Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.
Scan My Drivers Free →Free scan · exact hardware match
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Andrew Ainsworth made the production Stormtrooper helmets for Star Wars after George Lucas approved his prototype. Decades later, Lucasfilm sued over Ainsworth’s sales of helmet and armour replicas. Ainsworth won on the central English copyright question at the UK Supreme Court: the helmets were not “sculptures” under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. That was a UK ruling, not a worldwide victory; Lucasfilm had also obtained a judgment against him in the United States.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET: Featuring highly detailed deco and premium design, this full-scale Black Series helmet is an iconic addition to any Star Wars fan’s collection
- ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY: Imagine fighting for the Empire in signature trooper armor with movie-accurate deco
- VOICE-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY: Press the side button to distort your voice to sound like a stormtrooper
- ADJUSTABLE FIT: This stormtrooper helmet features straps for an adjustable fit for most head sizes
- IMPERIAL STORMTROOPER: Donning imposing white armor, stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause
Who made the original Stormtrooper helmets?
The helmets came from a collaboration, not a single creator. The UK Supreme Court’s account says George Lucas conceived the story and characters, and artist Ralph McQuarrie gave Lucas’s idea visual form in drawings and paintings of threatening figures in “fascist white armoured suits.” Andrew Ainsworth then translated that concept into three dimensions.
Ainsworth made several prototype helmets using vacuum moulding. After Lucas approved the final version, Ainsworth made 50 helmets for use in the film, according to the Court’s 2011 press summary. The trial judge described the result as “one of the most abiding images in the film.”
Rank #2
- Collector-grade quality, part of the Black Series collection
- Realistic detail and movie-accurate reproduction
- Electronically change your voice to sound like an Imperial Stormtrooper
- Includes helmet and instructions
- x3 1.5v AAA ALKALINE BATTERIES REQUIRED. Not included.
A 2016 Tech Times profile adds biographical detail, reporting that Nick Pemberton approached Ainsworth to make a prototype and describing Ainsworth’s earlier model-making and props work. Those details are from that profile, rather than the Supreme Court’s findings.
Why did Lucasfilm sue Ainsworth?
Lucasfilm claimed copyright in artistic works created for the films and had developed a licensing business that included Imperial Stormtrooper models. In 2004, Ainsworth used his original tools to make helmet and armour versions for public sale, the Court’s press summary says. The dispute concerned those later replicas, not the original production work alone.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER: Members of this new generation of Stormtroopers are trained from birth, growing up with unit designations instead of names and fed a steady diet of First Order propaganda
- PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET: Featuring movie-inspired design, adjustable fit, and electronic voice distortion, this helmet is a great addition to any Star Wars fan’s collection
- ELECTRONIC VOICE DISTORTION: With the press of a button, fans and collectors can distort their voice to sound like that of a First Order Stormtrooper
- STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI: Fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the Star Wars Galaxy with this premium roleplay helmet, inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- LOOK FOR OTHER ROLEPLAY ITEMS FROM A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY: Look for movie- and entertainment-inspired Star Wars The Black Series roleplay items to build a Star Wars galaxy (Each sold separately. Subject to availability)
Lucasfilm pursued claims in both the United States and England. The official summary records that Lucasfilm obtained a US judgment against Ainsworth; it does not establish the amount of that judgment in the cited account. It also says the goods sold in the United States were worth between $8,000 and $30,000. That is the Court summary’s reported sales range, not a damages award.
What did the UK Supreme Court decide?
In Lucasfilm Limited and others v Ainsworth, [2011] UKSC 39, decided 27 July 2011, the Supreme Court rejected Lucasfilm’s remaining English claim that the helmets qualified as sculptures and were therefore protected as artistic works under section 4 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The holding is about the legal classification of these helmets for that English copyright claim; it does not declare that every film prop or replica is outside copyright.
Rank #4
- Tip：The blsck stripes on the helmet are handmade by artisans and may not be very delicate. If you are not satisfied with the actual display of the product, we offer a 365 day return and exchange service.
- Realistic Appearance: Handmade by professional handicraft artists, hand colored, every detail is very similar to the storm trooper helmet, bringing an immersive cosplay experience
- Comfortable Lining: Adult Size: 10.6x11.4x11 inch. The fully wrapped lining fits the head, and the sturdy material makes the helmet support DIY lining. You can supplement the lining or add straps (requires manual ability)
- Breathless: The helmet is integrally formed and made of resin material. There are no breathable holes at the mouth and nose positions, which may cause stuffiness if worn for a long time
- Occasions: Perfect for Collectibles, Cosplay, Display, Presents, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Anime Party, Dress up, Role Play, etc.
The Court also addressed a separate procedural issue: an English court can hear a claim for infringement of foreign copyright if it has personal jurisdiction over the defendant. That jurisdiction ruling did not determine that Lucasfilm had won or lost every US-law issue in the English proceedings. The two questions—what protection the helmets had under English law and whether an English court could hear a foreign copyright claim—must be kept distinct.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the result was not a worldwide win
“Ainsworth won” describes the outcome on Lucasfilm’s English sculpture claim. It should not be read as saying he defeated Lucasfilm everywhere: the Supreme Court summary expressly notes the existing US judgment. The English case’s result also does not make replica sales lawful in all countries or under every kind of intellectual-property claim.
Best Value
- Size: Standard
- Molded plastic mask
- Covers entire face
- Elastic band around back of head
- Foam padding inside for comfort & positioning
The case sits at the boundary between visual authorship and functional objects. Lucas and McQuarrie shaped the concept and image; Ainsworth made the approved design into a wearable, vacuum-moulded prop. The Supreme Court’s narrow answer was that these helmets were not “sculptures” for the particular English copyright route Lucasfilm pursued.
Quick Recap
Sources
- UK Supreme Court case record: Lucasfilm Limited and others v Ainsworth
- UK Supreme Court press summary
- UK Supreme Court judgment
- Tech Times, 2016 profile of Andrew Ainsworth
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
