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Fake Light Sabers Making Real Cash
jdedman4 writes "The fanfare over Episode II brings with it absurdist prequel theories as well as this article from the Houston Chronicle detailing one fan-enterpreneur's success. In eight years, Forney, Texas resident Jeff Parks has made himself a millionaire by making customized light sabers for collectors. "My goal is to be the best light saber designer in the world," quips Parks."
Supply and Demand continues to be an economic principle!
Doesn't he have to be a licensed Star Wars toy distributor?
I imagine as long as he does not use any LucasFilm trademarks he is ok. My guess is that Lucas never bothered to trademark the lightsaber. Even if they did, on his web site Parks never refers to Star Wars, or the word "Light Saber" - it's just a "Parks Saber".
I would also guess that this product is high end and niche enough that it does not directly compete with any officially licensed products. So it's unlike that LucasFilm would try to pursue the issue legally.
-josh
*waves hand*
"This isn't the company you're looking to sue"
"move along lucas"
.
I felt a disturbance in the force as if all of parksabers.com's 56 kilobits of uplink all screamed at once and then died out.
The replicas' silent operation gives you the opportunity to make the appropriate sounds yourself.
I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
Well, at least they acknowledge where in their customers' psyches the deep-rooted need to own one of these things stems by naming one of their top models Malestrom as opposed to Maelstrom. I wonder if any of their customers notice this subtle dig?
More worringly, I wonder what a Femalestrom would look like?
The 33-year-old resident of Forney, 20 miles east of Dallas, makes custom light sabers,
Huh?
weapons used by Jedi knights in the Star
Wars films.
Ohhhh...
Also, on Parks' website, you can get a utility belt! I thought it was funny that it lists it as The DefianceTM Belt, Adjustable to fit sizes 32-40. I think he's grossly underestimated his clientelle...
"Now gluttony and exploitation serves eight!" - TV's Frank
Parks makes the replicas to look faintly like versions used in the movies. They are typically aircraft aluminum, and are very, very tough and scratch resistant. Some are designed for a blade, others just hang on your belt and make people ask if it works.
The item I have is based on Luke's first/the Graflex design. It serves its purpose well enough for the costume during the occasional con or costume party. If you want a "lightsaber" of your own, Jeff does a good job.
Lucasfilm generally does not chase down anyone who avoids the use of trademarked names and likenesses or is otherwise obviously capitalizing on his vast empire. Otherwise, people who make costume templates and accessories, especially the stormtrooper stuff and droid parts, would be sued immediately.
Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.