George Lucas Sues Over Stormtrooper Rights

by Peter Jolly

Inter-Galactic killjoy George Lucas is suing the British designer who sculpted the original stormtrooper helmets for Episode IV- A New Hope back in 1977.

Lawyers for Lucasfilm Ltd. appeared in London’s High Court today to dispute the claims of prop designer Andrew Ainsworth who sells replicas of the helmets and armour. Ainsworth is countersuing Lucasfilm, claiming that the copyright for the iconic costumes belongs to him, and Lucasfilm owe him a percentage of the $24 billion merchandising revenue.

Lucasfilm have already beaten Mr Ainsworth in the American courts and are seeking to have the ruling enforced in the UK.

George Lucas claims that Ainsworth was merely employed as a sculptor to mould the costumes, and the design was already completed by himself and a Lucasfilm artistic team.

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George Lucas Sues Over Stormtrooper Rights

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