Darkknight0667
Sr Member
Another month gone by (almost). Any decision yet?
AA case begins
- Thread starter Jumpin Jax
- Start date
minieffects
Well-Known Member
I find it funny how 30 years later this guy decided to cash in on his affiliation with ANH. But having worked in the industry for 20 years I can say this, when we get hired to design or build anything for the film industry the person or persons hiring us ultimately holds all the rights to anything produced. It doesn't matter if he sat down and did concept art (he didn't, RM did) nor does it matter that he made the original patterns and suits. At the end of the day he is a sub contractor hired to produce what ever it is the client is paying for. I have done concept design for clients and they own the art work and anything to do with it because thats what they paid for. Other than using it for my portfolio I cant touch it. At the end of the day this guy saw a chance to cash in but A: waited way too long to do it, B: Go up against Lucasfilm, was he nuts!.
Now unless this guy had the designs before Lucas contacted him and Lucas wanted to purchase the rights to use his designs he really has nothing to stand on. Don't get me wrong I'm all for free enterprise but pick your product wisely or at the very least get the licensing from Lucasfilm.
As far as him losing tons of money because of this, he knew what he was doing and the risks. Unless you live under a rock there is no way in this day and age you would not be aware of the legal ramifications of trying something like this.
Now unless this guy had the designs before Lucas contacted him and Lucas wanted to purchase the rights to use his designs he really has nothing to stand on. Don't get me wrong I'm all for free enterprise but pick your product wisely or at the very least get the licensing from Lucasfilm.
As far as him losing tons of money because of this, he knew what he was doing and the risks. Unless you live under a rock there is no way in this day and age you would not be aware of the legal ramifications of trying something like this.
darkesword2020
Active Member
I have to say, I want to see how this is going to play out really.
Tomorrow, after the judge hands AA his ass, I'm hoping for some really creative sentencing. Monetary damages are pointless, since AA won't be able to pay them anyway. He can't pay the fines imposed in the US courts, let alone any additional. I've been trying to think of what truly the most interesting punishment would be... living in one of his suits 24/7 for a year?
_Mike
_Mike
Qui-Gonzalez
Master Member
It's about gawdamned time. Goat, he's Justice Mann, his costume is under his robe.
Terrell78
Active Member
He may flee the country, marry a 3 toothed voodoo priestess, and become starfortress' partner. :lol
Onigiri
Sr Member
Under Justice Mann's robes are SITH ROBES...thats right, SITH ROBES! Lucas' ace in the hole...his sleeper agent...groomed since the late seventies he has crept up through the UK judiciary ranks to wait patiently until his master had need of him...and that time is now...bwahahahahahaha...at last we will have our revenge!
Mattastic13
Well-Known Member
Greatest comment ever!
Darkknight0667
Sr Member
Shouldn't be long now. It's past 3:00 there.
It's over. From Rebelscum
Lucasfilm Ltd. Wins Copyright Infringement
Case in British High Court
Maker of Bootleg Star Wars Stormtrooper Costumes
Found Liable for Damages
LONDON (July 31, 2008) – A High Court judge here today found that British firm Shepperton Design Studios and its principal, Andrew Ainsworth, violated the U.S. copyrights of Lucasfilm Ltd. by making and selling pirated Star Wars Stormtrooper helmets and other costume replicas.
Today’s ruling by Mr Justice Mann in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, affirmed that Lucasfilm is the sole owner of all rights to the iconic costume designs.
The court held that Ainsworth infringed Lucasfilm’s rights when he reproduced the Stormtrooper helmet replicas and sold them under a false claim that he had created the designs, which were used in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Ainsworth was a plastics manufacturer who was hired in 1976 to reproduce designs created by a team of Lucasfilm artists, including costume designer John Mollo, who won an Academy Award for his work on the film.
The court found that the factual claims made by Ainsworth and his company were neither accurate nor reliable, and rejected his counterclaims seeking a share of the profits from the films.
Lucasfilm brought the case to the British High Court following a 2006 judgment by a California court awarding Lucasfilm $20 million in damages resulting from
— more —
Star Wars Copyright Infringement / 2-2-2-2
Ainsworth’s activities. The British court held that it could apply U.S. law to the matter and ruled in Lucasfilm’s favor on the merits of the infringement case.
The court also held that Ainsworth infringed Lucasfilm’s rights under UK copyright laws, but that a UK-specific law that limits the enforcement of copyrights in industrial designs applied to the facts in the case. Lucasfilm is considering whether to appeal the legal finding under the UK industrial design law.
“We are grateful to the court for its ruling, which makes it clear that Lucasfilm and George Lucas are the rightful owners of the copyrights related to Star Wars,” said Lucasfilm Vice President Howard Roffman.
“We do not intend to use this ruling to discourage our fans from expressing their imagination, creativity and passion for Star Wars through the costumes and props they make for their personal use,” Roffman said. “Rather, we see the Court’s decision as reaffirming that those who seek to illegally profit from Star Wars will be brought to task, wherever they may be.”
Proceedings in the High Court of Justice began on April 8. The trial included testimony from Mollo; Gary Kurtz, producer of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; and Roffman, among others. Lucasfilm presented as evidence scores of sketches, designs, drawings and plans from the production of the first Star Wars film, which was produced in England in 1976. Original Imperial Stormtrooper costumes were displayed for the court as evidence. The trial now moves into the remedies phase, in which the court will determine the appropriate relief to provide to Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company based in San Francisco, Calif.
Lucasfilm Ltd. Wins Copyright Infringement
Case in British High Court
Maker of Bootleg Star Wars Stormtrooper Costumes
Found Liable for Damages
LONDON (July 31, 2008) – A High Court judge here today found that British firm Shepperton Design Studios and its principal, Andrew Ainsworth, violated the U.S. copyrights of Lucasfilm Ltd. by making and selling pirated Star Wars Stormtrooper helmets and other costume replicas.
Today’s ruling by Mr Justice Mann in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, affirmed that Lucasfilm is the sole owner of all rights to the iconic costume designs.
The court held that Ainsworth infringed Lucasfilm’s rights when he reproduced the Stormtrooper helmet replicas and sold them under a false claim that he had created the designs, which were used in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Ainsworth was a plastics manufacturer who was hired in 1976 to reproduce designs created by a team of Lucasfilm artists, including costume designer John Mollo, who won an Academy Award for his work on the film.
The court found that the factual claims made by Ainsworth and his company were neither accurate nor reliable, and rejected his counterclaims seeking a share of the profits from the films.
Lucasfilm brought the case to the British High Court following a 2006 judgment by a California court awarding Lucasfilm $20 million in damages resulting from
— more —
Star Wars Copyright Infringement / 2-2-2-2
Ainsworth’s activities. The British court held that it could apply U.S. law to the matter and ruled in Lucasfilm’s favor on the merits of the infringement case.
The court also held that Ainsworth infringed Lucasfilm’s rights under UK copyright laws, but that a UK-specific law that limits the enforcement of copyrights in industrial designs applied to the facts in the case. Lucasfilm is considering whether to appeal the legal finding under the UK industrial design law.
“We are grateful to the court for its ruling, which makes it clear that Lucasfilm and George Lucas are the rightful owners of the copyrights related to Star Wars,” said Lucasfilm Vice President Howard Roffman.
“We do not intend to use this ruling to discourage our fans from expressing their imagination, creativity and passion for Star Wars through the costumes and props they make for their personal use,” Roffman said. “Rather, we see the Court’s decision as reaffirming that those who seek to illegally profit from Star Wars will be brought to task, wherever they may be.”
Proceedings in the High Court of Justice began on April 8. The trial included testimony from Mollo; Gary Kurtz, producer of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; and Roffman, among others. Lucasfilm presented as evidence scores of sketches, designs, drawings and plans from the production of the first Star Wars film, which was produced in England in 1976. Original Imperial Stormtrooper costumes were displayed for the court as evidence. The trial now moves into the remedies phase, in which the court will determine the appropriate relief to provide to Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company based in San Francisco, Calif.
CGClone
Sr Member
Thats HUGE.
Brian Muir
Well-Known Member
Judgement went against Ainsworth. The damages and other details will be announced at a later date. Ainsworth did not appear in court to hear the judgement.
Brian Muir
Just seen jcoffman99's post and he beat me to it!
Brian Muir
Just seen jcoffman99's post and he beat me to it!
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