Lego has said it is reversing its policy on bulk purchases and will no longer ask customers what they want to use the bricks for.The U-turn follows a recent controversy involving Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.In October last year, Ai accused Lego of censorship when it refused to sell its bricks directly to him.The company said its policy was to reject requests if it believed the bricks would be used to make a political statement.Ai is known for his criticism of the Chinese government as well as for being one of the world's leading contemporary artists. He wanted the bricks for an artwork on political dissidents. The artist ended up using "fake" bricks donated to him by the public for an exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.Ai appeared to react to Lego's decision on Wednesday by posting a picture on Instagram of a young boy sticking bricks onto his face, accompanied by a grinning emoji caption. When Lego first refused to sell a bulk order of plastic bricks to Ai Weiwei in September, he's thought to have kept the news to himself.
But a few weeks later, the announcement that a new Legoland theme park would open in Shanghai led the artist to reveal Lego's decision to stay away from projects that had a "political agenda". It was a surprising decision by Lego. After all, Ai Weiwei had used Lego before. He created a series of portraits of political dissidents that appeared at an exhibition in Alcatraz prison in 2014. Back in October, the artist tied Lego's financial interests in China with its decision to refuse his order. His accusation has some merit: KIRKBI, the private Danish company that owns the Lego brand also owns a significant amount of shares in Merlin Entertainment, the British company that operates Legolands around the world.China is Lego's fastest growing market and the company wouldn't want to irritate Beijing. However, as Lego might attest, few would want to battle the feisty Ai Weiwei. In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, Lego said it used to ask customers ordering bulk purchases for the "thematic purpose" of their project, as it did not want to "actively support or endorse specific agendas"."
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," it said.As of 1 January the company will instead ask that customers make clear the group does not support or endorse their projects, if exhibited in public.Lego's earlier decision to refuse Ai's request angered the artist, who accused the company of censorship and discrimination, and of attempting to define political art.The artist told the BBC he welcomed Lego's change of heart."I think Lego made a good move, I think this would be a small victory for freedom of speech." The artist also linked Lego's stance with business interests in China.The controversy sparked a public backlash resulting in supporters around the world offering to donate toy bricks.Ai set up "Lego collection points" in different cities, and ended up making a new series of artworks based on the incident as a commentary on freedom of speech and political art.
Correction: This article was changed to make it clear that Ai Weiwei's Melbourne exhibition used non-Lego bricks.By using this site you agree to the use of cookies. We're sorry we can't seem to find the page you are looking for.Bricks & Minifigs Madison at Bricks & Minifigs Madison.😀 DIMENSIONS FUN PACK SALE!! 😀 All new in sealed plastic (without box) FREE with purchase of $25 or more, or $5 each! Even if you don't have the game, the minifigures are great! -sale good while items are in stock - no rainchecks. Bricks & Minifigs MadisonYup - LEGO made that...We have been here a few times. I saw a picture of a retired set my son had been begging me to get for him. I called and they just sold the set, he took my name Dennis Allen. Just turned 7 last week and is building 9+ and wants to go larger. I ran across this place only ab we are lucky to have one in Madison! The cases are stocked with tons of unique Minifigs. If y pieces you can build your own set from...I was able to find a lot of obscure pieces in them I would oth c teen or spouse, this is the place for you. Th
ey were super kind when we showed up just as they were closing an Noah Nechvataled in theBuild your own drones using LEGO® bricks Basic kits ship now!Deluxe kits ordered today ship March 2017. Basic Flybrix Kit - SHIPS NOW Deluxe Flybrix Kit - SHIPS 3/17 R/C Expansion Pack - SHIPS 3/17 T-minus 15 minutes to liftoff! Build your Flybrix with the included LEGO® bricks (or use your own). Flybrix Kits come complete. No need to comb the internet to find your parts, or pull out a soldering iron. Trial and error is the spirit of Flybrix. The Kits are designed to be durable and withstand your flight tests. Flybrix is a kit that makes getting started intuitive for beginners, while staying challenging for experts. Access sensor data and tune motors our Chrome Extension Configuration Software. The Flybrix brain is a powerful, open-source, Arduino compatible PCB. Become a Flybrix VIP Stay in the loop on the latest news and special offers.Most expensive Lego brick in the world expected to sell for £12,000
THE most expensive Lego brick in the world is up for auction again - and is expected to sell for a whopping £12,000. SWNSOne of only a handful of 14k solid gold 2x4 bricks ever made sparked a bidding frenzy when it was put up for sale on auction website Catawiki.The last time one of the bricks was sold, in 2012, it went for a whopping £8,000.Between 1979 and 1981, the extra special bricks were originally given to Lego employees that had fulfilled 25 years of employment at their main factory in Germany.SWNS This is definitely the most special brick I have ever come across What makes this commemorative brick even more special is that it can be used with all other Lego sets, thanks to its patented interlocking nodules.A lucky American won the auction, and is now the proud owner of the golden brick, which weighs 25.65g, and is exactly the same size and shape as an original Lego brick.John Hughbanks, president of Lego fan website Brick Envy that sold the brick, said: "This is definitely the most special brick I have ever come across.
SWNS"The other precious metal items that Lego has done in recent years are nice but almost all of them were simply contest prizes."The 2x4 gold brick had to be earned, there was no luck involved at all. Someone had to work for 25 years of their live, in one place, just to get it."The story is what separates this brick from anything else, in my own opinion." Lego Store Leicester Square - First look inside the new London shop LEGO has opened a flagship new store in London's Leicester Square, and here is a look around the awesome new shop. Lego Leicester Square is the biggest Lego Store in the world The most expensive Lego set ever officially released is the massive 5195-piece Millennium Falcon, which costs a mere £342.49.Experts at the auction site reckon the single brick is expected to sell for over 30 times the price of an average home in 1932, the year the Lego Company was created.Lego auctioneer, Aldus Rolf Nagtzaam said: "The brick has been put up for auction by a family member of an Italian business partner of LEGO who received the brick in 1980, for his work on building the LEGO market in Italy."