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Stormtrooper Designer, Lucas Head to Court
Lucasfilm plays hardball with costume creator over rights
By Kevin Spak
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Posted Apr 7, 08 7:59 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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George Lucas and the man who invented the stormtrooper costume are headed for a court battle over who has the right to make it, the Guardian reports. Lucasfilm is suing British prop designer Andrew Ainsworth, who recently discovered his original stormtrooper molds, and began selling replicas for some $3,600 each. “As far as I am concerned I am the original maker and I'm using the original molds,” says a defiant Ainsworth.
A California court already awarded Lucas $20 million in the case, but because Ainsworth is British, Lucas needs to convince a London court to enforce the ruling. Ainsworth, meanwhile, has countersued, saying Lucasfilm owes him a chunk of its massive merchandising revenue. Lucas says that while it wouldn’t want to “discourage fans from showcasing their enthusiasm,” it will “go after” anyone profiting from its trademarks.