Star Wars creator George Lucas is attempting to stop a business from creating replicas of the lightsabres in the hit film series, which actually contain a powerful laser that can damage eyesight.
Lucasfilm has threatened Wicked Lasers, based in Shanghai, with legal action if it does not immediately change or cease production of the Spyder III Pro Arctic Laser.
CNN has reported that Lucasfilm argues the Pro Arctic Laser “was intended to resemble the hilts of our lightsabre swords, which are protected by copyright”.
However, Wicked Lasers chief executive Steve Liu has also told CNN that his company has made other products like the Wicked Laser for several years. “Most people feel it’s kind of ridiculous,” he said.
“We would never use any comparison like that to Star Wars or a lightsabre or anything like that.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
