As the Bricks and Minifigs saga continues to roll on, it’s worth digging into the precise nature of the company’s relationship with the LEGO Group.
Bricks and Minifigs (BAM) is currently embroiled in a legal dispute over a LEGO Star Wars collection believed to be worth more than $80,000, which Bryan Mansell placed on consignment with the Salem-Keizer, Oregon franchise in 2023. Mansell claims that new owners who took over the store in 2024 have refused to honour the deal, and BAM has since closed the location permanently.
Comments across social media have repeatedly demanded the LEGO Group weigh in on the situation, calling into question the exact relationship between the two entities (if one exists at all). But this is where things get a little muddy.
Here’s how BAM advertises setting up a franchise on its homepage: “With low startup costs and comprehensive training from our team, you’ll be running the most successful authorized LEGO resale store in your town in no time.” Scroll down to the footer, though, and you’ll find this disclaimer: “LEGO is a registered trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs or this web site.”
Notice the specific use of ‘authorize(d)’ in both instances there. One suggests that the LEGO Group does sanction Bricks and Minifigs and therefore has some kind of relationship with the company, but the other states explicitly that the LEGO Group doesn’t authorise BAM.
We reached out to Bricks and Minifigs for clarification and received a few boilerplate FAQs in response, one of which again describes BAM as ‘an independent authorized reseller’. It’s that use of the word ‘authorised’ that’s causing confusion here – what exactly does it mean for BAM to be authorised? Is there any weight behind that term in this context?
We asked BAM to clarify further and received this statement:
“Bricks & Minifigs is an authorized LEGO reseller and retailer, holding a commercial agreement with the LEGO Group to carry LEGO products, including new, authentic items bearing LEGO trademarks. ‘Authorized’ refers strictly to this commercial relationship; it does not mean Bricks & Minifigs is owned, operated by, partnered with, or endorsed by the LEGO Group.
The two companies are separate and independent, which is why Bricks & Minifigs store websites carry the disclaimer: ‘LEGO is a registered trademark of The LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this company or website.’ Customers can shop with confidence knowing all LEGO products sold through Bricks & Minifigs are genuine.”
Essentially, it seems like the relationship extends only to the use of the LEGO trademark on products in stores. BAM did not respond to a query concerning the direct purchase of new stock from the LEGO Group to resell in its stores.
We also reached out to the LEGO Group for further comment but did not receive a response in time for the publication of this story.
Head here for a complete recap of the Bricks and Minifigs timeline. Since that post, the company’s lawsuit against YouTuber RecklessBen – who has been covering the saga on his channel and brought it into the public eye – has moved from state to federal court, while BAM has reasserted its desire to find an ‘amicable resolution’ with the Mansell family.
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