Advisory: HondaJet

You have to understand, these companies have teams of lawyers working for them and they need something to do. That's partly how this happens. You also have to consider that corporations usually aren't known for good decision making, especially as far as public relations are concerned. Of course, for the big aerospace companies, they probably don't care since we aren't buying their products anyway. However, for Honda, this could backfire in a big way due to all of their consumer products that we can afford. I would also note that it also depends on if you are making freeware or payware and whether or not you're using their logo without permission. I give plenty of Kudos to Boeing for their cooperation with PMDG. IIRC, Cessna has also had a working relationship with Eaglesoft, but I'm not sure.
 
Honda has this thing about using their name...Back in the early '90's there was a local automotive repair shop who called themselves "Hondamotive", since they specialized in repairing Honda's. They were threatened by Honda attorneys over the use of 'Honda' in their company name. The owners of the shop dropped the 'd' from the name and inserted a '*', becoming "Hon*Amotive" and made the lawyers happy. The shop is still there, repairing Honda's and other imports.
 
It's a big enough "business" that there are several legal firms who's specialty is sniffing out potential trademark and/or copyright infringements, then contacting the "injured party" with an offer to handle the matter for a fee.

There are many legal firms here in the U.S. who's entire practice is centered around a single issue, such as "Mesothelioma", "Asbestos" and so forth. Their advertising is seen on national television frequently. Obviously this is a very lucrative business who's only "winners" are the legal firms.

As for the case of Textron, their license terms are quite hideous, involving a fixed $ amount every quarter, plus a percentage of sales, and most recently a requirement that the licensee purchase a $1 million liability policy annually. Be it noted that this liability insurance is to protect Textron from litigation, but not the licensee... :pop4:

Textron = :a1089:
Licensee = :dizzy:
 
. . . . . . .However, for Honda, this could backfire in a big way due to all of their consumer products that we can afford. . . . . . . .
I honestly don't think they care. We are an insignificant bug on the wall to them. I seriously doubt if our inability to model their aircraft (one as far as I know) and the fall-out from that within this hobby will have any effect at all on them. If, as consumers, we banded together and made a public outcry about how Honda is trying to "crush" the little people and had media coverage and print and electronic coverage. . .it might raise some eyebrows. . ."might". However we won't, it'll be another aircraft manufacturer we can't do a model for. . .and we'll move on to the next. Personally, I have my HondaJet and will continue to fly it til the "virtual wheels" fall off.
 
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