OP

Quoted from greatwichjohn:

I did call Mike at CPR this morning before going to my workshop. Here is Kevin response:
And this. This blew me away today. Had John Greatwich phone Mike today, seeing if we knew anything. We never got your email "C&D thing", oddly enough. Hmmm. Although, for the record (and everybody reading) - this isn't the first time Mirco has PM'd threats of "suing". Not veiled. Outright. To us. Yes.
Where all this bravado & gusto is calculated to be beneficial or positive for the hobby, I have no idea. I simply don't understand the state of mind. Think about that for a minute. Micro is a VERY smart guy. How he comes to these attitudes and decisions... Jeckyl and Hyde or something... not good.
I have spoken behind the scenes to many people today, and I found out exactly the gist of what John Greatwich was told by Mirco. I realize that a copy (or dictation) of the PM is not allowed. So I hope admins will allow my brief synopsis as it was told to me... these are MY WORDS. Not a PM, or even close to a PM. If this DOES need to be removed, then so be it.
" Hey John this is Mirco. I have been given legal rights by Gary at Stern to make all parts for classic Stern. This includes... all playfield, backglasses and parts. You must stop production immediately. Unless you have a paper from Gary at Stern show me the paper or you will get sued. Don't think that just because you are out of my country and I am in Germany that I can't sue you, think again. Please stop all productions unless you want to get sued" or something to that effect.
THIS IS THE LAST I'M GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS (Hell, this is my Sorcerer thread!):
I personally spoke to Gary Stern a few hours ago.
He WAS contacted by Mirco asking about doing a classic Stern project, and some mild discussion of royalties, how it works, etc. Gary gave him permission to proceed, and future details of paying royalties to Gary and his wife would be put in play. Gary acknowledges that Stern Electronics Inc is defunct, but the IP fell to him and his wife (wife because part of divorce settlement). He realises he hasn't cared nor policed IP for the old Stern Electronics stuff at all. He's got bigger fish to fry. He even recalls our 2005 meeting in his office, when we started - he gave us carte blanche to touch on any of the old Stern games if we wanted... he didn't care. Today in 2019, he does acknowledge that the hobby had significantly grown and changed - and him and his wife ARE looking at exploring their options for setting up some kind of interface with the makers out here. But this is a new thing for them. They are very busy.
Gary invited CPR to email him a list of all current Stern Electronics repro projects we still have interests in, plus any future plans. There is NO EXCLUSIVITY, and he has no problem (he is half the decision, with his wife) seeing the stuff getting made - wherever and whoever does it. But the time is coming where we need to sit down and discuss some royalty on the IP. He chuckled at the Mirco story... even said George Gomez got a call about the same thing today.
I also reached out to Marc at Marco Specialties since they are restocking my Seawitch, Star Gazer, & Nineball backglass. I wish Mirco Playfields would provide proof of their agreement with Gary Stern (his ex wife), etc. Not have to figure it out here with legal threats! If old Stern is looking for licensing of classic product please contact me.