Don’t Sell Lightsabres!
Or anything that even looks like one, puts out a beam close to one, or has been likened to one by other blogs (including us). That’s what Lucasfilm Ltd. wants and has issued a Cease and Desist letter threatening legal action against the overseas company Wicked Lasers for selling its Spyer III Pro Arctic laser which the company identifies as a research and industrial laser. Honestly the device looks much more like a tactical laser and less like a lightsabre. Heads up Surefire George could have you in his sights next.
(CNN) — “Star Wars” creator George Lucas wants to force a laser company to stop making a new, high-powered product he says looks too much like the famous lightsaber from his classic sci-fi series.
Lucasfilm Ltd. has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hong Kong-based Wicked Lasers, threatening legal action if it doesn’t change its Pro Arctic Laser series or stop selling it altogether.
“It is apparent from the design of the Pro Arctic Laser that it was intended to resemble the hilts of our lightsaber swords, which are protected by copyright … ,” said the letter, dated last month and provided to CNN by Wicked Lasers.
Wicked Lasers has been selling lasers and optics for the past 7 years while the original Star Wars films have been out since 1977. Perhaps George is a bit slow to catch up with the whole internet marketing phenomenon and is just upset that he’s been missing out on selling what fans have been asking for since the late 70’s. In either case unless Wicked lasers caves to the legal might behind Lucasfilm Ltd. we think they will be hard pressed to get a judge to enforce this on a company which has never claimed anything of the sort for over 7 years.
How did the suit end? Who won? Is this laser device still for sale?
A man who “invented” a pretend laser sword wants to sue someone who invented a real hand held laser that has some cosmetic similarities to the pretend laser sword. WTF?
Maybe Sterling Armaments can sue Lucas for the design of his Stormtroopers’ sidearms. Christ, that man must hate his fans.
This is a REAL laser. Lucas created a fictional fantasy weapon. They’re not even marketing it as
a “lightsaber”. Any tube-shaped object with energy coming out of it could be said to resemble a lightsaber. What’s next, the creators of Robotech sue anyone who builds a working giant robot?
This is ridiculous.
We have started an online petition!
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/LasersForLiberty/
Agreed but really don’t you feel this is a frivolous lawsuit?
The lasers company should have it patented when they start selling.