Future of B5 merchandise

[Springer]

The discussion about the computer game merchandise in the other thread reminded me of something I saw Ben Robinson – the mastermind behind the Star Trek and BSG models at Eaglemoss – say on Twitter earlier this year. Someone had asked him about Eaglemoss licensing B5, and he said they'd asked Warner Bros, who had declined (not surprising), but the reason they declined was interesting.

He said that it was because of a lack of interest from companies wanting to license B5 products, and that it would be too expensive to set up just for Eaglemoss, since WB would have to employ people in licensing who have knowledge of B5, to make sure it was all being licensed correctly. Ben Robinson seemed to think this sounded legit, and I'll take him at his word as he's been involved in a lot of these deals for Eaglemoss.

This all differs from previous accounts that WB are not licensing B5 just to be spiteful because it was a PTEN show. If Robinson is right, it implies that if there were enough interest, enough to make it worthwhile for WB from a financial point of view, then WB might look at doing something.

Here's a link to the relevant conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenCSRobinson/status/1218971101138751491

Thoughts?

 

[Looney]

I agree that it definitely does sound like a legitimate reason, BUT it is also a ridiculous reason - meaning the name of the corporate game is using what you own so how do they not have someone who knows how to market Babylon 5?! Might be time for JMS to try to buy the them out if they no longer even want to allocate resources to market a product they own.

 

[Dusty Satai]

I wonder how that reasoning fits with Mongoose having the licence to make the B5 roleplaying game and the miniature ship combat game A Call to Arms. If I recall correctly they sold very well.

 

[Springer]

I wonder how that reasoning fits with Mongoose having the licence to make the B5 roleplaying game and the miniature ship combat game A Call to Arms. If I recall correctly they sold very well.

I think Warners pulled all B5 licensing around the early- to mid-2000s, so it would have been after Mongoose published the RPG.

I've got some of the painted models from both A Call to Arms and Agents of Gaming's earlier miniature game. I think they are the best B5 model ships available, better than the Micro Machines and the ships that came with the figures. The range of model ships produced is also quite comprehensive, discounting the non-canon ones. I've got a couple of Omega destroyers, the B5 station, and Narn heavy cruiser, a Centauri Vorcha, a Drazi Sunhawk, two or three of the First Ones ships, a Vorlon transport, a whole bunch of fighters and a couple of half-painted White Stars and Shadow ships. Sadly I'm terrible at painting so I try and find them on eBay already painted.

 

[Dusty Satai]

I have a lot of the ACTA ships and some of the earlier ones. But as with the ccg I have to few hours in a day so I've not painted them. Which is sad. Who knows, if I get corona quarantined I might get the time to paint them. But they are great ships. I might even have the station, but it was so many years since I looked at them I might be wrong.

 

[Looney]

I've got some of the painted models from both A Call to Arms and Agents of Gaming's earlier miniature game. I think they are the best B5 model ships available, better than the Micro Machines and the ships that came with the figures. The range of model ships produced is also quite comprehensive, discounting the non-canon ones. I've got a couple of Omega destroyers, the B5 station, and Narn heavy cruiser, a Centauri Vorcha, a Drazi Sunhawk, two or three of the First Ones ships, a Vorlon transport, a whole bunch of fighters and a couple of half-painted White Stars and Shadow ships. Sadly I'm terrible at painting so I try and find them on eBay already painted.

I have a lot of the ACTA ships and some of the earlier ones. But as with the ccg I have to few hours in a day so I've not painted them. Which is sad. Who knows, if I get corona quarantined I might get the time to paint them. But they are great ships. I might even have the station, but it was so many years since I looked at them I might be wrong.

Is it too much to ask to see some pics of these? I would love to see what you are talking about. I have the Micro-Machines and yes they are poor representations.

 

[Springer]

Is it too much to ask to see some pics of these? I would love to see what you are talking about. I have the Micro-Machines and yes they are poor representations.

Here are a couple of mine that I could find - the rest are packed away somewhere. I also found the station, and it's really well painted, but needs glueing back together.

The only one of these that I painted is the Starfury. To give an idea of size, the larger ships are about the size of your phone in length.

 

[Looney]

WOW!!!!! Thank you so much. Those are great. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ubik]

This might also explain the lack of interest in audio drama via Big Finish. Perhaps the demand doesn't justify the set up cost for all the legal work.

 

[Jan]

This might also explain the lack of interest in audio drama via Big Finish. Perhaps the demand doesn't justify the set up cost for all the legal work.

My understanding via two sources is that Big Finish has asked and been denied a license to do B5 dramas.

 

[Ubik]

This might also explain the lack of interest in audio drama via Big Finish. Perhaps the demand doesn't justify the set up cost for all the legal work.

My understanding via two sources is that Big Finish has asked and been denied a license to do B5 dramas.

I should clarify, I meant lack of interest from WB's perspective because of the legal legwork required on their end and associated costs.

 

[Jan]

This might also explain the lack of interest in audio drama via Big Finish. Perhaps the demand doesn't justify the set up cost for all the legal work.

My understanding via two sources is that Big Finish has asked and been denied a license to do B5 dramas.

I should clarify, I meant lack of interest from WB's perspective because of the legal legwork required on their end and associated costs.

Curious what legal legwork would be entailed other than basic license contract vetting which their already-existing legal department would do as a matter of course? I've never heard of extraordinary legal expenses involved in licensing?

 

[Springer]

My understanding via two sources is that Big Finish has asked and been denied a license to do B5 dramas.

I should clarify, I meant lack of interest from WB's perspective because of the legal legwork required on their end and associated costs.

Curious what legal legwork would be entailed other than basic license contract vetting which their already-existing legal department would do as a matter of course? I've never heard of extraordinary legal expenses involved in licensing?

I think it's referring to what I posted in my first post – that the head of Eaglemoss' Star Trek ships collection had enquired with WB about doing a B5 line, and was told that the cost of hiring new staff in the legal and permissions department, training them up on B5 so that they can check the product being made, would not be cost-effective for the money they would get from letting Eaglemoss have the licence. Ben Robinson at Eaglemoss thought this was a legit explanation. Maybe if there were lots of companies wanting to license B5 merchandise, then it would be more worthwhile for WB.

I don't think this lets WB off the hook entirely. It still shows they have no interest in the property and see no future in it so aren't willing to invest - to them, it's dead. But at the same time it also doesn't quite synch with the idea that WB hate B5 (I think the fact that it's still made available to watch, on Comet, on Sky Two, previously on Amazon Prime, shows that WB aren't being that vindictive)

I used to collect soundtrack CDs from the specialist labels, before they started to get a bit too expensive to have shipped over to the UK. Some of the films and TV series that they release soundtracks from are really obscure, but it's fairly common for the labels to sometimes wait years to get all the required permissions – sometimes it can be a matter of just waiting for someone to check the CD cover. I can see now why this is happening, since the film and TV companies probably don't have anyone in legal working on those obscure properties or having knowledge of them, so they're pushed to the back of the queue. Fortunately for soundtrack collectors, the labels seem to have enough contacts in the business, and enough patience, to wait things out.

 

[Looney]

Talk about a coincidence. I was just thinking about this topic a little while ago. A question popped in my head, "Could similar issues be a determining factor in future B5 projects?" Maybe WB doesn't see much reason to explore any kind of B5 rebirth for the sheer fact no one still working there has much knowledge of the property.

Is it possible these licensing issues go hand in hand with future prospects for the franchise? Maybe there just isn't anyone there with the knowledge to know how to deal with it? Maybe the last caretaker just left a note saying hands-off forever and those wishes have been honored.

 

[KoshN]

At this time, I wish I had a "Babylon 5" or Vorlon symbol bandana or face mask. ?

 

[Looney]

At this time, I wish I had a "Babylon 5" or Vorlon symbol bandana or face mask. ?

That does make sense, but I think I would go with the Earth Force Logo or Psi Corps Logo. I know the Encounter Suit idea is better, but I know the logos I like. I wish I had a working ISO Lab mask.

 

[Jan]

At this time, I wish I had a "Babylon 5" or Vorlon symbol bandana or face mask. ?

That does make sense, but I think I would go with the Earth Force Logo or Psi Corps Logo. I know the Encounter Suit idea is better, but I know the logos I like. I wish I had a working ISO Lab mask.

While this isn't quite the same (and yes, it's unlicensed), I found this very attractive B5-related fabric and they even have a mak-your-own mask kit.
https://www.spoonflower.com/en/products/1773007-babylon-5-multi-coloured-logos-by-misstaripie

I think it's quite attractive! Yes, I got some. Whether I can cobble together a mask, I'm not sure.

 

[Looney]

While this isn't quite the same (and yes, it's unlicensed), I found this very attractive B5-related fabric and they even have a mak-your-own mask kit.
https://www.spoonflower.com/en/products/1773007-babylon-5-multi-coloured-logos-by-misstaripie

I think it's quite attractive! Yes, I got some. Whether I can cobble together a mask, I'm not sure.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE EFFORT, but I can't say I am a fan. I would be very interested in seeing what you come up with Jan. Please share if you are successful.

 

[Jan]

(also posted to JMSnews.com)

A really regular question from fans is why there's no new B5 merchandise available.

I'd heard a while back from reliable sources that WB had turned down Big Finish (the audio drama folks) when they approached WB. Now another source, the head of Eaglemoss, who do ship and character figures, says that WB refused to grant them a license, saying that it's 'not a live license' and that they're not interested in reviving it. The interview was on the Inglorious Treksperts podcast titled, SHIP SHAPE w/ BEN ROBINSON and the comment is in the last quarter, I think.

http://inglorioustreksperts.com/?fb...9nWLgUGxDvLzFzb0faFcwCzTmaFX25XUjMrWp-y0TvbiY

So that's why there's no current B5 merchandise despite companies approaching WB to license it. ��

 

[babylonfan]

That is not a good sign for the potential HD conversion that is currently rumoured. See reply 9 onwards on this thread:

http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=42567