As reported two months ago (see “Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth Legal Battle Continues in 2011; UK Supreme Court Case To Be Heard in March”), the dispute between Lucasfilm and the British prop maker who built the stormtrooper helmets used in Star Wars: A New Hope will be heard by the United Kingdom Supreme Court beginning tomorrow. [Read more…]
Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth Legal Battle Continues in 2011; UK Supreme Court Case To Be Heard in March
Website TheLawyer.com has this week published two articles with regards to the copyright legal battle between Lucasfilm Limited and Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios over the sale of unlicensed replica Star Wars props and costumes. [Read more…]
Court of Appeal in England Rules in Favor of Andrew Ainsworth in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars “Stormtrooper Helmet” Copyright Legal Battle
Today the High Court of Justice, Court of Appeal in England ruled in favor of Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios in his breach of copyright legal battle with Lucasfilm Limited over the sale of unlicensed replica Star Wars props and costumes. [Read more…]
Lucasfilm Strikes Back Against Andrew Ainsworth In Trademark, Copyright Dispute Over Movie Prop Stormtrooper Helmets
After a more than year long hiatus, today the Associated Press and other mainstream media outlets have renewed their coverage of 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. [Read more…]
Latest High Profile eBay Fraud Story in the Media – Millions Lost in Fake Golf Goods Scam
eBay’s reputation as a marketplace for fraud continues to worsen, with high profile mainstream media stories about lawsuits over the sale of fake, counterfeit, and copyright-infringing goods. The latest example comes from a court case in the UK, regarding a “global network of criminals [that] duped eBay customers into buying millions of pounds worth of fake golf clubs“. [Read more…]
Shepperton Design Studios Expands Line of “Post Lawsuit” Unlicensed Replica Star Wars Props
Following legal battles in both the United States and the United Kingdom over the sale unlicensed Stormtrooper helmets – which resulted in both Andrew Ainsworth’s Shepperton Design Studios and George Lucas’ Lucasfilm Ltd. claiming victory – Ainsworth’s SDS today announced the sale of “E11 Blasters”, that boast “all the features of the most complicated blaster used in ANH“. [Read more…]
Los Angeles Jury Finds in Favor of AMPAS Over Pickford Heirs in Oscar Case
Picking up from the report published in January (see Oscar Statuette Legal Dispute Between Heirs & The Academy), the L.A. Times today reports that a jury has decided in favor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), prohibiting the sale of a 1930 Oscar (Academy Award) which heirs of Mary Pickford had planned to auction, with proceeds to benefit a charity, the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony. The Academy has the first right of refusal to buy the award – valued at hundreds of thousands – for $10. [Read more…]
Star Wars “Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmets Update: High Court Ruling Excerpts on LFL v. SDS Case
Given the British High Court ruling on the case of Lucasfilm vs. Andrew Ainsworth (see Lucasfilm vs. Ainsworth High Court Ruling: Full Document from Royal Courts of Justice), and the additional information available from the court documents, I thought it would be a good opportunity to build on the prior OPB article exploring the “prototype” Stormtrooper helmets (see Star Wars “Prototype” Stormtrooper Helmets) trading in the marketplace as original and authentic precursors to the helmets used on set and filmed in Star Wars: A New Hope. [Read more…]