Supreme Court strikes back at George Lucas

A British prop designer who made the original Stormtrooper helmets for the first Star Wars film won a Supreme Court battle to continue producing replicas – but faces a damages payout to the creators of the science-fiction blockbuster.

Judges ruled the helmets were not "sculptures" meaning that Lucasfilm, founded by George Lucas, failed to stop Andrew Ainsworth, 62, selling replicas from his London studio. Mr Ainsworth, who made 50 helmets for the film, said: "I am proud to report that in the English legal system David can prevail against Goliath if his cause is right. If there is a force, then it has been with me these past five years."