Author Topic: Klicky-Bibel  (Read 4125 times)

Offline Martin Milner

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Klicky-Bibel
« on: April 03, 2009, 09:02:21 »
Anyone seen the row about the German Pastor who has been using Playmobil to illustrate scenes from the Bible?

The problem is not the religious aspect, which we can ignore as irrelevent, but that he has been bending figures by melting them, and painting then to create nude figures for Adam and Eve.

It appears Playmobil are worried that children may hurt themselves melting their figures.

Here's the original article:

Thursday, April 2, 2009 (AP)
German pastor defends plastic Jesus to toymaker
By CHRISTOF RUEHRMAIR and RACHEL NOLAN, Associated Press Writers

(04-02) 09:20 PDT ZIRNDORF, Germany (AP) --
Pastor Markus Bomhard has learned that you can't just crucify a doll and
get away with it.
For more than two years, the German clergyman has been setting up
Playmobil toys in biblical scenes and photographing them to illustrate his
online version of the Good Book.
But he has recently received signs of displeasure from the toys' maker.
The manufacturers of the 3-inch (7.5-centimeter) tall line of Playmobil
figures, Zirndorf-based Geobra Brandstaetter GmbH & Co., accused Bomhard
of copyright infringement and asked him last month to stop customizing
them and using their trademarked name on his Web site.
On Thursday, however, they said they were willing to work with him to find
a way he can keep the site without violating the company's rights.
"We are working on a compromise together," spokeswoman Gisela Kupiak told
The Associated Press. Some 2.2 billion of the Playmobil toys, which range
from farm animals to dinosaurs, planes, trains, automobiles and ships,
have been sold since their 1974 debut.
The evangelical pastor first built the scenes for his three daughters in
their home in Steinbach, near Frankfurt, and gained an online following
after uploading pictures to a Web site. He later posted a note from Pope
Benedict XVI congratulating him on "facilitating access to scripture in a
playful manner."
Playmobil does not object in principle to biblical scenes. The company, in
fact, offers figures of the three Magi, Noah's ark and even Jesus in the
manger. The problem is doll mutilation.
"We have ascertained massive manipulation of the figures," the company
said in a statement. "For example, their arms were deformed with a candle
flame or hair dryer to nail them on the cross."
Bomhard acknowledges the manipulation. He also says he painted figures of
Adam and Eve a flesh color and added plastic leaves for modesty. Playmobil
does not manufacture nude dolls.
Playmobil says it has known about Bomhard's site for a year and only
decided to act against him when they decided that his distortion of the
figures was going too far, and that he could encourage children to do the
same.
"We cannot accept such displays for security reasons because our products
are made of plastic and are flammable," the company said.
This week, Bomhard replaced the online book with a notice that he had
"neither money nor energy nor time" to redo the project according to the
toymaker's strict conditions.
But it is back up after the company said it would work with him.
Bomhard has now renamed the site "Klicky-Bibel" from "Playmo-Bibel," and
said he is willing to accommodate the company in other ways, too.
"I would even photograph the cross from behind, so that you couldn't see
the objectionable figure anymore," Bomhard told The AP.
But he estimates that more than half of the toys in his scenes are
modified, so any compromise must allow for at least some disfiguration.

Offline Sylvia

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2009, 09:56:29 »

I have been following the web news reports too.

The first article I read stated, incorrectly, that the site was called Playmo-Bible.
When you google that spelling you reach a completely different website which also has bible stories recreated in Playmo.

I was quite confused about it all until I eventually found the German website. Then I realised that I had seen it before a long time ago.

It does seem strange to me that Playmobil's reasons for wanting the site closed down or changed around are to stop children from trying to 'manipulate' their own figures. As far as I could tell, there are no instructions on his website which would give any clues as to how he achieved the bent arms and legs.

Plus, he's not the first or only customizer to have used such methods. Will they now be hunting down every other person who has posted pictures of figures that have been changed in similar ways?

I think it's a bit unfair that they have singled him out like this.

Offline Bill Blackhurst

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2009, 11:50:39 »
This should scare the war gaming community  :omg:, or any other customization web site for that matter! I understand Playmobils stand in regards to the fire safety situation, but as you said Sylvia, there are no instructions on the processes he used, & children are not going to say "give me your lighter Dad, I want to melt my toys' cause I saw this neat web site!" There are even instructions from the Playmobil creator on how to disassemble Klicky's, so why the crack down on this person?
  Forget about all of the other stuff,....all we need is the reintroduction of the 3526 Fire Engine!

Offline playmofire

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2009, 12:03:55 »
In The Independent, there is a slightly different slant.  I'll scan the article and post it.
“Today well-lived makes every yesterday a day of happiness to remember and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Offline Knight Train

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2009, 16:28:49 »
Here's the website:
http://www.klicky-bibel.de/

Lucky Disney didn't use any Playmobil in "Toy Story" when Sid burns toys with the magnifying glass.
 

Offline Bill Blackhurst

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2009, 17:58:37 »
Here's the website:
http://www.klicky-bibel.de/

Lucky Disney didn't use any Playmobil in "Toy Story" when Sid burns toys with the magnifying glass.

Very true! I wonder though if the "Playmobil" name persay is not used in any written context, if they can still request your removal of such usage of their products, even if you PURCHASED items for your personal use, after all it is your personal property to be used as you wish?
  Forget about all of the other stuff,....all we need is the reintroduction of the 3526 Fire Engine!

Offline cachalote

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2009, 20:29:18 »
the way i see it, playmobil always makes the same mistake - i call it hypocrisy.  :'(
they have a lot of war-oriented themes (the romans, the pirates, the vikings, the knights, etc.) but dislike people who customize ww.1 and ww.2 sets.  ???
they introduced a lot of religious sets (nativity, noah's ark, st. martin, wedding) but, when things go too "graphic" they firmly try to stop it.  ???
i bet that they only decided to start "working" with the playmo-iconoclast when he showed geobra pope benedictus 16's letter (he is a german pope).  0)
the world is not as innocent as geobra would want it to be, no doubt.
  >:D
    honni soit qui mal y pense

Offline Martin Milner

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2009, 21:24:55 »
Very true! I wonder though if the "Playmobil" name persay is not used in any written context, if they can still request your removal of such usage of their products, even if you PURCHASED items for your personal use, after all it is your personal property to be used as you wish?

I think it stops being personal use when you publish the results on the internet.

Offline playmofire

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Re: Klicky-Bibel
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2009, 01:48:21 »
“Today well-lived makes every yesterday a day of happiness to remember and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”