Agreed, the right of the UP to license their Shield and their current "Building America" slogan is well within their rights. No question. Niether do I question their right to use the "Overland Route" shield, as they have kept the logo alive by using it on a number of boxcars which travel around the system.
I do question, however their right to go into the public domain and grab logos that they have allowed the copyrights to lapse on or identities that they have tried to subjigate over the past 20 years. These begin with the Missouri Pacific, Texas & Pacific, C&EI, Chicago Heights Terminal & Transfer, and Western Pacific, Sacramento Northern, Tidewater Southern. Later the C&NW and the C. St.P M&O, and the M-K-T. The latest round includes the SP, SSW and D&RGW, including the SP Narrow Gauge (if you use the Sunset Route herald), and the D&RGW if you use the "Flying Grande".
Why do I object to these? because everywhere the UP has gone, it has done its level best to remove all traces of the prior companies identities. It has even gone so far as to tell shippers "The (railroad name) is dead, you're dealing with the UP now, and this is how we do it: (followed by an explaination).
After the loud and long heralding the death of the previous corporations, suddenly Mr. Turner has the revelation, with Mr. Davidson's blessing, that there MIGHT be money to be made by holding up their base of greatest support, the railfan community. So rather than charging a nominal one-time fee and entering into a partnership with the model producers to assure that their logo is used in the proper manner, he gets the idea that this might be a "Profit Center" for the company.
Unfortunately, his research didn't show him that the Model Railroading industry, just like the Railfan industry, is mainly a cottage industry, consisting of a large number of "Mom and Pop" producers. Yes, there are the Athearn's, Walther's, Bachmann's and Kato's, but there are a much greater number of producers with incomes barely over $10,000.00 per year whose owners are in it for the love of the hobby.
Like every other business in this country, the end result is not that the UP gets any more money. When the final tally is done, it will cost them more to police and propigate their policy than any "profit" they will ever enjoy from this ill-conceived idea. The end result is that it penalizes their biggest supporters and fans by doing what everybody else does, that is passing the costs along. So if you want to be a UP fan, it'll cost you a lot more.
After looking at what they are charging, there are many manufacturers who are passing on this increased cost of production in greater multiples than they are being charged, but what do you expect, since the wholesale price is raised by the distributor and dealers and a $.25 increase can equal $1.00 by the time it hits the store shelves.
Just like taxes, for which corporations like the UP pay nothing, these "franchise fees" are passed on in ever increasing prices to the generators of the true wealth in this country, the end consumer. No, corporations do not pay taxes, either, they are figured in the price of everything you buy or service you use. And we ALL suffer for it.
Rick Steele
