I just received an email from a fellow this morning who'd used several FS GA models from various sources (both payware & freeware) as part of his RL purchasing decision...
He wrote this morning to let me know that he's put his deposit on a 2009 Liberty XL2...
While this is obviously not the norm, it does show the potential of FS models as a sales/promotional tool.
I have had several professionals purchase my aircraft to learn more about it. It is indeed like a form of advertising, and a well done sim model can actually sell several planes in a year. Now, for groups that have to pay for a license fee, shouldnt they be entitled to a full (proper amount) dealer fee/bonus/payment for having 'sold' a plane? Shouldnt that come to thousands for each plane? Bill, could you imagine getting sales royalties for say 4 new Citation X aircraft? That would be your grocery money for the next 5 years... Perhaps having a section in the installer that says to have the person in the sim put in the sales contract that the 'sim' made him buy it... This would help to ensure your most welcome fee. (But thinking on this, I could see emi trying to grab that too, lolol).
Concerning who owns Cessna's planes and logos, its Textron. That I was told. Textron went to EMI (or vice versa) for management of vendors and royalties. But I dont think Textron knew that these guys would be charging goofy prices for so basic of products, such as sim planes. But I doubt they care anyways.
The 'shape' of the Cessna 140 is copyright. Its property of Textron, and EMI is in charge of it.
Selling enough planes (as Mike_CYUL pointed out) to cover the cost of this huge fee, every 12 months, would make it 'not' worth the effort. Selling 125 to 150 units to cover a cost is huge. Aerosoft may sell thousands, but I sell more like what Mike mentioned. To show you how much I dont make, my Rover broke down last year. I have been car-less since. I make very little. So paying this guy that amount is like telling me a really good Joel Osteen joke. It only makes me laugh, lol.. :d
I am not worried about it. Cessna doesnt want the business. EMI wants my money. And the funny part is, I would be helping Cessna, and I am willing to pay the royalties... LOLOL... Thats the funny part!!!
Remember, this happened similarly with Jess Lambert and myself when attempting to do models with/for Lancair. They demand a $9,000.00 fee up front before they allow someone to 'sim' their planes into payware. That would take me 3 years to pay off.. arrghh.. I will never get 3DS Max at this rate, lol.
Its a crazy world we live in. EMI runs Cessna, and the world wants to fly and cant afford it.
Everyone take a deep breath. No use getting all mad. We have other companies.. We have Piper, we have many many many others....
Bill