Lucas Unleashes the Lawyers on Lightsaber Laser Maker

[roman gnome]

I have to side with Lucasfilm on this. This isn't about some dubious copyright infringement; it's about a potentially dangerous product being deliberately made to look like a child's toy. Granted, a child with any brains would know from the weight that it's not a toy, and hopefully would remember enough of lightsabre safety class not to point it at his own face... unless he was examining it to determine why it wasn't cutting anything... anyway, it's an avoidable risk. Kudos to Lucasfilm for being proactive about it.

Oh, and if you buy one of these awesome doodads, please consider taking a Lightsabre Safety class recommended by the National Lightsabre Association.

The NLA: promoting responsible lightsabre ownership since a long, long time ago in a galaxy far away

 

[Butterjaw]

Does a cease-and-desist letter work in China?

I would have thought that if Western companies could just order Chinese businesses to stop infringing on their copyrights and whatnot, then they would have put a stop to all the Chinese videogame and movie piracy long ago.

I think they'd stand a better chance at stopping this if George Lucas just phoned them up and said: "These are not the Lightsaber handles you are looking for".

Malaysia =/= China

 

[Niccolo]

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.

You'd be surprised. Besides, that one there does look like a lightsabre from one of the movies45

They DO also have to cover their asses. Given the number of truly stupid lawsuits out there - the coffee-in-lap one springs to mind - Lucasarts is probably avoiding the inevitable injury lawsuit this way.

Really, the whole lawsuit is essentially this: "Do whatever you want, but change what they look like so we're not involved when somebody sets their nuts on fire."

 

[Jamash]

Does a cease-and-desist letter work in China?

I would have thought that if Western companies could just order Chinese businesses to stop infringing on their copyrights and whatnot, then they would have put a stop to all the Chinese videogame and movie piracy long ago.

I think they'd stand a better chance at stopping this if George Lucas just phoned them up and said: "These are not the Lightsaber handles you are looking for".

Malaysia =/= China

I know Malaysia isn't China.

However, Shanghai (where this company is based) and Hong Kong (where this company ships from) are both in China.

What does Malaysia have to do with any of this?

 

[Butterjaw]

Does a cease-and-desist letter work in China?

I would have thought that if Western companies could just order Chinese businesses to stop infringing on their copyrights and whatnot, then they would have put a stop to all the Chinese videogame and movie piracy long ago.

I think they'd stand a better chance at stopping this if George Lucas just phoned them up and said: "These are not the Lightsaber handles you are looking for".

Malaysia =/= China

I know Malaysia isn't China.

However, Shanghai (where this company is based) and Hong Kong (where this company ships from) are both in China.

What does Malaysia have to do with any of this?

Derp, I got it into my head that this was a malaysian company >< My apologies good sir.

 

[CoverYourHead]

Pfft, Lucas Arts is just going to get invaded by a force of lightsaber laser wielding engineers.

 

[Jamash]

Spoiler: Snip

Does a cease-and-desist letter work in China?

I would have thought that if Western companies could just order Chinese businesses to stop infringing on their copyrights and whatnot, then they would have put a stop to all the Chinese videogame and movie piracy long ago.

I think they'd stand a better chance at stopping this if George Lucas just phoned them up and said: "These are not the Lightsaber handles you are looking for".

Malaysia =/= China

I know Malaysia isn't China.

However, Shanghai (where this company is based) and Hong Kong (where this company ships from) are both in China.

What does Malaysia have to do with any of this?

Derp, I got it into my head that this was a malaysian company >< My apologies good sir.

No worries, we all make mistakes from time to time.

 

[Nouw]

They didn't copyright an actual working thing. As if they don't have enough damn money.

 

[DeadAccountMoveAlong]

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

George Lucas deserves a punch in the dick for the new trilogy.

Honestly, though... the item does resemble a lightsaber, as does the technology, but the main point here is they cannot take credit for a theoretical technology that becomes reality. Science fiction can create actual science, and it is wrong to both claim the technology as your own and to hault progress for money.

 

[Raziel_Likes_Souls]

I highly doubt that Lucasfilm has the copyright on every kind of light sabers design.

Let's hope not. Suda doesn't need to half ass another game due to budget.
But could this lawsuit Blend actually hold up?

 

[Lightslei]

I highly doubt that Lucasfilm has the copyright on every kind of light sabers design.

Let's hope not. Suda doesn't need to half ass another game due to budget.
But could this lawsuit Blend actually hold up?

Yes, but unlikely. Wait it out, or buy now to sell later if LA does win.

 

[Fasckira]

So wait, when we start making advances in space travel will Lucas run around filing lawsuits against every ship that looks like it could have been in Star Wars? While we're at it, why dont all those lovely gun manufactures take one up against Lucas for copying their pistol, rifles etc....?
All cars look roughly the same - 4 wheels at each corner, steering wheel, seats etc. This is becuase thats the suitable shape for that type of device. Get over yourselves Lucas.

The laser is shaped like that because its suitable for the task its doing - they can then be easily dropped into holders for conducting experiments, moved portably and not in any way used to slice through droids or doors.

 

[Sovvolf]

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.

I'm with Canadamus and Serioli on this one. We all know it's inevitable... A couple of idiots will get together with them... Then have a "lightsabre", only to seriously hurt them selves. Then (because of the lasers appearance being extremely close to that of a lightsabre)the angry mother brigade will be attacking Lucas Arts because of all this.

LucasArts doesn't want that... Especially when they are innocent of any wrong doing. Just change the appearance so that LucasArts doesn't have the idiot brigade on their backs... Then I'm sure they'll be fine and they can take the fury of the angry mothers brigade all by them selves.

EDIT: Also I'd like to say that I think this product should be pulled from the shelves... That or have it so that you require a license to purchase. This laser sounds highly dangerous in the wrong hands and with the lasers current aesthetic, people will treat this like a toy. I have it in my head, the image of a some pillock who deserves a Darwin Award burning some other kids eye out or even his own.

 

[veloper]

it's shape basicly just a cilinder.


Can I copyright all cubes and spheres?

 

[RJ Dalton]

George Lucas deserves a punch in the dick for the new trilogy.

Honestly, though... the item does resemble a lightsaber, as does the technology, but the main point here is they cannot take credit for a theoretical technology that becomes reality. Science fiction can create actual science, and it is wrong to both claim the technology as your own and to hault progress for money.

Exactly, exactly. On both points.

 

[Zero=Interrupt]

You know what else resembles a lightsaber? Any flashlight that's vaguely tube-shaped.

So now Lucas thinks he's Steve Jobs. Let's see them try to sue Sunrise and Bandai for all the Beam Sabers on Gundam toys/models/etc over the years. The Japanese will stomp his neckbeard ass flat.

Hopefully, using the life-sized RX-78....

 

[veloper]

it's shape basicly just a cilinder.


Can I copyright all cubes and spheres?

Oh come on guys, we all know this looks exactly like a lightsabre. As in, exactly like one,

Well, I've done some comparisons and it's NOT exactly like any of the following lightsabers atleast:

luke skywalker's (both the original and return of the jedi versions)
vader
obi-wan (the ANH and the phantom menace versions)
qui-gon
mace windu
yoda

Then consider these props are already very varied in shape and still all the resemblance is the basic cilindrical shape and the round button.

for no other purpose than to ape it.

Probably, but it will be very hard to prove, since all the muck on the basic cilinder form is different from the details on the lightsabers.

On a general point I notice how most people here think that this company should be allowed to rip off another's work, yet we get pissy if a game copies God of War even slightly. Double standards maybe? maybe owing to the fact that we think we'd like to buy one of these, so it's ok?

Ripping off other shit happens all the time in game land and the studios always get away with it. Recent example: Dante's inferno.
What makes these props so special?

 

[justnotcricket]

I don't care whether it looks like a lightsaber or not (although it is pwetty...besides, the company knew exactly what they were doing and just thought they'd see how long they could make it sell for before LucasArts threw a wobbly), but I do find the power a little iffy. I mean, 0.5-1W is a lot of power for a damn laser pointer, and it's a more dangerous wavelength.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some lasers (my PhD is in lasers after all, I spend my days surrounded by Class IV lasers way more powerful than that toy), but in general terms, the idea of the usual idiot who is like 'Pah, laser pointers are harmelss, haha, lok, it's in your eye!!' having access to this sort of thing (popularised by the lightsaber thing) gives me the shivers. This laser could actually (and quickly) do serious damage to someone. Including cancer this time, since it's a blue laser not a red or green one.

 

[Arsen]

Wasn't the lightsaber based off of something else from earlier sci-fi before Lucas merged myth and space?