Interesting about MTH & UP, however, in Europe manufactures such as Piko & Herpa do in fact have to seek permission, obtain a "licence" & pay royalties.
That's why the prices of otherwise identical trucks & locomotives vary ! Some companies take the sensible view that they are getting free publicity, some are greedy & others are not interested at all.
Could explain why (ASAIK) you cannot get an HO model of a "Norbert Dentresangle" (spelling ?) truck in HO - one of the biggest fleets in Europe - for years you could not get any Eddie Stobart vehicles in HO because Corgi held the rights &, of course do not produce HO vehicles - I'm certain that someone does do a Stobby in HO though now, probably "sub-licenced" from Corgi !