Quote - These companies have every right to decide what happens to their design. They can allow us to 3D model them, they can forbid us, it's their choice, since they've designed the whole thing in the first place and if you want to remodel it, you at least could have asked their permission to do so.

I agree... The designs of their products are something they have spent millions or billions on developing, and they have every right to control and protect their use/misuse. Note that the reason that these merchants are able to sell their 3d models in the first place is because of the design itself. eg they cant just put a plank on a brick and call it a fighter plane. No one would buy that. It's the design that sells the mesh. So you can understand if Lockheed get a bit pissed if the merchant copies or bases the design on one they have copyright of.

And it's not just a case of the money. It is also a case of setting a bad precedent and that the spread of their design can hurt them in more then just financial ways.

eg say i buy a plane of theirs from Squid and then proceed to do a charming little render of it slamming into various buildings around the world. Or a youtube video of my girlfriend using their planes in less then wholesome ways.

Anyone really think that a serious company wants that kind of crap attached to their name ?