Force not Art

As far as the millions of Star Wars fans are concerned the six-film saga and anything connected with it is high art.

Britain's Supreme Court judges have just (sort of) agreed about the first part but ruled rather differently in the case of the second.

This means that prop designer Andrew Ainsworth, who helped come up with the iconic Imperial Stormtrooper helmet way back in 1977 and has been selling replicas for years, could be infringing foreign copyright.

After an action brought by the series' producers Lucasfilm, M'luds concluded: "It was the Star Wars films that was the work of art that Mr [George] Lucas and his companies created. The helmet was utilitarian in the sense that it was an element in the process of production of the film."

The point is, not being a work of art means that any enforceable UK design rights in the helmets expired after 15 years. However Mr Ainsworth has been allowed to carry on selling the replica outfits at up to £1800 a throw.

He seemed delighted with the case's outcome: "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.