Maybe Lucas doesnt have enough money. Maybe the recent “not-special” edition releases of the original uncut trilogy are not selling well enough. (Most retail chains still have overstock of this limited time release – so much for the fans outcry for these releases) or maybe George just really doesnt like anyone else playing in his sandbox.
M&C Movies says:
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.
Its probably more accurate that George DOES like people playing in his sandbox. In fact he encourages and revels in it. He loves people enjoying his creation and I don’t blame him.
What he doesnt like is someone thinking they can cash in big time selling his toys. Clearly for a court to issue this much in damages, this company must have made a significant pile of coin for Lucas to even bother. I wonder if this company even made close to the $20million they were sued for?
I do like how Lucas is not backing down one bit on this. I actually applaud this. He won the case, likely bankrupted Shepperton, and stopped him from continuing to sell these fruadulent replicas in the US. But thats not all! He is pushing for the UK government to stop him from continuing to sell these items there as well!
Now I have to go delete my ebay auction for the Star Wars Holiday Special DVD.
Yup, the earlier post got it right – the word is, this guy took the designs, and made the costumes for Lucas. Never relinquishing his work, he believed he maintained the rights.
Check out the full story at:
http://www.rebelscum.com/stormtrooperhelmets.asp
Look, we all know Lucas got lucky with the original Star Wars. Irwin Kershner, whom he didn’t like at all, made Star wars great with Empire Strikes Back. Lucas hired a dummy director for the 6th, and took back the reins in episode 1, again proving, he got lucky with episode 4. This guy can NOT make a movie – he sucks at directing. His revenue is in merchandising, and,now, in lawsuits. My money is on the Brit.
As to your comment ‘so much for the fans outcry for these releases’.
I think you don’y understand all of the factors involed here. Any true fan would surely want a copy of the original theatrical releases of the original trilogy
but… the quality of theses releases leaves much to be desired
but… next year is the 30 anniversary and another star wars release is surely comming (including a better copy of the originals?)(no one knows but I doubt it)
but… then agian these versions are only available untill dec. 31. mmmm
but… why do we have to pay for a version that we already have
It’s plain to see that Lucas did this release to sucker in the opinion that you have expressed. ‘Look’ he’ll say ‘I releasesed the versions they wanted and they didn’t sell! I guess they really did’nt want them so much. My improved versions sold like mad.’
Ah yes, it’s enough to make you want to pull your own arms out of you sockets.
Yeah, Lucas can’t stand it when people who contributed to his success make a buck off the work they did. Remember when he sued Dykstra because the work he did on Battlestar Galactica was too similar to the work he’d done on Star Wars?
Jesus. The Holiday Special? That’s got to be one of the worse moments in television history. It’s BAD!
Their site and various SW fan sites have details about their original involvement (just google for Shepperton Design Studios). The money bit isn’t mentioned (I think)- I only know from personal conversations with the guy who runs it a few years ago (obviously it’s just his word).
Basically the crux of his case is, he made the stormtrooper suits, but Lucas didn’t pay for them, so in his opinion he retained the rights and could make replicas from the original moulds to recoup his costs. The US court just ruled otherwise. A UK case is still pending (as a UK company he may not be liable to a US judgement). It’s also true that he didn’t design the suits, he just made them.
The official website for Shepperton Design Studio claims they were the original designers for two helmets, but no news about them never getting paid for it.
Hey Ma,
What is your source for that information? I’d like to read it.
It’s worth pointing out these are the guys who made the original prop helmets for the film (and Lucas ran out of money in 1977 so they didn’t even get paid). So the story isn’t about unauthorized knock-offs- it’s unauthorized exploitation of an original connection to the series. Perhaps Lucas will now go after Dave Prowse for getting paid to go to conventions…
last time i checked it was the fans who were shafted..
I’m not sure what to think about this. I mean, Lucas sucks, obviously, what with his relentless prostitution of Star Wars and all, but I can’t help but see the prequel trilogy as a protracted cry for help. He obviously identifies himself with Anakin Skywalker, and I think he’s hoping someone out there will recognise this and redeem him somehow. You know, like how Luke wouldn’t give up on his dad even though he was an evil child murderer and stalker of young women.
Clearly, someone’s supposed to be getting thrown down a shaft here. I’m just not sure who. Steven Spielberg, maybe?
i mean seriously, why not just release the originals with improved picture & multiple sound options instead of flogging it with the 04 discs?!>
i suspect there was an overestimation of demand for the newer edition back in 04 & rgere were warehouses full of them around the globe collecting dust & unsold (if you guys look at the special edition dvds,they are dated 2004).
was lucas scared that if he gave the theatrical/laserdisc the royal treatment,the fans would eat it up & totally ignore the tampered shit?
i kinda get the lawsuit. it’s his intellectual property after all..
as for your comment on the lack of sales to the “not special’ editions of the dvds, i believe there are a few reasons for it:
*a lot of people already own the “tampered” disc part of the package from when it was released in 2004.
*lots of those same people who didnt like the tampering bought it anyway at the time when lucas was admant that the original versions would never see the light of day in his lifetime.
*but mostly i think the lack of sales is due to the *cough cough* “bonus disc” featuring the originals being given the truly shoddy treatment.
the main complaint seems to be the lack of anomorphic widescreen & only a 2.0 sound option with the originals.
c’mon georgie,in this day & age where a lot of folks got widescreen tvs & home entertainment sound systems,you treat the movies that made your fortune such crappy attention. that’s biting the hand that feeds you. no doubt he thinks it will make his ’04 versions more watchable.
it also shows his disdain for the fans.
I agree – even though it sucks to have to bust someone, they were portraying themselves as ‘official’ which they were not.