Lucas Unleashes the Lawyers on Lightsaber Laser Maker

[Andy Chalk]

Lucas Unleashes the Lawyers on Lightsaber Laser Maker

Lucasfilm [http://www.lucasfilm.com/] has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the makers of the Spyder III Pro Arctic laser, saying it looks a little too much like a lightsaber for its own good.

Remeber the Spyder III Pro Arctic laser? It's a "Class 4" device, which according to Wiki means that it can "burn the skin" and cause "potentially devastating and permanent eye damage," not to mention setting stuff on fire. And in case that's not cool enough, Shanghai-based lightsaber [http://www.wickedlasers.com/].

Wicked Lasers doesn't actually make any mention of lightsabers or The Escapist [http://www.starwars.com]) made the obvious connection, as did Lucasfilm, which sent in an entire legion of its best lawyers to take care of business.

"It has come to our attention that a company called Wicked Lasers is selling a highly dangerous product out of Hong Kong that is designed to look like a lightsaber from Star Wars," said Lucasfilm General Counsel David Anderman. "This product is not licensed or approved by Lucasfilm in any way. We have demanded that Wicked Lasers immediately cease and desist their infringing activities."

"As Wicked Lasers itself admits, this product can cause serious injury to the user and other people," he added. "We strongly discourage consumers from purchasing it."

I have no idea how the complaint would hold up in court but it seems to me that it'd be fairly easy to work around by adding a few fins or a pistol grip, or maybe building it into surplus DustBuster cases. It wouldn't be a lightsaber anymore, a definite downside, but a lawsuit avoided is a lawsuit won. I don't think playing up the danger angle is very smart, though; hearing words like "highly dangerous" and "cause serious injury" just makes me want one even more.

Source: Gizmodo [http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100625005937&newsLang=en]


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[ultimateownage]

It's a "Class 4" device, which according to Wiki means that it can "burn the skin" and cause "potentially devastating and permanent eye damage," not to mention setting stuff on fire.

I like the part about causing cancer myself. I doubt they'll win, although they might make people notice how dangerous it is and possibly ban it.

 

[SomeGuyNamedKy]

I don't think playing up the danger angle is very smart, though; hearing words like "highly dangerous" and "cause serious injury" just makes me want one even more.

You and me both.

 

[twaddle]

lucasfilm twits. if this product goes of market b4 i can purchase it i'm going to be so pissed

 

[Lawyer105]

Lucasarts is taking this a little too seriously... it's not like anyone actually believes they're related.

 

[Disaster Button]

So much alliteration in your titles today Andy, I love it.

 

[Serioli]

I think it might just be Lucasarts covering themselves...

When some twat inevitably causes permanent blindness in themself or someone else do you think the resulting media frenzy will bother to make the distinction that this product is nothing to do with Lucasarts or is 'Lightsaber' going to be bandied about like there is no tomorrow.

 

[Loonerinoes]

I am sure it makes perfect sense in the wonderful logic of intellectual properties laws.

But how much sense does it make in practical terms. If such a thing ever entered mass production, does Lucasarts really think someone would genuinely exclaim: "Wow! George Lucas made movies about lightsabers and now he was responsible for engineering them too!" Honestly?

Meh...who am I kidding. In the end it's just another grab for more money or more publicity through the vehicle of twisting IP laws past their intended purpose.

Also...what's with today's titles? A personal challenge of yours?

 

[Kragg]

how exactly does this hold up in court, actual working device vs movie prop from 30 years ago ? ..... it's not like it is a patent

 

[John Funk]

Are we All Assembled in Andy's Alliterative Afternoon?

 

[Mutie]

Concerntrate the beam and have it shine in fragmented bursts and you're got a laser pistol there!!

 

[Ekit]

That is just pathetic.

What crime has Wicked Lasers commited?
I highly doubt that Lucasfilm has the copyright on every kind of light sabers design.

 

[Ken Sapp]

Lucasarts is taking this a little too seriously... it's not like anyone actually believes they're related.

You would be surprised at what people will believe. Besides which Lucasarts does have to defend its trademarks if they don't want to lose them. They also have to act to protect themselves from litigation should anyone purchase one and harm themselves or others with it.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Someone should punch the director of LucasArts for being such a dick. Also George Lucas, if they aren't the same person.

 

[Archemetis]

But they don't make any real connection to the lightsaber on the site that sells them...

So They've sent a cease and desist letter because other peolpe made the connection?
Maybe that's just what laser devices look like? It's not exactly their fault that it resembles a lightsaber handle... In the same way a cardboard tube covered in crayon scribbled buttons does...

Just add a gun-style hand-grip and get this 'lightsaber' lawsuit avoided and head straight into the 'angry mothers enraged at company for selling harmful 'laser guns' to children' lawsuit.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Nice pun in the title. (Almost didn't notice it)

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Why do we always attack companies for trying to protect their personal interests and investments? Wouldn't you do the same, albeit on a much smaller scale?
In this case I believe it's just as Serioli said, LucusFilm is just trying to avoid any negative backlash against them because you know when some idiot inevitably blinds themselves or someone else with the thing, do you think the media do going to make the distinction between this product and a lightsabre and therefore Wicked Lasers and LucusFilm? It's doubtful.

 

[Carlston]

Easy court win.

Lucas "Your laser looks like a lightsaber we are suing!"
Laser maker "I'm suing back... Mine really works..."
Lucas "umm yeah...but"

Maker "No F'in butts. Mine works. How can you copyright a nonworking item? Exactly..."

Then burn his beard off with one. Last thing we need is tech being slowed down because jackasses patent nonworking items...and when a real pops they sue for lazy cash. God i hate that about America.

 

[RanD00M]

I think suing the is the best thing to do.Those "swords" in the hands of the public could be fucking dangerous.And I believe that those "swords" should be publicly tested first.Like how they work in a community.