Star Wars stormtrooper replica case back in court

The case was first brought before London’s High Court last year, with the judge ruling that yes, Ainsworth had violated the Hollywood honcho’s U.S. copyright. However, George didn’t have it all his way as the judge refused to agree that the costumes were works of art rejecting this copyright claim. Also, as sales for the replica costumes hadn’t been significant, the judge dismissed in the British court a U.S. $20 million judgment that Lucas won back in 2006.

And now the two sides are back in the Court of Appeal, with this case scheduled for three days of legal bickering. Lucas lawyers are still maintaining that the costumes are works of art, citing that they’re sculptures and therefore included under British copyright law. Michael Bloch, the lawyer for George’s company, Lucasfilm complained that the previous presiding judge “erred in holding that it is an essential requirement of every sculpture that it have artistic character, in that it must have, as part of its purpose, a visual appeal in the sense that it might be enjoyed for that purpose alone.”

He continued: "On the erroneous approach of the learned judge, arguably the most famous sculpture in the world, Michelangelo’s “Pieta” in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, would also be disqualified." Mmm, not sure that we’re convinced by that logic but admittedly we’re a little rusty on our legal speak here at Boxwish HQ. Now get us on the merits of sandtroopers versus snowtroopers and we could be here all night.

[via Associated Press]