One of the key ways that Boeing or Lockmart can demonstrate they have brand equity in court, is to show a pattern of defending it. It is sort of a chicken and the egg problem....if they never defend it, it could be impossible to ever claim it exists. So for now it is safer for them to defend it.

This could all be a determination from someone that they need to protect their brand as part of some major corporate branding initiative. This model thing could be on page 193 of the document next to logos on coffee cups or something, not some big scheme to collect an extra 15K a year on model licensing.

I believe them when they say they are probably not collecting enough to pay to protect their brand. That being said, legislation is the answer, this is what we have representatives for. A good grass roots group could package this issue to the right congressman and he/she gets airtime out of it....gold!