NetRodent wrote:Not really a laughable description, but just a strange unintended D&D / Star Wars crossover.  I guess the early 80's were a much less litigious era.

Skeleton Soldiers of Sith
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 8797132563

   I don't think anyone actually knew the word "Sith" in the early 80's.  Does anyone know when the Star Wars people may have first used the term?

   As far as I know, "Sith" is a product of the 1990's, and the word never appeared in any of the original three movies.

Mark  

Xaxaxe wrote:There was promotional material as far back as the original movie in 1977 (and even the Marvel comics from that era) that referred to Vader as a "Sith lord" ... of course, this had about as much impact as calling something a "wamp rat," since neither actually made an appearance in the movie. It just sounded like some interesting word-candy.

As far as which movie was the first to feature "Sith" uttered on the screen ... no idea. If I had to take a flyer, I'd say that maybe it was Return of the Jedi. Maybe.

Did Yoda refer to the Sith in Empire?

In the scripts for all three original movies, Vader is referred to as the/a lord of the Sith in the stage direction.  It isn't used in the dialog of the films though.

MShipley88 wrote:

NetRodent wrote:In the scripts for all three original movies, Vader is referred to as the/a lord of the Sith in the stage direction.  It isn't used in the dialog of the films though.

Interesting detail.

Can they claim a copyright on unpublished material like a script referrence?

Mark  

They can certainly claim copyright on unpublished material.  All of the unpublished manuscripts that Rob Kuntz that were recently sold here were under copyright.  

The relevant law isn't in this case isn't copyright; it's trademark.  If the mark wasn't registered and only appeared in the stage direction of an unpublished script, Lucas would have had a hard time claiming trademark infringement.  Of course that doesn't mean he couldn't have tried.

According to the USPTO, Lucas applied for the Sith trademark in 1997.

Lucasfilm has a well-known reputation for aggressively applying for (and then defending) trademarks and other legal things of that nature.

In fact, the process itself led to the second trilogy becoming a goldmine for fans seeking spoilers, as many aspects of trademark applications are considered public domain. So simple internet research would result in lists of names and terms that Lucasfilm was seeking to protect, which then sent the fanboys into a frenzy of speculation as they tried to guess how all of these goofy-sounding items fit into the upcoming films.

Duke, have you moved?  


Ahh, and a REd Wings fan I see.  I chant lets Go Pens, but they missed the Playoffs.

Xaxaxe wrote:Whoops, don't mind me — I'm desperately trying to resize that avatar before I slow the whole site down.

I used to live in Michigan, if that's the question. I still worship the god-like Red Wings from afar ...

Yeah, but didn't you used to live in Reno and now it seems that you are hailing from East California.

For a number of years, the "Welcome to Oregon" sign on the California/Oregon border had the words "NOW GO HOME" added onto the more official greeting by a vandal.

  No one seemed in a hurry to fix the sign.  It was there for years.  I haven't been down that way in a couple of decades or so...it might still say that.  

   I know a lot of Northwesterners who want the borders closed.  I know one guy who fervently hopes for driving rain or other ugly weather each time a sports event is nationally broadcast from Seattle...to discourage Easterners from moving here.  Seriously.

Mark  

bclarkie wrote:Duke, have you moved?  


Ahh, and a REd Wings fan I see.  I chant lets Go Pens, but they missed the Playoffs.

At least they arent going to get trounced from the playoffs like the frickin' Stars.  Let's see now...dominated the entire season, down 0-2 to the Avalanche.  Move 'em back to Minnesota I say.