London based prop designer Andrew Ainsworth, who created the original stormtrooper helmets for Star Wars, has won a case against director George Lucas.
Ainsworth was being sued by Lucas in an effort to stop him from making and selling replicas of the costumes. Ainsworth successfully argued that the helmets were functional works and not artistic, therefore not subject to full copyright laws.
The court ruled that Ainsworth could continue to sell the replicas in Britain, but not in the United States.
Ainsworth told BBC, “I am proud to report that in the English legal system David can prevail against Goliath if his cause is right. If there is a Force, then it has been with me these past five years.”
He also added that he went to court out of principle, and that he was not going to let Lucas “buy his soul.”