A UK man is selling unlicensed Stormtrooper helmets and costumes he made the original molds. Lucas is angry, but should McQuarrie be angrier that the man is implying he has a right to the designs?
Ralph McQuarrie designed most of the concept art for the first three Star Wars films and his art is legendary. Andrew Ainsworth says that he got some vague descriptions of what Lucas and McQuarrie wanted and expanded that into a functional design. He also says he never got paid for the work.
What Ainsworth is saying is that he designed and created the Star Wars helmets. But, McQuarrie did all the original designs, not Andrew. The difference is if the helmets molds are artistic or mechanical. His lawyers say he is not violating any artistic copyrights and there are no copyrights on mechanical design.
For reference, here are two three concept drawings Mr. McQuarrie did for Star Wars stormtroopers.
In Andrew's notes he described McQuarrie's brilliantly thought out vision of the troopers.
"The concept drawings from Ralph McQuarrie suggested that the Stormtrooper was a futuristic being that had evolved through continuous genetic modification, and perhaps able to operate in adverse pungent climatic conditions." Ainsworth said, "The helmet would therefore be able to filter noxious gases and the armour be so flexible that it could have actually grown on the character that way - much the same as an armadillo has natural armour."
Yes, there's a difference between his designs and the final product, but not enough to claim he created them as original works.
Should McQuarrie be angry about Andrew taking credit for his hard work?
Update: John Scoleri pointed out the second image was a piece of very well-rendered fan art
In 1976 prop maker Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios created the original Stormtrooper helmets and armour for the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope. All these years later, Andrew produces genuine, authentic replicas using the original moulds, as close as it is possible to get to the original film props. - http://originalstormtrooper.com/
Ralph McQuarrie designed most of the concept art for the first three Star Wars films and his art is legendary. Andrew Ainsworth says that he got some vague descriptions of what Lucas and McQuarrie wanted and expanded that into a functional design. He also says he never got paid for the work.
What Ainsworth is saying is that he designed and created the Star Wars helmets. But, McQuarrie did all the original designs, not Andrew. The difference is if the helmets molds are artistic or mechanical. His lawyers say he is not violating any artistic copyrights and there are no copyrights on mechanical design.
For reference, here are two
In Andrew's notes he described McQuarrie's brilliantly thought out vision of the troopers.
"The concept drawings from Ralph McQuarrie suggested that the Stormtrooper was a futuristic being that had evolved through continuous genetic modification, and perhaps able to operate in adverse pungent climatic conditions." Ainsworth said, "The helmet would therefore be able to filter noxious gases and the armour be so flexible that it could have actually grown on the character that way - much the same as an armadillo has natural armour."
Yes, there's a difference between his designs and the final product, but not enough to claim he created them as original works.
Should McQuarrie be angry about Andrew taking credit for his hard work?
Update: John Scoleri pointed out the second image was a piece of very well-rendered fan art
