Third-Party Religious LEGO Products

[BrickBelt]

THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS DEBATE

Alright, now that that's out of the way there's a few different things I want to cover so I'll break them down.

First off, a little background: As most of you know, LEGO doesn't produce religious products. I wholeheartedly agree with that decision....But at the same time I feel like there's a market for it. For the past few months I've been tinkering of the idea of selling Christian based LEGO related products. Not sets, but things like crosses, keychains, necklaces...The like. There's a few things I wanted to get people's opinions on.

Legality? People offer LEGO built products on places like Etsy. Would it be legal to open a third-party business that sells LEGO bricks re-purposed into other products?

Do you think there's a market for Christian based LEGO products that aren't sets?

If something like this came to be, what types of things would you like to see offered?

I guess that's a good started ground. Thoughts? Concerns? Anything? Thanks!

(I wasn't really sure where this thread would go, it pertained to LEGO so I posted it here)

[tkatt]

In my opinion people who try to make money through religion subvert the entire point of religion.

[deraven]

Well, I myself certainly have no interest in such items, but I wanted to chime in on the legality: I think as long as you don't use "Lego" in your product or store names and have a disclaimer saying your stuff isn't related to or endorsed by TLG, I think you're safe. That is, you can have that disclaimer at the bottom of the page, and then a product called "Brick Crucifix" with a description that says something like "This holy cross thingamajig is made of 100% new Lego brand bricks…" but you couldn't call your business "The Lego Rosary Shop" and sell a "Lego Crucifix", etc..

[BrickBelt]

In my opinion people who try to make money through religion subvert the entire point of religion.

Well, you can offer genuine religious products with a genuine heart and seek honest and just compensation for your work. Pastors make a living off of religion, speakers, theology teachers. But that's a debate for somewhere else.

Well, I myself certainly have no interest in such items, but I wanted to chime in on the legality: I think as long as you don't use "Lego" in your product or store names and have a disclaimer saying your stuff isn't related to or endorsed by TLG, I think you're safe. That is, you can have that disclaimer at the bottom of the page, and then a product called "Brick Crucifix" with a description that says something like "This holy cross thingamajig is made of 100% new Lego brand bricks…" but you couldn't call your business "The Lego Rosary Shop" and sell a "Lego Crucifix", etc..

Thanks! I had similar thoughts on the matter. I'm hoping we can get someone who has a bit more intricate knowledge on the matter to comment.

[Jern92]

THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS DEBATE

Alright, now that that's out of the way there's a few different things I want to cover so I'll break them down.

First off, a little background: As most of you know, LEGO doesn't produce religious products. I wholeheartedly agree with that decision....But at the same time I feel like there's a market for it. For the past few months I've been tinkering of the idea of selling Christian based LEGO related products. Not sets, but things like crosses, keychains, necklaces...The like. There's a few things I wanted to get people's opinions on.

Legality? People offer LEGO built products on places like Etsy. Would it be legal to open a third-party business that sells LEGO bricks re-purposed into other products?

Do you think there's a market for Christian based LEGO products that aren't sets?

If something like this came to be, what types of things would you like to see offered?

I guess that's a good started ground. Thoughts? Concerns? Anything? Thanks!

(I wasn't really sure where this thread would go, it pertained to LEGO so I posted it here)

Probably like what Citizen Brick does, where they sell custom-made Lego sets for ridiculously high prices.

There's probably a market for anything if you care to look hard enough, but whether you can make enough to sustain the business comes into question. I guess sometimes it just takes a leap of faith at the start.

If you built proper sets like churches, statues of Jesus Christ, cathedrals etc, I'm sure you'll have lots of customers though. You could even branch into Architecture stuff like the Sistine Chapel!

Edited January 15, 2015 by Jern92

[Saberwing40k]

I actually had some people come in to the Lego store over the holidays, and ask for a nativity set, so there is a (niche) market for this kind of stuff. Doesn't Lego have a detailed fair play policy somewhere? could we maybe get a link to that?

[Robert8]

Probably like what Citizen Brick does, where they sell custom-made Lego sets for ridiculously high prices.

There's probably a market for anything if you care to look hard enough, but whether you can make enough to sustain the business comes into question. I guess sometimes it just takes a leap of faith at the start.

If you built proper sets like churches, statues of Jesus Christ, cathedrals etc, I'm sure you'll have lots of customers though. You could even branch into Architecture stuff like the Sistine Chapel!

Agree.

I could see Notre-Dame de Paris being an Architecture set, but that's it... nothing like The Bible CMF series, or sets based on the life of Jesus

Edited January 15, 2015 by Robert8

[ritzcrackerman]

You may do some research. Here's a link for a company that actually produces sets using "LEGO compatible" bricks to make edifices / temples for the Mormon religion. The site was obviously scoured by an attorney in advance:

http://brickemyoung.com

Citizen Brick also publishes disclaimers on their site that you could wordsmith.

Edited January 15, 2015 by ritzcrackerman

[Herky]

I would think there is a market for it as others have said, especially at Christmas with nativity scenes and Easter with certain sets, but you can do the other items mentioned and they would likely sell as well. As a Christian, I would buy a Lego nativity if it was priced decently. I get the advent calendar, which is religious based from the 19th century protestant traditions so TLG does make that. There are actually a lot of fun religious based sets that could work, an ark, a minifig of Jonah and a large fish, Moses and the tablets...you could have fun with an ark of the covenant and then throw in some Indiana Jones too. (you have to have fun with it right?)

I have always been surprised that a company like McFarlane hasn't tackled religious figures...it's a decent concept, you just have to be able to make it viable.

[Andy D]

Sure, why not? Good luck!

Andy D

[MAB]

It's perfectly legal for you to sell such items in most parts of the world, so long as you make it clear they are not lego products, or endorsed by lego, or use the lego logo in your advertising.

A cross is not very difficult to make from brown plates. If there is a market, then be prepared for other people to sell exactly the same stuff. Whether they have interest in the religion or not.

[AFOLguy1970]

A nativity scene would be nice. Also, you might want to think about producing minifigures of people from Biblical times that are not produced now. I would also not mind having a bishop or clergy minifig to go with a cathedral MOC I am slowly putting together.

[BrickBelt]

Thanks for all the hello, guys...It really means a lot!

It's not too hard to find an odd product like a cross or something here or there, as MAB pointed out ( even an LEGO clone brand nativity set.) That's why I'm thinking a well made website with a recognizable name offering various Christian related LEGO products in one location would help a lot. I actually had a bit more ambitious idea of what I wanted to make, but decided it might be best to start out small and work on that as a side project.

I have a brother who is fluent in web design, so I think I may get a website together and look at all the legal stuff...Then start out small with a few simple products and a nativity and Easter scene, maybe a couple mini-figures. I also have experience in T-shirt design so I could offer a couple of those, as well. I think the trick with a nativity and Easter scene would be to use common bricks and keep the piece count low to keep costs down. They'd definitely have to be designed with that in mind.

[ficbot]

I actually saw some clone brand Jewish 'Lego-compatible' over the holiday break. They had police and fire vehicles with Hebrew lettering, and they had a Shabbat dinner play set. They also had some Minifigs-type people with beards and hats.

[Infinityman]

There were definitely LEGO-compatible sets at the Family Christian bookstore - a nativity and at least one other.

[AmperZand]

Although I don't have a desire for TLG to create religious-themed sets, I often find myself admiring small companies that try to fill a market niche. So I did a bit of googling and discovered a company called Trinity Toyz that does Christianity-themed sets. I couldn't find a URL for them, but they seem to sell through lots of channels including Amazon.

For sacerdotal hats, body wear and accessories, try: http://www.bricklink...ore.asp?p=Dan76 . I don't have any of his religious-themed pieces but do have some of his secular ones and they're good quality.

For inspiration, you may want to check out the Brick Bible: http://thebrickbible.com/

I actually saw some clone brand Jewish 'Lego-compatible' over the holiday break. They had police and fire vehicles with Hebrew lettering, and they had a Shabbat dinner play set. They also had some Minifigs-type people with beards and hats.

Was it this company?... http://www.binyanblo...etl-series/cyu0

Edited January 15, 2015 by AmperZand

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I don't think there's any harm in any company, including Lego, making religious products knowing that there's an audience for them. Even Playmobil (or as I like to think of them, "Lego without the Bricks," made a Natvity scene. "This exists" shouldn't be a threat to anyone. I'd love it if Lego made a Nativity snce I'm Christian; I wouldn't be bothered (but I also wouldn't be interested) if Lego made Muslim or Buddhist sets.

My daughter did get a Lego rosary for her first communion last year, but of course that was from a third-party Etsy type seller.

[Herky]

Here is a blog about Trinity Toyz: http://thebrickblogger.com/2014/03/lego-compatible-bible-based-sets/

[Sarah]

I actually had some people come in to the Lego store over the holidays, and ask for a nativity set, so there is a (niche) market for this kind of stuff. Doesn't Lego have a detailed fair play policy somewhere? could we maybe get a link to that?

I was looking over the holidays for a Lego nativity set -- or instructions to make something similar that I could modify. Didn't like anything I found. (I saw the TrinityToyz Last Supper but was not impressed with the feel. It felt cheap. I'd rather just instructions to make from real Lego bricks. I guess I'm a bit of a purist that way.)

Edited January 15, 2015 by Sarah

[ficbot]

Was it this company?... http://www.binyanblo...etl-series/cyu0

Yes. My stepson wanted the bus but it was massively expensive (about $50) so we got him the family Minifigs instead.

[BrickBelt]

Hmm, I've seen Trinity Toyz sets and the Brick Built Bible before. While they both had aspects that impressed me I've still been disappointed by the lack of quality presentation.

The Brick Built Bible is actually what first led me to explore various LEGO related products. I was impressed by his models and scenes but wasn't a huge fan of the overall design quality of the book (page layout, cover design, things like that.) I put together this together and sent it into the Little Prince licensing agency, but they're currently working with the designer of the Little Prince Lego Ideas project and trying to get that passed.

The Trinity Toys sets aren't too bad, but I feel like they lack the all around quality LEGO always brings to the table. The lack of a website and the poorer presentation (box design, etc...) are also holding them back a bit.

[Jern92]

Hmm, I've seen Trinity Toyz sets and the Brick Built Bible before. While they both had aspects that impressed me I've still been disappointed by the lack of quality presentation.

The Brick Built Bible is actually what first led me to explore various LEGO related products. I was impressed by his models and scenes but wasn't a huge fan of the overall design quality of the book (page layout, cover design, things like that.) I put together this together and sent it into the Little Prince licensing agency, but they're currently working with the designer of the Little Prince Lego Ideas project and trying to get that passed.

The Trinity Toys sets aren't too bad, but I feel like they lack the all around quality LEGO always brings to the table. The lack of a website and the poorer presentation (box design, etc...) are also holding them back a bit.

Agreed. The designs are pretty poor in that regard, and I also couldn't figure out if they use actual Lego or cheap knockoffs, which is one thing that holds me back from such things. If I'm forking out money for a building set, I want the quality Lego offers (more often than others). If you do this, you'll need someone with a background in marketing to help design your products' public appearances, even as you design the actual products themselves. Even the builds of those sets are a letdown, with large bare baseplates, and almost nothing going on in most of the scenes.

[deraven]

I actually had some people come in to the Lego store over the holidays, and ask for a nativity set, so there is a (niche) market for this kind of stuff. Doesn't Lego have a detailed fair play policy somewhere? could we maybe get a link to that?

For what it's worth, here's the link to that: http://www.lego.com/en-us/legal/legal-notice/fair-play

Also, a somewhat more detailed look at the brand and policies is available in this Fair Play brochure.

[Jared]

In my opinion people who try to make money through religion subvert the entire point of religion.

+1

There's probably a market for it. Heck, many amazing builders in our community (Sean and Steph Mayo, Rook and Carys H.) are Christians. As for there being a market and being able to sell stuff, well, like any religion, yeah. It's legal as long as you mention that LEGO doesn't endorse or affiliate with your "business".

The thing you should understand about religion (and this is NOT a bash on religion, and I'm really impressed this hasn't broken out into a religious argument, so bravo everyone ^_^) is that to keep religion strong, many religious leaders jump on the hype wagon of whatever is in popular culture these days and then they try and weave religion into it. The best example I can think of was a good friend of mine (who is a DEVOUT Christian) brought me to her Church to listen to a lecture on God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost and The Marvel Universe. Aside from it being one of the weirdest experiences of my life, it did help me realize this notion, that religion will jump on the popular culture bandwagon these days to interest young people. With the ever-increasing popularity of LEGO, and more and more people wanting it, of course religions will "seize this opportunity" to "spread their message" to young people through popular culture mediums. So there will definitely be a market for it, for sure.

Hope that helped at all. A very thought-provoking topic, thanks for bringing it up!

[BrickBelt]

I'm surprised it hasn't turned into a debate either. The adult LEGO community is really admirable!

I actually agree with most of your post there...Too many Christian churches, to me at least, lose their religion in the struggle to stay relevant (not to bash anyone's church or anything.)

It's hard to explain my thinking behind the whole concept of this thread. I'm a bit different and awkward socially. There's not many jobs I'm really suited for, I'd be perfectly happy sweeping floors my whole life. People often tell you to follow what you love. I'm a longtime LEGO fan who's at least fairly adept at MOCing and I've studied a lot of various theological subjects...Recently as I've made my way through various LEGO communities, I realized it is possible to make a living out of LEGO if you know what you're doing. I'm not trying to get rich or anything like that. I just don't want to attempt jumping in without gauging what people think first.

From the comments in this thread, here's what I think: There would be a small interest in various non-building set products, but the big drawing point would be the building sets. Maybe just two or three (the Nativity, the Resurrection, and maybe Noah's Ark?) Simple enough to be inexpensive, easy for kids to build but complex enough to be satisfactory to afols. Maybe an architecture set targeted towards adults, as well. A well made website with a recognizable, easy to remember name could create a decent enough internet presence to make it successful. Maybe if I got the product and website designs together and then launched it via Kickstarter?