and the LEGO Shop have a number of “Brick Friday” and Cyber Monday deals from now through the 28th. Starting at midnight Eastern at the LEGO Shop online, shipping is free regardless of order size, and orders over $99 USD / £60 qualify for a free 40223 Snowglobe. A number of exclusive and hard-to-find sets are 20% off from the LEGO Shop as well — we’ll update this post with the specific sets once we see what’s actually available on the 25th. And scroll down for links to the LEGO Shop sales & deals for our UK and Canadian readers. is already having a huge LEGO sale, with sets as much as 44% off. The fantastic LEGO Star Wars set 75150 Vader’s TIE Advanced vs. A-Wing Starfighter (read our review) is 37% or $33.20 off, at only $56.79. 75148 Encounter on Jakku, with great minifigs and lots of lovely dark brown and azure, is 36% off — down to $38.39 from $59.99. In addition to Encounter on Jakku, many of the other Force Awakens LEGO Star Wars sets are on sale:
More LEGO Star Wars sets are on sale: Even several of the brand new Rogue One LEGO Star Wars sets are on sale enough to make them worth a closer look: 21024 The Louvre is 22% off at $46.63. A number of other LEGO Architecture sets are also on sale, including all of the city skyline sets: The LEGO City 60110 Fire Station is $36 off at $63.99. The lovely 31052 Vacation Getaways with a camper and brick-built bear is 41% off at only $41.59. 60104 Airport Passenger Terminal is 37% off at $63.19. Multiple LEGO City train sets are on fairly deep discount: The excellent, steampunky Ninjago set 70592 Salvage M.E.C. is a whopping 38% off at a mere $24.79. The even steampunkier 70605 Misfortune’s Keep is 22% off at $62.29. More Ninjago LEGO on sale at Amazon: Finally, more stuff than I can list easily is on sale for LEGO Dimensions — level packs, story packs, and the starter pack itself. deals, but all of the LEGO Shop deals we highlighted at the beginning of this post are available — just click through from the following banners:
Tell all your friends! Lego had refused Ai Weiwei's bulk order because it said it had a policy of not endorsing political statements NGV sets up first Lego drop-off point for Ai Weiwei outside of Beijing Weiwei fans pledge bricks after Lego blocks bulk order Lego refuses to supply bricks for Weiwei installation because of 'political context' NGV defends lack of Chinese signs at Ai Weiwei show Toy company Lego has done an about-turn on bulk orders, after facing a storm of criticism for stopping the practise because its "bricks" were to be used in an exhibition by a dissident Chinese artist. Key points:Lego to allow bulk orders again after denying controversial artistThe company faced international backlashLego says bricks are about 'freedom of expression', but won't endorse future artworks The controversy was sparked last year when artist Ai Weiwei revealed he had been denied an order for use in an artwork to be exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria.The piece, currently on show, features portraits of a number of prominent Australians including Australian of the Year and anti-domestic violence campaigner Rose Batty, formerly imprisoned journalist Peter Greste, Aboriginal rights activist Gary Foley and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Lego changes policy after Ai Weiwei controversy Lego had refused to fulfil a bulk order for the artist, saying it had a long-held policy of not endorsing political statements.Mr Ai described the stance as censorship and discrimination, a slew of negative headlines ensued in the run-up to the Christmas sales period, and a social media campaign with the hashtag #legosforweiwei was born.It led to Australians and others around the world offering to donate their bricks to Mr Ai, who only had his passport returned last year after having it confiscated by Chinese authorities in 2011. A Lego spokesman said they will now fulfil bulk orders regardless of their purpose, if the buyer agrees to state that the company does not endorse the resulting work."In future we are not going to ask for what we call the thematic purpose of the build," Lego spokesman Roar Rude Trangbaek told the ABC at company headquarters in Billund, Denmark."Instead we are going to ask the purchaser to make it clear that we are not endorsing or supporting the activity as a company."
On Wednesday the artist welcomed the decision on Twitter, describing it as a "nice move".Lego said it wanted to clear up what it described as confusion over its position on human rights and freedom of expression."We make Lego bricks and Lego bricks are all about freedom of expression because anybody can take Lego bricks and build whatever they can imagine," Mr Trangbaek said. "This is really at the core of who we are as a company, so we don't want that confusion."That is not to say that Lego is now endorsing the current work by Mr Ai."We have adjusted a guideline for bulk purchase, but we are still refraining as a company from engaging in political activities," Mr Trangbaek said."Before you could also buy Lego bricks and build whatever you could imagine or want to without us having any say in that."So this only goes for those few cases where we get these requests for massive amounts of Lego bricks, hundreds of thousands of Lego bricks for public display. "And in these cases we are then asking them to say [that] the Lego group is not supporting or endorsing the project that [they] are using the bricks for, but we will gladly supply them."
With members of the public now donating their Lego to Mr Ai, the artist may no longer need the help of the Danish company for future projects, but Lego said if he places an order it will be met."Anyone contacting us to buy bulk purchase will be treated according to our adjusted guidelines," Mr Trangbaek said.Lego denies the controversy has harmed the brand, saying sales results due out in early March will prove that point.Good news for Lego lovers. They have done away with the policy where if a buyer wanted to make a bulk purchase, they would have to tell the company the purpose of their purchase.This change in policy comes after Chinese artist Ai Weiwei had accused the Danish company of refusing a bulk order on political grounds in October 2015.The toy became embroiled in controversy when Weiwei, who used the bricks to create portraits of political activists from around the world for a US exhibition in 2014, said the firm had told him it would not sell directly to users with "political" intentions.
This had created a huge uproar on social media. People from across the world had sent Weiwei Lego blocks with which he was able to complete his project.According to BBC, he ended up "using bricks donated to him by the public for an exhibition in Melbourne, Australia".Announcing the change of policy, Lego announced on its website on Tuesday:"The LEGO Group has adjusted the guidelines for sales of LEGO® bricks in very large quantities.Previously, when asked to sell very large quantities of LEGO® bricks for projects, the LEGO Group has asked about the thematic purpose of the project. This has been done, as the purpose of the LEGO Group is to inspire children through creative play, not to actively support or endorse specific agendas of individuals or organizations.However, those guidelines could result in misunderstandings or be perceived as inconsistent, and the LEGO Group has therefore adjusted the guidelines for sales of LEGO bricks in very large quantities.As of January 1st, the LEGO Group no longer asks for the thematic purpose when selling large quantities of LEGO bricks for projects.
Instead, the customers will be asked to make it clear - if they intend to display their LEGO creations in public - that the LEGO Group does not support or endorse the specific projects."Earlier, after the public backlash over Weiwei, Lego had told Guardian, "As a company dedicated to delivering great creative play experiences to children, we refrain – on a global level – from actively engaging in or endorsing the use of Lego bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda. This principle is not new."An op-ed in the Chinese edition of the Global Times, affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, had praised Lego for "refusing to be implicated in a political statement" and being motivated by "good business sense".Weiwei has been targeted by authorities for his advocacy of democracy and human rights as well as other criticisms, including the aftermath of the deadly Sichuan earthquake in 2008.He was detained for 81 days in 2011 and subsequently placed under house arrest, with his passport taken away.