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Lucasfilm Moves to Protect Consumers From Star Wars Counterfeits

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--March 18, 1999--Lucasfilm Ltd., creator and producer of the Star Wars(TM) motion pictures, announced today that certain unnamed companies and individuals have ceased the manufacture, advertising and sale of certain collectible merchandise which Lucasfilm claimed was bearing counterfeit or infringing Star Wars images and have agreed to pay Lucasfilm nearly a million dollars and are permanently enjoined from the illegal activities specified in Lucasfilm's complaint.

While the identities of the defendants and the details of the agreement are subject to confidentiality, Lucasfilm's suit involved the filing of an emergency motion before a federal judge in U.S. District Court who ordered seizures of all counterfeit and infringing merchandise from the defendants' warehouses and headquarters.

Lucasfilm's attorney in the case, Anthony Keats of Baker & Hostetler LLP, stated: "This action is part of Lucasfilm's major anti-piracy program and is designed to protect the public from unauthorized and counterfeit Star Wars merchandise." As previously announced, Lucasfilm is aggressively pursuing counterfeiters as part of a global anti-piracy campaign encompassing both civil and criminal actions.

Gordon Radley, President of Lucasfilm Ltd., stated: "Lucasfilm is dedicated to its Star Wars fans and will go to great lengths to ensure that the Star Wars merchandise they purchase is safe and not of the inferior quality found in unauthorized products."

Howard Roffman, Vice-President, Lucas Licensing Ltd., added: "We know that a lot of our customers are avid collectors of Star Wars merchandise and we are very serious about an obligation to protect collectors from counterfeit merchandise and fraudulent claims. We hope these actions send a clear message to potential infringers."