LEGO minifigures are a way for fans to identify themselves physically and digitally and they are known as SigFigs. Some of them are customized to the point where there are 3rd party logos printed on it and sometimes companies also use them to put their names and trademarks on it. Today, LEGO has cracked down this practice to protect their minifigure branding by releasing a statement on what you can and cannot do to a minifigure. This means you can’t print any “3rd party logos, names of organizations, and trademarks onto LEGO MInifigures” and you can’t use, order, distribute, or sell minifigures with them. SigFigs looks to be fine as long as there is no 3rd party printing on it, aka your social media/YouTube channels.

I know that LUGs and 3rd party custom minifigure creators will be affected by this ruling. Some LUGs do use their logo on minifigures to identify themselves and to pass them out to visitors. The custom printing companies will also have to shift their focus as well since companies do like to request their company logos on minifigs for company gatherings and events. I’m not sure how it will be supported legally, whether you get a cease and desist letters or if you’re a LUG, get removed from the Ambassador Network for violations.

The good thing is that custom printing on regular LEGO bricks is still allowed so there’s still ways for LUGs and companies to promote their organizations.

Customized LEGO Minifigures with printed 3rd party logos, names of organizations, and

A few years ago, LEGO announced that they will be accelerating their sustainability efforts which included their packaging materials. This included changing the plastic bags to paper bags as well as for the instructions. Unfortunately, this also goes for the packaging for the LEGO Collectible Minifigures line. Starting in 2023, the minifigures will be packaged in cardboard boxes. This means that feeling for them to find the one you want, which we have done for years, will no longer be relevant. It has also been stated that there will be no indicators on the packaging to show which minifigures will be inside the boxes.

The concept of using cardboard packaging for minifigure type sets has been used for the LEGO VIDIYO Bandmates line and it will soon be implemented for the LEGO Super Mario Character Packs – Series 5 (71410). There is no doubt that this will resort to theft because it’ll be easy to just open up the box in stores and check whatever one is inside. Resellers will also get a boost in profits because they can sell “confirmed” minifigures for people who are looking to complete the set.

Below are some of the concept packaging that LEGO used in testing with people and somehow they landed on cardboard boxes. Obviously, the boxes are recyclable and it helps the environment and all that jazz but come on. The negatives of this decision will overshadow the positives, e.g. lost sales, interactivity with others. I know I’ve helped many people look for a particular minifigure … Continue