What is the lawsuit between 88mph and Hasbro about? I'm sorry if i missed it somewhere else, but i wasn't in the mood to find this on the other threads if its been mentioned. From what I think, it may have something to do with the fact that 88mph was suppose to bring out the Genesis: the Art of Transformers book. But then it went to Image Comics. I mean didn't Sebastien have an intro in that book still? Or does it have something to do with the fact that hasbro gave the Transformers book rights to Titan books UK for the Transformers reprint comics? I mean maybe 88mph had the north american rights for old TF comics tpb's and was hampered by hasbro's deal with Titan books.
Am I right or does anyone else know the reasons for the lawsuit? I don't see the big deal. I mean after the GB comics debacle with the hardcover, 88mph ain't exactly a reliable publisher or a presence.

There was an official press release recently displayed on 88MPH's new site, 88mph.net, which read:

88MPH Studios, Inc. suing Hasbro, Inc.
Montmagny, QC, Canada - July 21, 2006 - Counterclaiming Hasbro's own legal action, 88MPH Studios, the cross-plaintiff, is initiating its own lawsuit against the toy manufacturer, seeking 90006.23$ (cdn) worth of damages for wrongful doings and the non respect of multiple contractual terms in regards to a licensing agreement concerning the publication of Transformers related books.

Of course, like all press releases of legal action, the specifics aren't mentioned.

A Transformers forum Admin (Who gave me the impression he's talked to Sebastien, as these details hadn't been released to the public) mentioned that it was apparantly something to do with them hindering the production of Genesis. For postering I'll quote his post verbatim below:

Kickback
Some more truth to this story:

Clavet was under contractual agreement with Hasbro. According to Clavet, he did everything he was supposed to - gathered artwork from artists, arranged to pay them, took pre-orders on the book … and then Hasbro short-changed him, saying that instead of one book they wanted to do two parts, then continued to up his fee which caused him to go bankrupt.

Something along those lines.

Either way, you have to own up and take responsibility at some point. If he's filing this lawsuit, then maybe there is some truth that Hasbro dicked him over. But in the long-run, this guy has single-handedly ruined his reputation with anyone in the Transformers community, to the point that NO ONE is on his side for this.

The best of luck to him. The legal fees will surely mean no one gets the book now.

PRESS RELEASE 88MPH Studios, Inc_ suing Hasbro, Inc_ - Page 3 - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards

From what I think, it may have something to do with the fact that 88mph was suppose to bring out the Genesis: the Art of Transformers book.

I'd like to know where the rumour that the book hadn't come out began, the book was published and some Transformers fans have said they've received it…

But then it went to Image Comics

Huh? Image hasn't released any Transformers books. Dreamwave was the main comic publisher for the Transformers series, and the rights were sold to IDW when Dreamwave went bankrupt.

Or does it have something to do with the fact that hasbro gave the Transformers book rights to Titan books UK for the Transformers reprint comics?

I'm not sure where you've gotten your information from… but the only Transformers titles I was aware of being released by Titan were reprints of the 1980s comics. It would also be unlikely that an artbook of new artwork would be affected in any way with a decision that affected the old comics.

Thanks for your response. I do have the “Genesis: The Art of Transformers Vol. 1.” book. And now it seems more clear. The book as the indicia says: produced by 88mph studios inc., published by Image Comics. Sept. 2003. I remember a turnover that 88mph was suppose to make the book themselves (perhaps a sign of thier problems?). Then it just went to Image Comics for publication. The Image logo is on the book's cover and spine. Which kind of got me confused. But thats how it went. Sebastien has a thank you note to some people, Jim Valentino at Image Comics and Pat Lee at Dreamwave, and others. Perhaps cause it says Vol.1 and clearly Vol. 2 never published, maybe the result of the lawsuit between the two groups. Clearly the Titan Books deal, Dreamwave and 88mph deals were all seperate book licenses with the Transformers comics/books. I undertsand the Titan deal was only for the ‘80’s Marvel US & UK TF reprints, but there was a time that Marvel US did the GI Joe reprints tpb's for the US and they wanted to do the TF tpb's too. Thats when Titan Books had to step in and let Hasbro know that they had the rights solely for any TF reprint books, and reminded Hasbro that Marvel US can't do their own TF reprints for US release. This is one time when Hasbro screwed up and did not remember thier own deals with their licensers. Dreamwave only had the rights for new TF comics.

I still don't understand how there's a tie with Image Comics, I don't remember them ever being mentioned in the original press for it… I can only assume they had some of Image's staff involved…

Had it been actually published through Image, I doubt there'd have been the problems that many people have complained about (*winston)

I'm not saying you're making it up… but I'm greatly surprised by all of it.

So if they're “bankrupt”, that's likely why we still haven't heard anything about the TPB?

So now it boils down to whether or not he wins this lawsuit, not counting the long and drawn out legal process that will go down.

It's very doubtful the book will be released in 2006. I just don't see this happening.

GuyCC
So if they're “bankrupt”, that's likely why we still haven't heard anything about the TPB?

So now it boils down to whether or not he wins this lawsuit, not counting the long and drawn out legal process that will go down.

It's very doubtful the book will be released in 2006. I just don't see this happening.

That, or he's been gagged until the lawsuit is over…