A lightsaber academy sounds like the most awesome thing I’ve ever heard of. Unfortunately for one New York man, Lucasfilm does not agree.
It is a dark day indeed for those wanting to learn the ways of the Force like their father before them, as Lucasfilm, a subsidiary of Walt Disney, has filed a federal lawsuit against business owner Michael Brown. Brown was the owner and operator of a New York-based LightsaberAcademy which lauded its courses for teaching the “core principles” of lightsaber dueling. Despite how awesome it might sound to the teeming masses of Star Wars fans worldwide, Lucasfilm was apparently not amused.
Among others egregious acts alleged to have been committed by Brown, Lucasfilm insists that Brown “regularly use the Lucasfilm Trademarks without authorization in connection with their businesses. 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.”
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
Brown’s counter move, or parry, was to file a trademark request for the term “Lightsaber Academy, Inc.” Call us crazy, but we’re pretty sure you won’t win that one Michael. I mean, we all want to learn how to properly wield a lightsaber, and we think your website is cool and all, but maybe don’t pick a fight with one of the largest companies on the planet.
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Either way, had Brown not used some copyrighted logos as inspiration for his company’s logo he might not find himself in such hot water. As it stands, however, Lucasfilm is seeking over two million dollars in damages; for each trademark infringed upon. Lucasfilm is also seeking a permanent injunction against Brown going forward, as Brown has been served with multiple cease and desist letters to no avail. Brown might want to consider changing the name, but “Space Samurai Lazer Sword Academy” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. May the Force be with you, Michael.