Lucas Suing 'Star Wars' Prop Maker
International Herald Tribune
Apr 08, 2008
LONDON -- U.S. filmmaker George Lucas reportedly is suing a British prop designer for $20 million in London's High Court for selling replica costumes without permission.
Lucas, the mastermind behind the "Star Wars" franchise, has accused prop maker Andrew Ainsworth of creating replica outfits from original molds used for the movies and selling them for up to $3,000 to fans, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday.
Ainsworth is countersuing Lucasfilm for a share of the $12 billion in merchandising generated by "Star Wars" since 1977, the newspaper said.
Ainsworth, who reportedly was paid only about $60,000 for his work, claims he owns the intellectual property rights to the armor and helmets worn by storm troopers and fighter pilots in the flicks.
"As far as I'm concerned, I am the original maker and I'm using the original molds," the Telegraph quoted him as saying. "I am confident on the rights and the wrongs."
Lucas has already won a $20 million judgment against Ainsworth in a California court.
However, since Ainsworth resides in the United Kingdom, Lucas must prove his case in the High Court in London to have that order enforced.
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