>>8647635Well technically that's true on paper, but for transformers, the "Unofficial Transforming Robot Homage" market, or IP theft if you're a boot-licking but legally accurate faggot, came up in 2005-2007, well before there was much licensing of Transformers to other toy makers. Back then it was almost entirely upgrades for existing figures, like trailers for Classics Optimus and Ultra Magnus, who lacked official options. 3rd Party was just used as a moniker since they were made for Transformers toys, but not involved with Hasbro. You'd probably know it better as a term for video games, where 3rd party means "on a company's proprietary platform, but not involved with them beyond that."
It's obviously exploded way more since then, but the name stuck. That's why we generally describe Transformers toys like
>>8647645 says. Also helps that we're talking about toys made in Tiananmen Town, who couldn't give less of a fuck about enforcing Burgerfat copyright without getting tons of money first. So unless toys exploded into a colossal industry on par with film and video games, don't expect the current state of things to change drastically.
Except for mp-likes and movie toys to go extinct, which can only make things better.
