Photo 38568269 © Brett Critchley | Dreamstime.com
Lucasfilm is taking a stand against a distant outpost not in a galaxy far, far away, but in the outskirts of Santiago, Chile. The Star Wars empire has struck back against a themed carwash known as Star Wash, accusing it of playing a little too fast and loose with its beloved space opera’s characters and themes.
Star Wash has been turning heads not for its vehicle-polishing services but also its Star Wars-themed experience, with attendants costumed as Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, and The Mandalorian, against a backdrop with movie-like props.
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This intergalactic ambiance, however, has drawn the ire of Lucasfilm. The studio asserts that the thematic carwash infringes on its valuable intellectual property, using the beloved Star Wars universe to attract customers without authorization.
Matias Jara, the owner of Star Wash, is standing his ground. He argues that his venture is distinctly different from the Star Wars trademark and that his car wash service doesn’t delve into the realms of filmmaking or merchandise production relevant to the franchise.
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Furthermore, Jara insists that while Lucasfilm’s copyright might protect against the unauthorized use of its characters in toys or drinks, it doesn’t extend to the specific business of car cleaning.
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The outfit’s owner says the carwash’s name was coined by his young daughter, who thought of the pun during a family trip to a Disney theme park.
Jara has lawyered up and intends to fight the other side—without lightsabers, of course. He says the dispute is affecting his small business, as it now has to fork out amounts it did not account for.
This cosmic legal saga underscores the thin line between inspiration and potential infringement.
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[via Reuters, The Telegraph, Forbes, cover photo 38568269 © Brett Critchley | Dreamstime.com]
by rrollins
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