Lucasfilm is suing a car wash in Santiago, Chile called “Star Wash,” which draws inspiration from “Star Wars” for its name and other theming.
Lucasfilm Suing Star Wash
Employees of Star Wash dress up as “Star Wars” characters, including Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett. The car wash is also decorated with “Star Wars” paraphernalia and uses a font similar to the famous “Star Wars” font, but with a car incorporated.
You can see more on their Instagram account here.
It’s just the name that Lucasfilm is taking issue with, however. According to Reuters, Star Wash owner Matias Jara was in the process of registering the brand with the Chilean patent authority INAPI when he received the suit from “Star Wars” studio Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm wants to stop Jara from registering the name, arguing that patrons could get confused and think Star Wash is associated with Lucasfilm. They don’t have a problem with the attendants dressed up as “Star Wars” characters.
Jara’s lawyers argue that Star Wash is sufficiently different from “Star Wars” to avoid confusion and that Lucasfilm’s copyright does not extend to cleaning cars.
“Of course this lawsuit is affecting us,” Jara said. “We’re a small business and we’re spending on things we hadn’t budgeted for.”
Jara’s young daughter thought of the name Star Wash while the family was on a trip to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Jara notes that, while their business is a “stellar” car wash, “We don’t make movies or sell their products or anything like that.”
Lucasfilm did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
On the flip side of things, Disney was recently fined $600,000 for copyright infringement of CG technology they used in the live-action “Beauty and the Beast.”
Also in recent copyright news are Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, who will enter public domain with “Steamboat Willie” in 2024.
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