Full Version: Lucas sues over stormtroopers
Lucas Sues Over Stormtroopers
George Lucas' Lucasfilm is suing a British prop designer in London over rights to the imperial stormtrooper costumes from the Star Wars films, which the prop designer has been marketing, the Associated Press reported.
Lucasfilm claims violation of copyright and trademarks by prop designer Andrew Ainsworth, who sculpted the Stormtrooper helmets for the first Star Wars movie in 1977. London-based Ainsworth sells replicas of the helmets and armor, which he says are made from the original molds, on his Web site.
Lucasfilm won a $20 million judgment against Ainsworth in a California court in 2006 and is seeking to have it enforced in Great Britain.
Ainsworth is countersuing, claiming the copyright rests with him; he is seeking a share of merchandising revenue from the six Star Wars films, which his lawyers estimate at $24 billion, the AP reported.
Lucasfilm and its lawyers claim the design of the stormtroopers was created by Lucas and his artistic team and was already in place by the time Ainsworth was hired to create the helmets.
Funny how Lucas Arts were "inspired" by other works and this guy is Infringing Copyright... Truly sad I hope LA gets their asses handed to them.
Ralph McQuarrie is the guy who came up with the designs in the first place...
Either way, it *is* copyright infringement, if indeed Lucasfilm holds the copyright to the design, and someone else is selling copies of that design. It should be obvious that there's a difference between that and "being inspired" by other stuff. If you could sue somebody for that, then every rock band would have to pay royalties to Elvis and the Beatles.
Either way, it *is* copyright infringement, if indeed Lucasfilm holds the copyright to the design, and someone else is selling copies of that design. It should be obvious that there's a difference between that and "being inspired" by other stuff. If you could sue somebody for that, then every rock band would have to pay royalties to Elvis and the Beatles.
QUOTE (Lord Madhammer @ Apr 9 2008, 06:20 AM) 
Ralph McQuarrie is the guy who came up with the designs in the first place...
Either way, it *is* copyright infringement, if indeed Lucasfilm holds the copyright to the design, and someone else is selling copies of that design. It should be obvious that there's a difference between that and "being inspired" by other stuff. If you could sue somebody for that, then every rock band would have to pay royalties to Elvis and the Beatles.
Either way, it *is* copyright infringement, if indeed Lucasfilm holds the copyright to the design, and someone else is selling copies of that design. It should be obvious that there's a difference between that and "being inspired" by other stuff. If you could sue somebody for that, then every rock band would have to pay royalties to Elvis and the Beatles.
Who would have to pay royalties to gospel and R&B musicians, who would have to pay royalties to etc...
Lucas is right, Ainsworth is wrong.
whew!
Thought I was in trouble there for a second.
Thought I was in trouble there for a second.
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