Driver Don and Friendly Engines

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Driver Don and Friendly Engines; Coming to a railway near you
Topic Started: 10 May 2009, 11:33 PM (332 Views)
DGH	10 May 2009, 11:33 PM Post #1
Operations Manager Posts: 728 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #30 Joined: August 23, 2006	http://www.friendlyengines.co.uk/ Look forward to seeing more on this. We held a fantastic weekend two years ago under the guise of 'Peasholm Friendly Engines'. The kids loved it proving you don't need Thomas. Well done Michael. David



DGH	10 May 2009, 11:46 PM Post #2
Operations Manager Posts: 728 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #30 Joined: August 23, 2006	Just realised that Glastonrail has almost got his own railway series! Are there any other people out there with the same names and jobs? A real Driver Don, Fireman Fred, Gertrude the Guard, Signal Sam Dom, presume your Friendly Engine is 'Princess' unless its playing up! Edited by DGH, 10 May 2009, 11:48 PM.



craiggluyas	11 May 2009, 09:41 AM Post #3
Director Posts: 2,278 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #46 Joined: October 5, 2006	Lakeside miniature railway will be happy, the owner is Don Clark! Intresting sideline for Michael and the guys at Perrygrove though. I wonder if it will take off? Craig Edited by craiggluyas, 11 May 2009, 10:00 AM.
	Craig Gluyas Talking to one's self is a sign of madness. I talk to my imaginary friend.


cclrcleethorpes	11 May 2009, 10:39 AM Post #4
Cleaner Posts: 196 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #106 Joined: March 14, 2007	What a great idea. Who would have thought that when lots of railways started running friendly engines weekends years ago, that some chancer would try to claim intellectural rights to the idea. I've got another idea I'm going to claim the rights to "Steam Railway" its my idea and if you want to use it in the title of your railway, you can buy a licence from me. (Intellectual rights applied for).
	Running Weekends throughout the winter. Special visiting engine October 3rd & 4th 2009 Tank Engine Gala "Seaside miniatures railways at it's best" see www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk


Timbo	11 May 2009, 10:57 AM Post #5
Timbo Posts: 1,371 Group: Moderators Member #53 Joined: October 24, 2006	I don't think that intellectual rights can be post-claimed if the idea is already in the public domain and has been used thus. What can be claimed however, are the rights to specific identifiers eg characters. I am happy to be corrected.
	Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk


craiggluyas	11 May 2009, 11:01 AM Post #6
Director Posts: 2,278 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #46 Joined: October 5, 2006	Well, as we were running "Friendly Engine" days at Embsay in the early 90's, that would certainly prove that cause!
	Craig Gluyas Talking to one's self is a sign of madness. I talk to my imaginary friend.


bvr379	11 May 2009, 12:21 PM Post #7
Operations Manager Posts: 562 Group: Friends of MRMT Member #210 Joined: August 12, 2007	My understanding is that Perrygrove is more interested in helping miniature railways to attract visitors, than making a fortune on names. I am sure that a number of railways that have previously had DowT events will be interested. Best wishes,
	David Barnes Bure Valley Railway - The 15" gauge railway with powerful locomotives. Trains between Wroxham & Aylsham in Norfolk. Santa will be arriving soon, followed by Mince Pie Specials from 27 Dec 2009 until 3rd Jan 2010. For Bure Valley Railway info. see: BVR website, which includes timetables.


Timbo	11 May 2009, 04:03 PM Post #8
Timbo Posts: 1,371 Group: Moderators Member #53 Joined: October 24, 2006	I'm sure that it's not a money-spinning idea. By creating a brand that lots of railways can "subscribe" to, it makes it a nationwide product with nationwide appeal, and generates a market for itself alongside the associated cost savings for promoters with regards to logistics, marketing and merchandise. Interesting to see how it develops. The first steps to safeguard such an organisation is to register it's core assets, ie intellectual rights or trademarking the name. I hope that railways have trademarked their names if they are interchangeable. The RHDR has no need because it describes it's location - but there is nothing stopping someone starting up a generic named railway (eg Lakeside Miniature Railway for argument's sake)... Then marketing themselves as such. If they trademark that name, then they could potentially stop the earlier user of that name from using it, in that particular sector of UK commerce. Am fairly sure that's the case... I stand to be corrected by one with more of a legal bent however...
	Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk


steves100uk	11 May 2009, 06:09 PM Post #9
Director Posts: 1,566 Group: Member Member #22 Joined: August 18, 2006	Timbo 11 May 2009, 04:03 PM I'm sure that it's not a money-spinning idea. Why try to register it if its not to make money. It would be better if a group like BGLR had the rights to it. Does anyone know how much he will charge IF he gets it. What will stop him saying no to a railway who wants to do one of these days if he don't like them. Steve



RichardP	11 May 2009, 07:20 PM Post #10
Guard Posts: 108 Group: Member Member #262 Joined: September 20, 2007	There are two bits of Intellectual Property here 1. Copyright - This usually covers copying photographs, text recordings and such like but also includes characters and stories in books. see here If there is a published story which you appear to be using the copyright owner can ask you to stop; But the Severn Valley can have a large blue loco called Gordon (as you can prove historically that it was so named and after General Gordon) but you can't imply any connection with the Thomas stories. copyright is implicit and requires no registration. 2. Trademarks details here, you have to apply (and pay) I don't think you'd be able to Trademark "friendly engines' straight off as both are wors in english, however there are ways and means using fonts images and phrases. You would probably need expert advice (which you might be able to get some from the IPO) If you've already been using it for years you might wish to object I seem to remember a friendly fairbourne engines event a few years ago. I'm not an expert in these things but know a little about it as I work at the IPO. Richard



bvr379	11 May 2009, 07:41 PM Post #11
Operations Manager Posts: 562 Group: Friends of MRMT Member #210 Joined: August 12, 2007	steves100uk 11 May 2009, 06:09 PM What will stop him saying no to a railway who wants to do one of these days if he don't like them. Steve I suspect that you do not know Michael Crofts very well Steve. He has had the ideas about this proposal for quite sometime.
	David Barnes Bure Valley Railway - The 15" gauge railway with powerful locomotives. Trains between Wroxham & Aylsham in Norfolk. Santa will be arriving soon, followed by Mince Pie Specials from 27 Dec 2009 until 3rd Jan 2010. For Bure Valley Railway info. see: BVR website, which includes timetables.


DGH	11 May 2009, 09:54 PM Post #12
Operations Manager Posts: 728 Group: MRMT Trustees Member #30 Joined: August 23, 2006	olavuafa 11 May 2009, 07:20 PM I seem to remember a friendly fairbourne engines event a few years ago. And now -see http://www.fairbournerailway.com/steam-railway-events.htm



glastonrail	11 May 2009, 10:10 PM Post #13
Dommo Posts: 2,374 Group: Member Member #85 Joined: January 7, 2007	Timbo 11 May 2009, 04:03 PM I hope that railways have trademarked their names if they are interchangeable. The RHDR has no need because it describes it's location - but there is nothing stopping someone starting up a generic named railway (eg Lakeside Miniature Railway for argument's sake)... Then marketing themselves as such. If they trademark that name, then they could potentially stop the earlier user of that name from using it, in that particular sector of UK commerce. Am fairly sure that's the case... I stand to be corrected by one with more of a legal bent however... Same stance here as in the music industry. If both earlier and latter railway subscribe, then the latter has to change its name. Best example (there are others but I can't remember them) was the boy band Blue (late 1990's ish IIRC). Traded fine until a Rhythm and Blues band from Scotland with the same name (formed in the 60's) took the record company to court... ... Now, that would be the case if the branding was launched and two railways of the same name subscribed at the same time. I'm not sure though how it would work if the newer railway subscribed before the older railway did... ... Cheers, Dom
	"There's no such thing as sanity, and that's the sanest fact" M. Knopfler, 1985 Dragon Miniature Railway, Stockport http://www.freewebs.com/dragonrailway


Alex	11 May 2009, 10:32 PM Post #14
Driver Posts: 294 Group: Member Member #35 Joined: September 1, 2006	DGH 11 May 2009, 09:54 PM olavuafa 11 May 2009, 07:20 PM I seem to remember a friendly fairbourne engines event a few years ago. And now -see http://www.fairbournerailway.com/steam-railway-events.htm Yes, we have been running the event for around 5 years now, we have made everything for it from the faces for the engines to releasing two story books for children based on the Fairbourne Friendly Engines. Alex


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