Star Wars: Lucasfilm sues Jedi school
The lawsuit against Lightsaber Academy claims it's in violation of several Star Wars trademarks
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Your support makes all the difference.Disney's Lucasfilm is suing a Jedi school - claiming it's in violation of several Star Wars trademarks.
A lawsuit by the studio has been filed against Michael Brown (via The Hollywood Reporter), who operates several businesses including New York Jedi, the Lightsaber Academy, and Thrills and Skills; with services including classes and teaching certificates linked to the franchise's Jedi practice.
The website for Lightsaber Academy promises to train students in the Lightsaber Arts for the pursuit of either Academic Martial Study, Stage Combat, and sparring or Sport Duelling.
"Here you will find true understanding of the hilt, the properties, and rules of the weapon, proper body mechanics, and basic methods to engage in saber to saber combat, or choreography," the website reads. "For entertainment or practical application, it is the wielder's responsibility to engage in safety first, respect second, fun always, but more importantly, you will know what you need to be safe in all regards."
"Defendants regularly use the Lucasfilm Trademarks without authorization in connection with their businesses," states the complaint. "Among other infringing activities, Defendants use a logo that is nearly identical, and confusingly similar, to Lucasfilm’s trademark Jedi Order logo... round in shape, with six wing-like shapes curving upward (three per side), and an eight-pointed star featuring elongated top and bottom points stretched into a vertical line."
Lucasfilm has stated that it served multiple cease notices to Brown, but that he responded by filing a trademark application for "Lightsaber Academy, Inc."; the plaintiff now demands a permanent injunction, actual damages and profits, or up to $2 million in statutory damages for each trademark infringed.
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