Several Unavailable DLC Items in Steam

[ex-railwayman]

But, why take the routes down, there aren't any BNSF logos on the trees, or, trackwork?

And, if I do a verify cache now then, will it refuse to let me have my route back?
I'm going to have to archive all my content now with anything associated with BNSF, let's hope that none of the other US railroads follow suit.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

[StrategyFirst]

That's what I'm wondering... should I disable automatic updates as they might remove the logos? Will they revoke the BN and Santa Fe logos as well? Only time will tell.

[BoostedFridge]

And, if I do a verify cache now then, will it refuse to let me have my route back?

That is a very good point that I hadn't thought about. I'm gonna back all my related items up just in case.

[StrategyFirst]

And, if I do a verify cache now then, will it refuse to let me have my route back?

That is a very good point that I hadn't thought about. I'm gonna back all my related items up just in case.

Darn it, I'm not gonna be home until the end of the week. Will everything be the same when I get home?

[OpenRailer90]

I believe that the BNSF stuff you have will be unchanged, you just can't buy them off the store. Any BNSF products you purchased beforehand will remain in your library.

[evafan002]

That doesn't make sense... why wouldn't they want their company logo in a popular sim?

Maybe they don't like animated derailments. I remember when plane crash animations where not allowed in Flight Simulator.

Aww, but you don't get any good animated derailments. At most you get like half a second and then you get booted out of the scenario.

I wish you could do stuff like this in TS2015...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p344lc82Abs

and you wonder why they don't want their name associated with the game?
If i were in charge of BNSF's licensing department and i saw people making videos like that with equipment with my company's name on it I would withdraw permission to use the name and logos of my company too

[OldProf]

This whole logo business actually traces back to The Lord of the Rings: remember that character named Logoless? Or am I thinking of the wonderful parody I read back in my college years: Bored of the Rings? [Yes, that's a real, published book!: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bored_of_the_Rings ]

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

It is a pity the revoked BNSF license also covers fallen flags like ATSF, GN, etc, that were well represented in the DLC catalog. Most ATSF DLC is currently unavailable.

What licenses are actually considered to be 'secure'? UP, CSX, NS? If these companies revoke their licenses, DTG's present US effort and future ambitions are buggered.

I wonder if it would have made any difference if DTG were a US based company?

DTG might even reconsider their US ambitions alltogether if the US-only market for US-only DLC is insufficient to support the development of the UE4 version of the game. The BNSF licensing issue will hurt DTG the most, as players will now just pick up the DLC when it washes up on the shore of a certain Bay of Fortune.

[buzz456]

"Life will find a way."

Dr. Ian Malcolm

[KPryor]

I wouldn't get too worried, there will always be a way as Buzz noted. I remember when no one could get Southwest Airlines liveries for flight simulator aircraft. The flight simulator community found a way as usual, so no one went without for long.

KP

[Antwerp]

"Life will find a way."

Dr. Ian Malcolm

Oh come on, you could have fit a few more uhs in that sentence.

"Uh life uh will uh find uh a uh way."

The Wizard of Uh.

[JerryC]

Lemme throw a little log on the fire here...

It's not just BNSF that is acting funny. When I went to Union Pacific about licensing last year, they denied licensing for payware items, offering a freeware license instead. I asked them why folks like DTG, Microsoft, and Run8 have them, and was told that they have negotiated licensing for computer and console games in the past, but they no longer do this. Now I suspect that it might have just been a smarmy licensing rep rejecting a no-name third-party start-up just for the 'el of it. But if what she said is true, it could mean trouble with UP for DTG on their next go-round at renewal.

Funny aside story, I asked the BNSF rep if I could license the BNSF GP40-2 that is painted blue by GATX. I had to send her a photo of the actual prototype to prove it existed. I got a resounding "no" with the explanation that was a one-off and painting in any colors other than BNSF approved would be considered mutilation of their trademark.

FYI, how long you view a derailemt or whether you stay in cab during it can be controlled through the loco BP and/or script. I don't know how it's done, but if you have Vertigo, you don't want to turn a locomotive on it's side in the game!

[OpenRailer90]

If the UP problems occur, a different route and loco other than Sherman Hill and the GTEL will have to be included with TS2016. I really don't understand the thing with Union Pacific.

[JerryC]

Dont read too much into that. As I said, UP may have been just screwing with me, and I have no idea when DTG is up for licensing with them again. Could be next year, could be three more. I dont think TS2016 would be affected.

[BillS]

Don't want to be the "Devil's Advocate" here, but BNSF is the legal owner of the Trademark and Logo. They have the right to use/restrict/prevent the use of it as they see fit. IMHO, I think the restriction seems excessive.

I worked for a major Automobile Manufacturer, and was involved with misuse of the Trademark of that company. A consumer went into a shop, thinking it was an "Authorized" dealer, and had repairs done that ended up resulting in catastrophic failure of the power plant. After legal action, the company that I worked for ended up having to pay the entire bill, plus all the other ridiculous things (suffering, loss of use, etc.) that they could tack on. The argument was that the independent shop had an "Official" Service Sign, on their building. How was the "poor" customer to know the difference? After this instance, the company went on a massive campaign to hunt down and eliminate all Trademark and Logo Infringements! Our attorneys were very busy and happy. All signs, T-Shirts, Coffee Cups, etc. that had the "logo" unless it was "Official" items were done. It was a knee-jerk reaction, but can materialize very quickly when the guys and gals, on the top floor, lose touch with reality, and make a reactionary decision. In BNSF's case, I'm certainly not sure that's what has happened, but it sounds oh so familiar what I experienced where I worked.

Hopefully, in the near future, BNSF will come back to the ground and realize that this restriction doesn't seem reasonable.