Star Wars costume battle Print E-mail
Written by Felix Da Silva (fdasilva@bitnip.com)   
Thursday, 10 April 2008
ukflag.gifStar Wars Episode VII is to take place in London. In the latest intergalactic saga, the High Court is being asked to rule on the rights in the storm troopers’ body armour and helmets.


According to The Telegraph, London-based Andrew Ainsworth, started producing replica suits four years ago, which he sold to fans.


Mr Lucas has already won round one in a Californian courtroom in 2006 when he was awarded the equivalent of £10m in damages.

However, since Mr. Ainsworth is resident in the UK, Mr Lucas has had to go to the High Court in London in an attempt to have the order enforced.

In this particular case, Ainsworth is arguing that:

  • The suits are a work of industrial design, and so any IP rights will have expired.
  • If they do still exist, as the designer he owns them rather than Mr Lucas, which would mean he deserves a cut of the merchandising market.

To avoid such arguments like this in the future, make sure that you put down the way the rights are to be split in writing for any commissioned work.

The force is strong with this copyright/design case.... I couldn't resist. I think I got Jedi mind tricked.



Related items:


Are mod chips really illicit devices?
Facebook axes audio application for copyright issues
EU wants standard 95-year copyright for performers
Net cafes in China fined for violating HK TV copyright
P&G sues Blue Cross Laboratories for copycat packaging




Digg!Reddit!Del.icio.us!Google!Facebook!Slashdot!Netscape!Technorati!StumbleUpon!Newsvine!Furl!Yahoo!Ma.gnolia!
 

BITNIP Prefers