BBC News is reporting that George Lucas' company LucasFilm has lost a battle with the UK courts in regards to a copyright issue over Stormtrooper costumes. This all started when Lucas' company claimed props designer Andrew Ainsworth, who sells replica Star Wars costumes was breaching copyright law by creating original Stormtrooper suits and helmets and then selling them. The courts have now rejected this claim by Lucas stating that the helmets were not works of art and were therefore not covered by copyright law in the UK.
The decision allows Mr Ainsworth to continue producing the uniforms.
The court was upholding a ruling made last year by the High Court in the multimillion pound battle over the replica uniforms, which Mr Ainsworth sells online.
The judges also refused to enforce a $20 million (£12.4m) damages award Lucasfilm won against Mr Ainsworth in a US court in 2006, saying the prop designer's US sales were not significant enough to make him susceptible to US jurisdiction.
The judges in this case however warned Mr. Ainsworth that he was in violation of US copyright laws and warned him about trying to sell these in the United States.
Sources at the Daily Telegraph claim Mr Lucas intends to appeal the decision.
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