AA case begins

So, TE, who was an "expert" witness in the SDS vs LFL case, seems to be still active in producing fan-made stormtrooper helmets/amor? I would think that would have some relevance to the case as I had mentioned before that his mere involvement as a witness is a conflict of interest. If LFL legal gave him conditions including amnesty from litigation regarding his own sales of trooper helmets and armor, I am sure those conditions were binding, strict, and non-negotiable. Yet, if this were the case, we would have seen LFL go after other fan-made TK helmet/armor makers. Has this occurred? Or do they have to wait until they have secured their rights to helmet/armor? Something seems amiss. Furthermore there is an RPF member here who has received threats and possibly in regard to mentioning something about this case?
 
I think it's going to go the way it would here in the States...

When you build a prop for a movie, that prop becomes the property of production company once they have paid for the product. Anus-worth is a ******* for doing this. He should have stopped manufacturing when legally asked to stop and then pursued a license agreement with LFL.

In this case, I'm hoping for the big shoe to stomp the little guy.

Anusworth = *******
 
If LFL wins, they'll ask for AA to turn over the molds, etc he's used...in fact everything related to his production.

If TE struck a deal with LFL for amnesty, then LFL would almost certainly have asked for TE's molds. If he's copied them or sold them instead of turning them over to LFL, then he's in big bantha poo-doo. If LFL doesn't know about them, then they don't know about his helmet/armor runs. Then he's in big bantha poo-doo. So, he's either in big bantha poo-doo, or, he's in big bantha poo-doo. :love
 
postmortem01 said:
I think it's going to go the way it would here in the States...

When you build a prop for a movie, that prop becomes the property of production company once they have paid for the product. Anus-worth is a ******* for doing this. He should have stopped manufacturing when legally asked to stop and then pursued a license agreement with LFL.

In this case, I'm hoping for the big shoe to stomp the little guy.

Anusworth = *******
Click to expand...

And when you make a movie you don't sloppily get people to provide props without proper work agreements in writing, If he wasn't an employee or under contract then his work remains his property, he has merely allowed them to use it.
Yeah sure you can take the moral highground and say what he did was dishonorable or unfair but that's life i'm afraid it is unfair.

AA having the moral right to produce his stuff is neither here nor there and quite honestly a silly arguement on a board which is a den of people making,selling and buying unlicensed goods, AA having the legal right to produce or not is a different matter.
 
SithLord said:
If TE struck a deal with LFL for amnesty, then LFL would almost certainly have asked for TE's molds. If he's copied them or sold them instead of turning them over to LFL, then he's in big bantha poo-doo.
Click to expand...


Copied or sold them? Hard to say. He has sold his "original" molds more times than New York hook... well... Somehow he has managed to con at least 3 (or is it 4?) people into buying what he claimed were his "original" molds, always saying that these were the ones that touched the inside of a suit. He does this everytime the community exposes him for what he is. He "quits" and gets out of the game, selling his "only" set of molds to some poor shmuck... but then when his ego needs another boost he magically resurrects himself and what do you know... somehow he has yet ANOTHER set of original molds that were the only ones to touch the inside of a suit and the pieces he previously conned someone else into buying was a copy... He is like a broken record doing this again and again... All I can imagine is LFL carting off his molds and him smiling, waving goodbye to them and then going downstairs and dusting off yet ANOTHER set of original molds that... you guessed it... were the ONLY ones to touch the inside of a suit... The farce continues.
 
micdavis said:
Here's a little history.

TE was a member here, years ago. He would unleash his temper and lash out. I didn't know him from Adam, we crossed swords a few times, nothing major but frankly I was glad when he asked for his own banning.

Then came Celebration 3. I was in a restaurant with some friends and a guy stood up and called me over to him. He acted like I was his best buddy, I had no idea who he was. It was TE. We traded a few pleasant words and he gave me his phone number and said to call him if I ever made it to the Seattle area.

Up until this my only contact had ever been here. I thought this was odd that he would act this way toward me, but people frequently are different in person. So I put it down as that.

A year passes.

By a strange twist of fate, I end up moving to Seattle. So I look him up.

I am invited to his house. He had just received a fiberglass trooper helmet, that I guess was derived from a scan or something. Sure it was nice but I have never been a fan of the lumpy bumpy "exact" copy of a screenused beat up helmet.

In the process of showing the helmet and telling me the origins of it, out of nowhere he proceeded to tell me how he had made a deal with LFL to help them out with the AA case, and to finger other armor makers in exchange for them NOT prosecuting him. He even bragged and laughed about it.

I was appalled. He ratted out his fellow bootleggers. So much for honor among thieves.

But it was really none of my business and he was for all intents and purposes gone from my world and I didn't see him around anywhere anymore, so I kept quiet.

A year later I found myself at a Seattle collectors party and who is there, TE's ex-wife. In the course of conversation, without me even asking about it, she confirmed that he had done that. Apparently LFL was going to lower the boom on them and he made the deal to save them from financial ruin. Who wouldn't.

Believe this story, or don't. It's the truth. There was another RPF member present at his house the day he showed me the helmet and there was an RPF member within earshot of the conversation with his ex-wife. I will not out either of them but they were there.

I guess with all this being stirred up, I just couldn't hold this in anymore. Undoubtedly this will begin another round of personal bashing and insults from my internet stalkers but so be it.

For what it's worth.
Click to expand...

Wow. Well I have to say I'm not surprised - but for you to have heard it come directly from his own (and ex-wife's) mouths is pretty damning.

So all the garbage about "protecting himself" was clearly just lies - and I presume any other armour/prop makers out-of-favour with TE will probably start looking over their shoulder. Come to think of it I cant imagine any of them are in favour with him!

Great spin from TE's buddies to suggest that the AA case would see a step-change in the hobby. I suppose they were right in that it will - but only because he's the one compiling the "hit list" report. Perhaps my names on it - well I suppose if you suddenly see SWHelmets down you'll know why!

As far as the UK case is concerned, I'm pleased to say that I understand TE's "Expert Testimony" was not submitted as evidence. Perhaps someone here in the UK let LFL's legal team at Harbottle's know the partiality of the guy.....

Matt - I hope those trips to the Archives were worth it!

This news really disgusts me!

Jez
 
Perhaps my names on it - well I suppose if you suddenly see SWHelmets down you'll know why!
Click to expand...

Talking of which what's up with moviehelmets.com every time i try it i get a 500 error unable to find website ?

Back on topic now folks let the AA/LFL/TE bashing resume :cool
 
bad things happen to bad people, i'm sure karma will work its magic on TE (AA wins and goes after Matt with a vengence ;))
I do find it strange that on a forum designed solely for the purpose of the enjoyment, production and aqcuisition of replica props (for the most part done so without permission) that the majority are siding with "the man" and not AA.
Regardless of your views on his methods and ethics or his products he is a prop maker in hot water against the big company and so many people here could find themselves in the same position at any time (you never know who's watching)
What do we believe are the implications of AA actually winning this case as far as the prop community is concerned?

(i'm not in the 'AA camp' per say, i'm just interested in why people are routing for LFL and not the 'prop' maker)
 
joepinaaples said:
bad things happen to bad people, i'm sure karma will work its magic on TE (AA wins and goes after Matt with a vengence ;))
I do find it strange that on a forum designed solely for the purpose of the enjoyment, production and aqcuisition of replica props (for the most part done so without permission) that the majority are siding with "the man" and not AA.
Regardless of your views on his methods and ethics or his products he is a prop maker in hot water against the big company and so many people here could find themselves in the same position at any time (you never know who's watching)
What do we believe are the implications of AA actually winning this case as far as the prop community is concerned?

(i'm not in the 'AA camp' per say, i'm just interested in why people are routing for LFL and not the 'prop' maker)
Click to expand...

I don't think there will be much impact at all if AA does somehow win, most times im sure studios hire people through proper channels with the correct paperwork/contracts so their property will be protected, so i doubt you'll see a big rush of former propmakers digging out old moulds they have tucked away to flog off replicas.
Would AA start going after everyone making trooper helmets or armour ? it's possible but unlikely i should think.
Any financial gain would be small change compared to any award he would get from LFL using his property for the last 30 years, there may be one or two people but that would probably be more for payback if anything.
Chasing down and taking everyone pulling armour in their garage would be a big waste of time and money.
People are quick to point out LFL are kind allowing fans to make and wear bootleg armour but personally i believe they allow it because it suits them more than out of the kindness of their heart.
Shutting down every bootlegger would be neverending drain on time and money plus they get free publicity for SW every time a group appear at an event etc.
 
Brak's Buddy said:
And you think the armchair quarterbacking for and against AA again and again isn't pathetic? You think the same arguments over and over about any subject doesn't wear thin on us all? This whole thread is nothing but the same old suppositions we have seen rehashed to death. The only thing that will be a breath of fresh info will be the outcome so I really don't see where your argument holds much merit. Might as well ask for the whole thread to be closed until a verdict is reached...
Click to expand...

No I think the armchair qb is pathetic. The AA pro and con groups are just as annoying to me. I would like to see a thread that actually follows the case. The news, facts, etc. Possibly some fan input and commentary, but it just always seems with every single trooper thread it becomes TE vs Gino vs SDS, etc. Or its movie accurate vs FX vs licensed vs 501st.

It all comes down to the old "Opinions and A$$holes" routine. It really takes the fun out of the hobby.
 
Well, one thing that keeps getting forgotten about and it is certainly something AA CANT win is teh freakin Imperial COG on teh TIE Helmet. He didnt design it and Lucas holds the rights on that and AA has been putting those on his TIE helmets and advertising with them and selling them. AA has NOTHING AFAIK in EITHER country that can protect him from using an LFL owned 'sigil' to sell his wares.
Opinions?
 
hear hear. it seems to hit like a menstrual cycle endlessly going round again and again.
So, anyone know of any developements, whats the latest score?

Slasher X said:
No I think the armchair qb is pathetic. The AA pro and con groups are just as annoying to me. I would like to see a thread that actually follows the case. The news, facts, etc. Possibly some fan input and commentary, but it just always seems with every single trooper thread it becomes TE vs Gino vs SDS, etc. Or its movie accurate vs FX vs licensed vs 501st.

It all comes down to the old "Opinions and A$$holes" routine. It really takes the fun out of the hobby.
Click to expand...
 
defstartrooper said:
Chasing down and taking everyone pulling armour in their garage would be a big waste of time and money.
People are quick to point out LFL are kind allowing fans to make and wear bootleg armour but personally i believe they allow it because it suits them more than out of the kindness of their heart.
Shutting down every bootlegger would be neverending drain on time and money plus they get free publicity for SW every time a group appear at an event etc.
Click to expand...

Hasn't stopped Paramount from crapping all over their fans. Sure, LFL allows infringement for their own gain. I don't think anyway is fooled into thinking their leniency is some huge humanitarian effort. However, I, for one, am very thankful that they are lenient, whatever the reason. Without that leniency, a lot of what we do wouldn't be possible.
 
Slasher X said:
No I think the armchair qb is pathetic. The AA pro and con groups are just as annoying to me. I would like to see a thread that actually follows the case. The news, facts, etc. Possibly some fan input and commentary, but it just always seems with every single trooper thread it becomes TE vs Gino vs SDS, etc. Or its movie accurate vs FX vs licensed vs 501st.

It all comes down to the old "Opinions and A$$holes" routine. It really takes the fun out of the hobby.
Click to expand...

Have you got some news or facts to share then ?
 
This was interesting in that article:

Judge Mr Justice Mann suggested the two sides agree to bridge some of the colossal gap of fortunes between Lucasfilm and Mr Ainsworth's Twickenham shop by "cutting down the scope of the litigation where the facts are similar for each helmet.

"Thus making it shorter and cheaper from Mr Ainsworth's point of view."
Click to expand...
 
Representing Lucasfilm, Michael Bloch QC opened the case by saying: "We are not simply dealing with costumery.

So is this part of the reason why small time replicators like those found on the RPF are more or less left alone or am I reading that wrong?
 
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