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George Lucas, Emperor Supreme of the Imperial Senate, has leveled his lighting discharging fingers at Andrew Ainsworth, a UK based artist who designed the original Storm Trooper armor for Star Wars.  He was reportedly paid 30,000 Imperial Credits (equivalent to British pounds sterling) for his work.  Recently though, Ainsworth had begun selling custom made helmets and suits of armor to fans for as much as 1,500 Republic Credits (also equivalent to British pounds sterling).

Emperor Lucas and his Imperial Lawyer Brigade deem this to be an infringement of copyright and have launched an assault on Ainsworth.  A California Judge has ruled in favor of Emperor Lucas, though as the UK exists outside the reach of Imperial Law, Ainsworth must now be tried in Republic Court to see if he will owe the damages to the tune of 10million Imperial Credits.

Commander Ainsworth believes that the copyright, if it ever even existed, has since expired.  And even if not, he believes his contribution to the rebellion remains his own as a designer, and that ownership of his design was not granted to the Imperial Senate.  He has launched a last ditch fighter assault, err, countersuit, against the High Galactic Council.

An Imperial Propaganda Minister said that while Lucasfilm (read: The Empire) would not want to stifle a loyal Imperial subject’s enjoyment of celebrating the joyous Empire, anyone who betrays the Empire and infringes copyright must be dealt with harshly.  What they didn’t say was whether or not Ainsworth would be sent to work the spice mines of Kessel.

The battle is expected to last under 12 parsecs*, or 10 days.

*Parsec is technically a unit of distance, but Star Wars created a confusion as to this due to Han Solo’s infamous boasting about the speed of his ship and the Kessel Run.  I could talk for at least a half hour on this subject, but won’t!

Source:  Imperial News Wire (IGN UK)