The man who made the original Stormtrooper helmets for Star Wars has won a legal battle to sell replicas in the UK.
Andrew Ainsworth argued that the costumes were not subject to full copyright laws because they were functional items rather than artistic works.
The ruling by judges at the UK Supreme Court upheld a 2009 Court of Appeal decision which allowed the 62-year-old to continue selling them.
"This is a massive victory, a total victory, we've already got the champagne out," Ainsworth told the BBC.
The prop designer from south London, who sells the outfits for around £1,800 each, said he went to court on principle as he didn't want to allow director George Lucas to "buy his soul".
However, the court also ruled that Lucasfilm's copyright had been violated in the US, where Ainsworth has already stopped selling the outfits.
Lucasfilm said it remains committed to aggressively protecting its intellectual property rights, adding that the court's decision maintained "an anomaly of British copyright law under which the creative and highly artistic works made for use in films may not be entitled to copyright protection in the UK".
Source: BBC
Now that they're legal in the UK, will you be buying one of Ainsworth's outfits? Or are you a little short for a stormtrooper? Tell us below!
Comments
albongo
Jul 28th 2011, 3:14
I am so buying one. First, I have to get myself a fly ticket to the UK. Seeing that I live in Canada and all.
Alert a moderator
Monkeynuts30
Jul 28th 2011, 5:05
HA! One in the eye for ole Beardie
Alert a moderator
ChrisWootton
Jul 28th 2011, 8:13
In your f*****g face Lucas
Alert a moderator
Hadouken76
Jul 28th 2011, 9:06
'Intellectual property rights?' I'm guessing that doesnt cover the Prequels.
Alert a moderator
LukeSween
Jul 28th 2011, 11:59
@Hadouken76 agreed, I think we have grounds for suing Lucas over the offense of our intellect
Alert a moderator
Ali1748
Jul 28th 2011, 23:19
George Lucas is one greedy fat pig.
Alert a moderator
koolerking
Jul 29th 2011, 7:24
Brilliant news. Maybe now george will actually have to make some money without star wars.
Alert a moderator
district9
Aug 1st 2011, 11:03
HA! You lost , how do you feel Lucas
Alert a moderator