Chameleon/Baroness

[The Commander]

Question,

In the 2000 re-release of Cobra Commander and Baroness, why is she known as 'Chameleon'? I thought I read somewhere it was a licensing issue but not sure what to make of that.

Thanks!

[Shin Densetsu]

Question,

In the 2000 re-release of Cobra Commander and Baroness, why is she known as 'Chameleon'? I thought I read somewhere it was a licensing issue but not sure what to make of that.

Thanks!
Hasbro couldn't use the name at the time because someone else was using it, so Chameleon was created as her sister.

[bluebikerboy1]

twin sisters? didnt know that

[Hauntedh8]

She was just a half sister not twin, she got plastic surgery to look like the Baroness to infultrate Cobra. She was a actually a Joe member.

[The Commander]

I don't understand how they couldn't use a name they have copyrighted...was there another toy by Hasbro using the name Baroness, or are you indeed saying another company was using the name?

Thanks!

[tkprime]

you have to understand that copyrights have to be renewed,, case in point Gen. Tomahawk, gen. hawk's name was a issue because lenard toys was using the name at the time (for Shame hasbro, for shame!!!!!
The Baroness issue was resolved, as were others, I remember reading a letter where hasbro's said they were resolving the copyright issues, but how many are left to be resolved? that's anyone's guess, Sgt. Bazooka, Sgt. Airborne, cover girl, there's plety of examples for you. Go ahead, go see for yourself, times have not been good for joe names.

[The Commander]

Thank you for the clarification tkprime.

[Hauntedh8]

As far as another Hasbro toy using it, that would not be a problem. If a company has the rights to the name they can use it on as many toys as they want. Example Transformers and GI joe both have char called Shockwave, and its perfectly ok. A few years back Lanard had the rights to the name so Hasbro could not use it so the 2 transformers intended to be Shockwave became Shockblast and the Joes updated Shockwave became Wide Scope.

[Shin Densetsu]

I don't understand how they couldn't use a name they have copyrighted...was there another toy by Hasbro using the name Baroness, or are you indeed saying another company was using the name?

Thanks!
Nope, if Hasbro had the name on another toy, they could have still used it for her. Another company was probably using it. Funny thing about lanard, they make "the corps".

Anyways this is the reason why a lot of gijoe and tf names are interchangeable, its to keep the rights to the names all under the same roof so to speak. Its a way to secure the names.

[tkprime]

I believe copyrights for toys last 5 years, back in the old hasbro days it's the reason certain joes and cobras were updated every few years. And as forthe "corps" I am proud to announce that the new Wal-Mart planogram has these suckers about 10 feet from our "Real American Heroes"

[tmthor]

I believe copyrights for toys last 5 years, back in the old hasbro days it's the reason certain joes and cobras were updated every few years. And as forthe "corps" I am proud to announce that the new Wal-Mart planogram has these suckers about 10 feet from our "Real American Heroes"

Hey some of the Corps stuff was good back in the day..

Copyright issues is the same reason they have to name TF toys "Autobot Jazz" , "Decepticon Brawl" & my fav "Rodimus Major" For Hot Rod

[sharke]

my fav "Rodimus Major" For Hot Rod

I prefer Hot Rodimus

[Rockshield]

I believe copyrights for toys last 5 years, back in the old hasbro days it's the reason certain joes and cobras were updated every few years. And as forthe "corps" I am proud to announce that the new Wal-Mart planogram has these suckers about 10 feet from our "Real American Heroes"

Unfortunately this is not true in Ohio. The corps are right next to the Joes on the shelves, and they are actually the items that you see first, as they are the first item on the shelf when you come into the toy aisle. This is the case with the Wal-Mart that is 5 miles north of me. The Wal-Mart 5 miles south is carrying only the Corps, and after the new planogram, dumped all older solider toys including G.I. Joe!!!

[tkprime]

blame your wal-mart toy manager, it's not the sales dept. it's the managers, I talkthe region manager here in Gulfport and if a toy manager doesn't enter in certain upcs into the talizan (scanner gun) then it's not updated into the computer, if this goes on long enough toys get dropped in the store, so it sounds to me your beef should be at at stores toy manager.

[gijoe071681]

great thanx alot now i have to go and find a widescope figure just cause i liked shockwave. but at least that explains why all the name changes

[MHydra]

I would much rather a long-standing character have a jank lame 'new' name than a whole 'different' character be created, as in the Chameleon/Baroness case. Baroness Anastasia De Cobray would have been fine with me. Plus it would have spared us the soap opera plot rip-off from the '80s.