.
Approaching 1k Milestone
LEGO WALL-E!! and Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary passed the 1k milestone last week. I will have more to say on them later today. The following projects are relatively slow moving and should be with us for another week at the very least.
Deadline Review
The next review is June 3rd, 2013. 74 days from today. Right now we are looking at a definite for Mini Shop Series and Batmobile Tumbler Minifig Scale. Legend of Zelda: Iron Knuckle Encounter is slowing down significantly and may not meet the deadline.Do you want to speed a project up?
Projects can get to 10k much faster than what is shown here with active fan support. This link has many examples of how fans can help out their favorite projects.Days to 10K
Not on the List? First, I tend to cut off projects after a certain day count, usually 10k. Additionally, I only monitor projects that have at least 200. Projects less than that are a little too volatile for proper assessment. Finally, I track several weeks worth of data to get these numbers, so you might not show up until your project has been post 200 for a few weeks.
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