Hi everyone..I'm new to the forums here so...
Hello!
My real name is Scott, and I am a 41 year old child living in Metro Detroit.
reason for the post is I have been emailing AA personally over the last few weeks regarding a potential purchase of armor and a battle spec. It all started with my emailing him asking whether sales could continue in light of the whole LFL licensing fiasco.
I must say I agree with some of the above posts that say he is convinced of his innocence, to say the least. He certainly is. He is also "quite certain" that any UK court would uphold his position, etc etc and that he already has "councel's opinion they would win." I might add he is an incredibly nice guy, and has never claimed to me that he "designed" the Trooper look, only that he was charged with producing what MacQuarrie (and others?) conceptualized. Inasmuch as he had to interpolate a 3D product from 2d sketches, I think that is where he claims any sort of ownership. Even on sdsprops.com, I haven't found anywhere that says he designed the look, only designed and produced the molds to produce the darn things. And he claims he never signed over the rights to his molds.
I also agree with another post above that wonders why other makers (FX, etc) haven't been targeted and why they even seem to be openly embraced. I suppose because they are fan-sculpted and haven't claimed affiliation with LFL whatsoever. But please, can you say "openly copying and profiting from Star Wars on a massive scale?" If that isn't I don't know what is. The charity work done by the 501st has to come into play, but not everyone who buys an FX kit joins a costuming community. I'm not saying there isn't cause for debate--just that there doesn't seem to be any more cause than others who seem to be ignored.
And then there are guys who cast off of a screen-accurate set, and mass produce that.
and this is ignored by LFL. very odd.
Bottom line I think the whole dispute is sad. I also agree that SDS should have come to the table negotiating rather than taking a hard line, IMHO. It all comes down to the almighty dollar. If FX or GF or other kits came with an SDS price tag (which is ludicrous for a pile of plastic parts, let's face it) I'm sure LFL would be taking a hard look at them too.