When did Twentieth Century Imports close?

[skiltao]

Twentieth Century Imports did a bunch of anime model kit importing back in the '80s, and did stuff relating to BattleTech (including adding BattleDroids-esque Ostroc Mk II and Goliath stats to two of their imported kits) and stuff that wasn't related to BattleTech that is also quite cool.

Anyhow, does anybody know when they closed up shop?

[CrossfirePilot]

Dec 31st 1999?

[Frabby]

Wasn't TCI the firm that sold FASA the rights to the Unseen images (only to later find out they couldn't legally transfer these rights to FASA, which caused the Unseen debacle in the first place)?
I'd also like to know more about them.

[skiltao]

Frabby, not exactly.

After some quick googling around yesterday: FASA seems to have asked TCI to get rights to use the art (instead of simply rights to use the art to advertize model kits) and the people TCI were dealing with apparently could have extended such a license. The problem seems to be that TCI closed years before the lawsuit and, since winning in court would still cost time and money while they dug up a paper trail, FASA decided to cut a deal instead.

The American court case may have inspired some of the original Japanese companies to re-examine who owned what exactly, because in 2002 or 2003 (?) the Japanese courts concluded in favor of whoever TCI had dealt with. (Which doesn't actually matter for the Harmony Gold vs FASA case since international law doesn't work that way, and they settled out of court anyhow.)

If I use the word "seem" a ton, it's because the court opinions lack some of the surrounding context, and I couldn't find reliable anecdotes quickly.

Dec 31st 1999?

Heheh, if only it were so easy.  ;D