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The statements made here are only my opinion, of course. The documentation speaks for itself. Please, if you don't like what's being said, just stop reading it and go somewhere else. I won't blame you one bit.
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Well, despite being an official licensee for American Plastic Equipment, Inc., l feel I am justified in rebutting the prodigious amount of bunk that has been circulating about my prior, and current, relationship with Noah and Terri Coop. At one time, I was extremely fond of Noah. We had a close relationship and collaborated on various custom projects. Unfortunately, due to our differing beliefs, we ended up parting ways. Specifically, I refused to buy into his need to dominate and subjugate the Johnny West world. After all, this hobby is supposed to be about collecting toys, not about building an empire.
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THE MARX TRIALS
As far as I am concerned, there is nothing more tedious than those self-absorbed types who love to hear themselves talk (or blog), so I resolved long ago not to engage in the same inane behavior. That being said, I just can't comprehend how some people justify continually doing the wrong thing, so I am compelled to briefly address that here.
At one time, I considered the Coops very good friends. Eventually, after engaging in their arbitrary persecution of others in the Johnny West community, I decided that what they were doing (and I was a party to) was wrong, and I parted ways with them. After all, no toy line is worth selling one's soul. I never had any desire to be a Marx licensee, nor be a part of "Marx history", whatever that is, but I did want to create items and offer reproduction Marx boxes, so when I was asked to enter into a contract with American Plastic Equipment, I accepted. Consequently, in trying to do the right thing and pay the rightful owner of the Marx copyrights, American Plastic Equipment Inc., for the use of them, I have been dragged into the litigation mire. I was asked to provide email correspondence between myself and the Coops as evidence of their treachery, and I complied.
The Coops, and others, involved in the ongoing Marx saga, offer false assurances and half truths about the legal issues pending in the Johnny West world. Most collectors really don't care about the legalities involved. For those who do care, and want the truth, rather than tainted opinions and feeble excuses offered as justification for abhorrent conduct (past AND present), visit the links below.
The PDF files attached are the legal documents that have been publicly posted on the PACER website. I am downloading them at my expense to have them available here on this page. They are unbiased and irrefutable. They are not opinions-they are fact. Don't be fooled by the obfuscation and mud flinging. Read the truth for yourselves.
THE TOYTRACKERZ/AMERICAN PLASTIC SUMMARY JUDGEMENT
EXHIBIT 1-Email Correspondence EXHIBIT 2-Email Correspondence EXHIBIT 3-Contract between Coop & Horowitz EXHIBIT 4-Trademark Application EXHIBIT 5-Horowitz Affidavit EXHIBIT 6-Bill of Sale-Marx to Horowitz EXHIBIT 7-AmPlast License Agreement EXHIBIT 8-FAF Trademark Register AmPlast EXHIBIT 9-Stereoscape Agreement EXHIBIT 10-Marx Toys Inc License Agreement EXHIBIT 11-H.A.S. License Agreement EXHIBIT 12-AmPlast FAF Trademark Info EXHIBIT 13-Marx Toys & Entertainment License Agreement EXHIBIT 14-FAF Trademark Register AmPlast EXHIBIT 15-Motion for Remand EXHIBIT 18-Coop FAF Mark Claim EXHIBIT 19-H.A.S. Affidavit regarding ongoing use of the FAF trademark-NEW Motion to Extent Response Time-NEW Motion to Extent Response Email Correspondence-NEW AmPlast Response to Motion to Extend-NEW
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MORE FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH These PDF files are scans of original email correspondence between myself and the Coops, ranging from February of 2004 through 2006. Again, judge for yourselves. I sat on this correspondence (and much more, I might add) for as long as three years, while the Dark Side continued to impugn my reputation. I really wish they had left well enough alone, but it's not in their nature to do so. As a result, I am left defending myself-as usual. Believe it or not, I saved most of my correspondence with the Coops over the years, just as I do with anyone I consider to be my friend, in the same way I have letters from friends saved from decades past. I never compiled this information to use against them, although I am sure the Coops will believe that I did. It's simply not true. I kept it because they were my friends. At some point, a person has to stand up for what is right, regardless of the consequences to him or herself. Being new to the Johnny West world, in 2004, and being very fond of Noah, I naturally believed everything he said about other collectors in the hobby. I did, for a time, join his crusade, and I regret everything I said and did on his behalf. That is my shame. I am now a free agent, not bound to any organization. As such, I am presenting these emails in my defense. Some names have been blanked out to protect the innocent. The guilty can stand as charged. |
Since these are email correspondences, they actually read from the last page to the first.
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First I will address the ridiculous accusation that I ingratiated myself with the Coops in order to overtake their little Marx empire.
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Here is the first example of my dissatisfaction with the Coops-the first time I stopped being a moderator at the Ranch.
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Another attempt to extricate myself from the craziness.
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Again-it just goes on and on and on...
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It appears to me that Noah had my future all mapped out,
including my having to be exclusive to him. I made some custom
boxes for a couple of friends of mine, and Noah was NOT happy
about that. Additionally, and ironically, I made boxes for him originally for free, just to have something to do. I didn't regret it either, until the tables turned and I became the Devil incarnate. Boy, those Coops are ingrates!! :) |
As far back as Sept 04, I was already having issues with the way other Ranch members were being treated. My arguments fell on deaf ears. Just before the Chicago JohnnyCon, Rhonda and I both quit as Ranch Moderators in protest. |
May 2005, the crusade against Mike begins. I didn't know Mike from Adam at the time, but I was so sick of the paranoia, I decided I was done. |
An email I sent out to all the people who were Moderators of the Ranch at that time. |
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Initially, Mike Kosowski was the person who helped the Coops to purchase merchandise from the Marx warehouse.
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Terri finds it necessary to threaten a very good friend, using her status as lawyer to bully this person into compliance. I'm happy to say it didn't work.
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Even more Mike paranoia propaganda.
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Noah's failed attempt to drive a wedge between Rhonda and I.
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| This email shows that Mike was instrumental in opening a dialogue between the Coops and Jay/Bambery for them to purchase items from the Warehouse. After they got the merchandise is when Mike became the Devil somehow, in their opinion. |
Yet another example of the way they play in the sandbox. Bullies, who if they don't get their way, use Terri's position of "lawyer" as intimidation. |
Noah admits the episode where Scott was wrongfully persecuted for raising an innocuous topic of discussion at the Ranch, but still goes after Mike, even though I had told him I wasn't interested in persecuting anyone anymore. | Pretty
amusing, this one. The Coops tried to drive Rhonda and I apart
after I left the Ranch-God only knows what other
lies/half-truths they told her. She forwarded me their email so
I addressed it with the truth. Noah didn't like that very much.
:) Oh and of course, they threatened ME with legal action for emailing them with the truth. ALL RIGHTY THEN!!! |
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