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Post Posted: October 11th 2006 10:32 am
 
Bush Pilot
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This seriously pissed me off to a level I have never been concerning Lucasfilm's marketing. They sued Andrew Ainsworth, the man who designed and produced the original stormtrooper costumes, for creating and selling screen-accurate replicas made from the original molds. As a collector, I am extremely pissed because in my opinion these were some of the finest Star Wars products on the market. Ainsworth's site is www.sdsprops.com but its down at the moment.

The story can be found here but you have to register to view it.

    SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has awarded Lucasfilm Ltd. $20 million in damages in a copyright infringement and unfair competition case against the British firm Shepperton Design Studios and its owner, Andrew Ainsworth.

    The court found that Shepperton Design Studios had been marketing unlicensed copies of Stormtrooper helmets and costumes, and TIE fighter pilot helmets from the Star Wars films, as well as making misleading claims about the authenticity and origins of these items.

    The Judgment, by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner, awards damages to Lucasfilm Ltd. for copyright infringement, unfair competition and trademark infringement and permanently bars Shepperton Design Studios from copying, reproducing, importing, licensing, marketing or displaying any of its unauthorized Star Wars products in the United States. Lucasfilm is also pursuing legal action against Shepperton in the U.K., where the company is based, to ensure that the judgment is enforced there.

    "Lucasfilm vigorously protects its intellectual property rights in Star Wars," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. "Infringers like Shepperton need to understand that we will pursue them anywhere in the world to shut them down and seek restitution."

    Roffman noted that many Star Wars fans around the world produce replicas of Star Wars costumes for their own personal use and enjoyment, an activity to which Lucasfilm Ltd. has no objection. One such group, the "501st Legion" of Stormtroopers, is a global organization that has often worked with Lucasfilm and its partners. "We appreciate that Star Wars has sparked the imaginations of fans around the world," he said. "We would never want to discourage fans from showcasing their enthusiasm for the movies. However, anyone who tries to profit from using our copyrights and trademarks without authorization crosses the line; they become an infringer and we will go after them."


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 10:57 am
 
Fat Bastard

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Actually from all the hub bub from various message boards. Andrew lied about being the original maker of the helmets and even lied to where the molds came from. It's all one big mess but in the end he lied about the origins of the helmets and everything else. If you're more curious about it you can sign up on Rebel Scum and ask over there what basically happened.


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 12:18 pm
 
darthpsychotic@gmail.com
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sdsprops.com outcome thread @ rebelscum.com

Quote:
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has awarded Lucasfilm Ltd. $20 million in damages in a copyright infringement and unfair competition case against the British firm Shepperton Design Studios and its owner, Andrew Ainsworth.


The $20 million "award" against sdsprops is a crime itself.


Right or wrong I always support those who go up against LucasFilm. :cool:


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 1:05 pm
 
Bush Pilot
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Raveers wrote:
Andrew lied about being the original maker of the helmets and even lied to where the molds came from.

I don't buy that. What's been presented is more along the lines of being internet rumor. Shepperton is an established company and has been in the business for years.

Their website's back up if anyone's interested in seeing their product. www.sdsprops.com

Image


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 3:31 pm
 
OBGYN
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darthpsychotic wrote:
Right or wrong I always support those who go up against LucasFilm. :cool:


That because you're a dumbass.

If you wrote a play, novel, song, or made a movie that from which everybody started copying, you wouldn't hire lawyers to cover your ass?

Right.

:monocle:


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 9:25 pm
 
darthpsychotic@gmail.com
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Shepperton designed and produced the original Stormtrooper armor. LucasFilm may own the rights but a $20 million judgement against the creators is excessive.

Starwars.com just posted a story about the "Stormtrooper Pirate".

http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/news20061011.html


[spoil][web]http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/news20061011.html[/web][/spoil]


Post Posted: October 11th 2006 9:44 pm
 
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darthpsychotic wrote:
LucasFilm may own the rights but a $20 million judgement against the creators is excessive.


20 mil seems outrageous, considering the limited number of people who would 'shell' out the money for a product so limited in nature. I wonder if it's meant to send some kind of message. It also seems like some kind of nerd-threat to mention the 501st there toward the end of thier article.


Post Posted: October 12th 2006 5:41 am
 
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darthpsychotic wrote:
Shepperton designed and produced the original Stormtrooper armor. LucasFilm may own the rights but a $20 million judgement against the creators is excessive.

Starwars.com just posted a story about the "Stormtrooper Pirate".

http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/news20061011.html


[spoil][web]http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/news20061011.html[/web][/spoil]



Not every creative person thinks like that. Perfect example is Matt Stone and Trey Parker. They will refer people to free ftp's to download episodes of southpark.They may not own the DVD's but they do profit from them.

I would support Lucasfilm if all they did was hit shepperton with a C&D but 20 mil sounds like they are trying to shut the company down.


Post Posted: October 12th 2006 1:50 pm
 

Join: September 16th 2004 3:58 am
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LFL did issue a C&D to SDS and they ignored it.


Post Posted: October 12th 2006 5:32 pm
 
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$20,000,000 for some stormtrooper outfits. :monocle:


Post Posted: October 13th 2006 5:48 am
 
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DanakinSkywalker wrote:
LFL did issue a C&D to SDS and they ignored it.


thats not cool then, I didn't know that. They should've gone to court over the C&D andf filed a MTD in hopes for some TLC.


Post Posted: October 19th 2006 7:48 am
 

Join: February 17th 2005 9:54 am
Posts: 254
pffft, its all about money now isnt it?

didnt want to think so before but LFL and its subsidiaries is starting to become like the Empire.


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