I think you are confused in the difference between MANUFACTURING and RESTORATION.

I'll use auto parts to explain, because you might be too close to pinball to realize the difference:

Ford will not allow you to copy and MANUFACTURE their patented alternator design. You can't build them and sell them to others (although you could through "fair use" build one for your own personal use).

BUT, Ford can't stop you from RESTORING or RE-MANUFACTURING their existing, damaged alternators.

When you go to the auto parts store and buy an alternator, you have to "trade in" the old alternator (a "core") to get your deposit back.

This old alternator is then RESTORED (really they just install 2 new diodes, 99% of the time nothing else ever goes bad) by a company and then resold to another customer. Ford can not stop companies from repairing their products and reselling them.

Of course they are.

That is a rather illogical statement to make.

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Let's say I have a backbox and all the "warning text" on the back is damaged.

I'm not going to cut a Frisket around all that text.

I'm not going to hand letter all that text,

I'm CERTAINLY not going to install a decal of all that text and have it look like a basement restoration.

I'm going to SILKSCREEN on the text, just like Williams did 20 years ago.

If I was to take a brand new apron and add the wms artwork to it, I could see where you would need to pay the license holder. If the artwork is already on the apron and being reworked, I don't see why you'd need to pay wms again when they were already paid for the thing inthe first place.