Hornby has released a statement today regarding their Titfield Thunderbolt and The Lady with a Lamp model railway packs.
The packs included rolling stock and L&MR No. 57 ‘Lion'.
Studiocanal, who are currently preparing to release The Railway Children Return to the public, owns the rights to The Titfield Thunderbolt and The Lady with a Lamp, as well as the rights to the Thunderbolt locomotive.
Hornby have therefore confirmed that they have removed the two packs from the 2022 product range.
The Bedford Coach has also been cancelled.
A Hornby spokesperson said “For several months there has been some speculation concerning the introduction of two Hornby train packs under the sub brand title of ‘Trains on Film' which both featured, in one form or another the L&MR No.57 ‘Lion' and associated rolling stock. The films concerned were ‘The Lady with a Lamp' and ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt'.”
“Hornby Hobbies Ltd. have decided to remove the two ‘Trains of Film' packs from the Hornby 2022 product range and acknowledges and accept that Studiocanal own the licensing rights to the ‘Thunderbolt' locomotive as depicted in the ‘Titfield Thunderbolt' film as well as Dan Taylor's grounded carriage body. Hornby also acknowledges and accepts that Studiocanal own the title rights to the films ‘Titfield Thunderbolt' and ‘The Lady with a Lamp'.”
“Along with this, the Bedford Coach within the ‘Trains on Film' category has also been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
It seems that Hornby have had a policy for some time of nipping in quickly when smaller manufacturers announce a new product to take some of their market share by producing the same thing themselves.
There was even an argument between Simon Kohler and the people at Rails of Sheffield that was captured in the TV programme ‘Hornby:A Model World’ over the release of their Terrier model a few years ago.
This time however, Hornby have been caught with their pants down as they didn’t have the image rights for the model, as it was a character in a movie, something that they really should have done their due diligence about….
So sorry to have heard about this unexpectedly disapoointing decision made by Hornby on it’s removal of The Titfield Thunderbolt from said Range for the Foreseeable Future.
However though, perhaps someday it could be reinstated, who knows?
It’s a darn shame a greedy media group have the final say on an item that would probably sell quite well. Okay, so “Dan’s coach” didn’t run with the 0-4-2, but I would have had one, then add a Bachmann Henrietta instead.
Knickers to StudioCanal
Why are they greedy? And as their ownership is a legal fact, why is it a shame that they exercise their rights?
I suspect that StudioCanal had a pre-existing arrangement with Rapido Trains for their Titfield products. But we still have the idiotic situation of two manufacturers producing a model of Lion, which is likely to be of limited interest. Both manufacturers are likely to make a loss on this.
Hornby certainly will as they are not allowed to sell theirs!
Studio Canal and Rapido had a very public arrangement to produce models of the Titfield props in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the film. Nothing secretive about it, there didn’t need to be, Rapido acquired the licensing rights from Studio Canal in a legal and professional manner.
If Rapido are to be believed, they’re quite happy as they are profits-wise just from pre-orders. As well as having the benefit of most likely being the first to market, with their ‘Lion’ and ‘Thunderbolt’ models. The only way they appear to be suffering is from lack of recognition. Outside the world of the more serious railway modelers, few people have heard of Rapido. To them it just looks like Studio Canal pushing Hornby around for the sake of it.
A loss wouldn’t be made, it would be incurred.
The reason is that Rapido UK have paid for the rights from Studio Canal to produce the train pack. https://rapidotrains.co.uk/the-titfield-thunderbolt-70th-anniversary-range/
Rapido Trains are producing models related to the Titfield Thunderbolt film, including a train pack and the Bedford OB coach in the Pearce & Crump livery.
I was taken to see the film Titfield Thunderbolt as a young kid in the 1950s. I had an assortment of Hornby clockwork items. Who the **** are Studiocanal, and where were they then?
NOBODY but NOBODY should be allowed to buy up, re- package and sell history like that, come on Hornby, put the set on the market, “publish and be damned”. I’ll buy a set.
The original production company that made the film no longer exists and Studiocanal/ inherited the assets of many British movies. You have probably watched many of Studiocanal’s own films. e.g. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, JFK, Basic Instinct, Cliffhanger, Under Siege, Free Willy, Stargate (movie).
I’m sure that Hornby have been well-advised by their lawyers, and their statement is most welcome. By the way, the film “Titfield Thunderbolt” was NOT a historical depiction, it was a creative work, and as such is copyrighted.
You’d think Studiocanal could have used the model as a great advert for the film …evidently not
They are, just not with Hornby
That is actually a shame – but big money talks these days.
Really? Hornby vs Rapido, who has the big money?
Studiocanal lost a great free advertising opportunity here, Should e re make the Titfireld Thunderbolt