A Star Wars prop designer has won a partial victory in a battle over the copyright of stormtrooper costumes.
Andrew Ainsworth, who worked on the original 1977 film, was sued by the movie's creator George Lucas for selling replica helmets and suits from his shop in south London.
On Thursday, Ainsworth was cleared by London's High Court of violating British copyright law - leaving him free to sell the goods throughout Europe, Australia, and Commonwealth countries.
But he is facing the prospect of further action from Lucas and executives at Star Wars production company Lucasfilm after the court ruled he had breached American intellectual property laws.
Lucasfilm bosses successfully sued Ainsworth for $20 million (GBP10 million) for copyright infringement in California in 2004.
Andrew Ainsworth, who worked on the original 1977 film, was sued by the movie's creator George Lucas for selling replica helmets and suits from his shop in south London.
On Thursday, Ainsworth was cleared by London's High Court of violating British copyright law - leaving him free to sell the goods throughout Europe, Australia, and Commonwealth countries.
But he is facing the prospect of further action from Lucas and executives at Star Wars production company Lucasfilm after the court ruled he had breached American intellectual property laws.
Lucasfilm bosses successfully sued Ainsworth for $20 million (GBP10 million) for copyright infringement in California in 2004.
- 8/1/2008
- WENN
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