Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

By

Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth High Court Ruling: Let The Spin Begin

News reports are flooding in with regard to the Lucasfilm legal dispute over the trademark and copyright of the Stormtrooper helmet and other helmets and armor produced for Star Wars: A New Hope. This legal battle, transplanted from the United States to the UK, is between George Lucas and his Lucasfilm production company and Andrew Ainsworth and his Shepperton Design Studios. The High Court judge handed down his ruling today, and the outcome, or “victory”, is dependent upon who you ask or what news story you might be reading.  One headline reads “Lucas Wins Stormtrooper Case” while another proclaims “Judge’s force is with stormtroooper helmet designer“, which would lead one to believe The Guardian probably has it correct: “George Lucas reaches stalemate in legal battle over Star Wars stormtroopers“. [Read more…]

By

Comic-Con 2008: Profiles in History

Below are photos of the Profiles in History exhibitor booth at Comic-Con International 2008 in San Diego this week.  Items on display are part of the “Hollywood Auction 32“, July 31-August 1, 2008:

[Read more…]

By

kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props: Update 3

This is a follow-up to previous articles (see kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props… and Update 1) in which  original prop auctions by “kellysheroesmilitaria” on eBay were compared with matching items available for sale from online retailers, as well as another article (Update 2) looking at medals attributed to Band of Brothers that were not created until late 1945 and 1981, following the end of World War II.  This update now compares non-movie prop purchases made on eBay by “kellysheroesmilitaria” and items that appear to match being resold as original props. [Read more…]

By

Star Wars “Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmets

Over the past several years, one issue that has been discussed among hobbyists from time to time relates to questions about Stormtrooper helmets characterized as “prototypes” and attributed to the production of the first Star Wars film, A New Hope. A number of hobbyists do not believe these helmets are indeed prototypes (precursors to the helmets made for and used in A New Hope) but made following that production, which would classify them as non-Original or replicas. [Read more…]

By

Star Wars “Where Science Meets Imagination” Exhibit Photos

A few prior articles have remarked on the traveling ‘Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit (see Minnesota and Chicago). Fellow collector Brian Murphy was kind enough to forward some photos he had taken at the Chicago event, with a number of great pictures of original Star Wars props and costumes. [Read more…]

By

Minnesota Star Wars Exhibit: “Where Science Meets Imagination”

The Star Wars “Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit, last showing in Chicago (see past story), opens tomorrow and runs through August 24, 2008 at the Science Museum of Minnesota. This is the eight and final exhibit for the U.S.; it will next be moved to Australia. In all, 80 original props, costumes, and other pieces will be on display for the public. Highlights include the original 1:1 landspeeder from A New Hope, Darth Vader’s helmet, a Yoda puppet, a Chewbacca costume, Han Solo and Princess Leia costumes, scale X-Wing, Y-Wing, and Tie Fighters and one of the Millennium Falcons. [Read more…]

By

Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth Trial Watch: CNN Business Blog

There has been relatively sparse reporting since last week on the legal dispute over the trademark and copyright of the Stormtrooper helmet and other helmets and armor produced for Star Wars: A New Hope. This legal battle, transplanted now from the United States to the UK, is between George Lucas and his Lucasfilm production company and Andrew Ainsworth and his Shepperton Design Studios. I thought I would monitor the news and post short updates as I come across them. [Read more…]

By

Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth Stormtrooper Helmet Legal Battle Explodes in Mainstream Media

Similar to the news story with the collector filing suit against Christie’s and CBS Paramount late last year (see “Star Trek Collector Sues Christies, CBS & Paramount Studios for $7 Million Dollars“), the story of the legal battle between George Lucas and his Lucasfilm production company and Andrew Ainsworth and his Shepperton Design Studios seems to have captured the interest of the mainstream media, only in this case, the story is much more international. This legal dispute is over the trademark and copyright of the Stormtrooper helmet and other helmets and armor produced for Star Wars: A New Hope. This story has broken very wide, in the last day especially, with well over 150 related stories showing up in Google searches yesterday into today. [Read more…]