Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
In 2006, LFL won a copyright case in California against Shepperton Studios and owner Andrew Ainsworth for selling unlicensed helmets and armor. (He was prop designer and made the stuff from original molds.) Now the case is going before high court in London – and Ainsworth is countersuing Lucasfilm for a share in the merchandising and over who owns the rights to the armor.
UPDATE: Another article at timesonline.co.uk.
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that they are entitled to a part of the copyright on the character that Siegel co-created. Time Warner, the parent company of D.C. Comics, may owe the heirs for use of the character since 1999. The ruling, if upheld, will no doubt complicate matters for a Superman Returns sequel and Justice League film.
Watch for fan analysis at comic blogs The Beat and Newsarama.
It’s been a while since we checked in on the Harry Potter Lexicon case, but yesterday’s developments plumb a new low – RDR Books requested a copy of Rowling’s notes for her own encyclopedia, claiming:
…David Hammer, lawyer for RDR… says that the notes are requested in order to “test the merits” of J.K. Rowling’s claims that she is going to write an encyclopedia and that part of the reason for suppressing the HPL would be to suppress potential competition. RDR asked for “copies of any prepatory materials that Ms. Rowling has drafted or authorized to be drafted, including notes, outlines, drafts, marketing proposals, etc.”
And I ask again: Are these people for real? Has she not out and out said several times that’s she’s writing one? Rowling and the WB’s response:
JKR/WB object to what it sees as RDR’s “pattern of writing the Court whenever it wishes without first making any effort to meet and confer, let alone giving sufficient advance notice of its intended communication with the Court”…. JKR’s “overwhelmingly sensitive” notes would serve “no legitimate purpose other than to harass Ms. Rowling. Rather, the burden of producing these notes far outweighs any benefit to RDR in obtaining them.”
You can catch up on other recent developments on Fandom Wank, thanks to the seemingly tireless Cleolinda and friends.
There’s a post from Steve Vander Ark over on the Lexicon blog, an email from the past where he discourages other fans from publishing an encyclopedia and acknowledges it as illegal (but he planned to “plan to petition Jo to allow the Lexicon to work with her to create the ultimate Harry Potter encyclopedia.”) Again: Classy.
The piece de resistance is perhaps a video of Vander Ark at the Prophecy 2007 conference. (“Jo has quit; she’s done… we’re taking over now!” and “Jo has every right to write her seventh book… but I have a real problem with her claiming from now until 2017.”) The sentiment is something we’re familiar with here in Star Wars fandom, but when one is planning to take your fandom project and sell it without permission for $25 a pop, it sounds a lot more sinister. The 501st you’re not, bud.
See it all over at Fandom Wank, since that’s where I’m stealing links from anyway.
The case of the Harry Potter Lexicon vs. J.K. Rowling grows more tangled. Fandom Wank is on the case, naturally, and Cleolinda even posts a handy roundup in her personal Livejournal.
The highlight? The publisher updated their website FAQ with a comment comparing the situation to “the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” Classy.
Harry Potter fansite was going to (basically) publish their site in book form. So J.K. Rowling files suit. Shocking!
UPDATE: Rowling speaks, as does the Lexicon’s publisher.
The Harry Potter author has taken legal action against the auction site because of users selling pirated or forged books and merchandise.
Suprise, suprise: Lucasfilm Ltd. is the victor in their court battle against High-Tech Magic, which sold unauthorized lightsaber replicas. The Maryland company has the privilege of paying LFL $250,000 (ouch!) and is banned from selling any facsimile of a lighted or glowing sword … and/or parts designed to enable others to build.”
Here’s the raw press release. Paranoid fans, pay special attention to Lucas Licensing President Howard Roffman on such matters: “Our goal is to go after and shut down businesses that are trying to make a profit off of creations and properties that do not belong to them.”
Lucasfilm filed suit today against High-Tech Magic, a Maryland company that makes unauthorized lightsaber replicas. After seeing the hideousness that is their website, I can’t say I blame them.
Andrew Ainsworth seeking representation to contest the Shepperton Studios lawsuit. LFL is looking to reinforce the American infringement verdict with a case in U.K. court.