Master Replicas Bought by Factory Entertainment

iceman · May 14, 2009, 04:10:30 PM

Factory Entertainment re;eased a press release today stating they have bought Master Replicas. This might explain the cancellation of the tricorders.

Rico · May 14, 2009, 04:46:13 PM

What?!? Who is Factory Entertainment??

Rico · May 14, 2009, 04:47:37 PM

Ok - found the story over on the Replica Prop Forum:

Factory Entertainment Announces Acquisition of "Master Replicas®" and Foresees a Bright Future for the Brand

LONDON—(BUSINESS WIRE) - Master Replicas, the iconic collectibles brand long associated with top quality prop replicas, is now under new control and management. Factory Entertainment has completed a deal to take over control of the Master Replicas Brand and IP from previous owner Hong Kong based Corgi International Ltd. (CIL). In addition to the brand and IP, Factory Entertainment will also control certain designs and tools used for products previously produced by Corgi under the Master Replicas brand name. Factory Entertainment, a new collectibles entity formed by industry veteran Darren Epstein, founder of Cards Inc. and a previous employee of Corgi, will focus its efforts on growing the Master Replicas brand with authentic, relevant prop collectibles with strong secondary market appeal.

Darren Epstein commented "The brand continues to resonate as the market leader in its field and we believe that a new team of people can reboot the brand with a fresh approach and new licenses as a part of the Factory Entertainment family. We intend to announce new licenses for the Master Replicas brand as well as certain others that the company will release under the Factory Entertainment brand name. Our goal will be to synergize the two brands to bring collectible product to market with a broad appeal across a broad price range." Factory Entertainment is a toy and collectibles company with headquarters in London and offices in California. The company designs, develops and markets licensed products under the "Factory Entertainment" and "Master Replicas" brand names.

For More Information, Contact:

Darren Epstein
Darren@factoryent.com

Barry Eldridge
Barry@factoryent.com
(925) 588-8843 PST Time Zone

http://www.masterreplicas.com/pressrelease.html

jedijeff · May 14, 2009, 08:47:15 PM

Until Master Replicas actually starts producing something, tough to get excited about any announcement

iceman · May 19, 2009, 05:34:33 AM

I cant believe that they are still in bussiness

jedijeff · May 19, 2009, 06:56:35 PM

From reading some Posts on RPF, sounds like they might not even have the Trek license anymore

Rico · May 19, 2009, 07:13:28 PM

Quote from: jedijeff on May 19, 2009, 06:56:35 PM
From reading some Posts on RPF, sounds like they might not even have the Trek license anymore

I think when a company changes hands licenses can become null and void. Most of the RPF talk has been about Qmx doing the Enterprise from the movie. But a lot of the time movie and TV rights are separate licenses. Trek is going to be hot for a little while now so I hope someone can get on board and do some cool stuff, but time will tell.

X · May 19, 2009, 09:37:40 PM

Quote from: Rico on May 19, 2009, 07:13:28 PM
Quote from: jedijeff on May 19, 2009, 06:56:35 PM
From reading some Posts on RPF, sounds like they might not even have the Trek license anymore

I think when a company changes hands licenses can become null and void. Most of the RPF talk has been about Qmx doing the Enterprise from the movie. But a lot of the time movie and TV rights are separate licenses. Trek is going to be hot for a little while now so I hope someone can get on board and do some cool stuff, but time will tell.

I know from past experience that when a company that holds a paramount license is bought out, the new company doesn't get the license. It happened when Last Unicorn Games were bought out by WOTC. The thought they would get the trek right and it was given to Decipher. Some thought it was because WOTC also had the star wars rights.