George Lucas Loses Stormtrooper Court Battle
July 27th, 2011 8:47am EDT
George Lucas has lost his court battle with a British designer over the rights to make and sell replica Star Wars helmets.
Andrew Ainsworth made the headgear for the original movies and started selling the Stormtrooper helmets in 2004, to fans who wanted to wear them for fancy dress parties.
The creator of the hugely successful sci-fi series attempted to sue Ainsworth for $20 million after he sold some items in America, but Lucas lost the legal battle in the U.K. because a judge rejected claims the helmets are sculptures.
He hoped to overturn the decision by taking the case to the Supreme Court, but a judge has now upheld the 2009 decision after agreeing the designs are functional costumes and therefore not subject to copyright laws.
The decision allows the designer to continue making the helmets, which cost around $2,950.
Related: George Lucas, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, The Empire Strikes Back, Celebrity, Movies, Legal Issues, Successful Celebrities
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