Question about running conventions

Hi all,

I have a few questions on running conventions, since my Fan Force is planning to run one here in Panama City, Panama in September.

I just wanted to know if you can use the name of Star Wars without any infringements to copyright, I mean you are charging admittance fee to the convention, since is a Star Wars convention, do you need an special permission from LFL to run a convention of something, so How do you use the Star Wars name without infringement of copyright properties ?

Thanks for your support

 

Wow...do you have guts! Im only an apprentice to setting up cons (Im currently setting up my first one now, after 10+ years of extensive volunteering in various cons and their departments), but here is what immediately comes to mind:

There would be several factors involved with your question.

1) Are you running it as a 'non-profit' con, or a 'for profit' con? Chances are, your going to have better luck (if any) achieveing any rights for anything if its for non-profit.

2) Is it a Star Wars specific con, or a general sci-fi/fantasy con? If its a general, then you may want to avoid going with a Star Wars specific theme. (Thats not to say though, have it heavily SW based.) For example, Im running Marscon (in Minneapolis) in 2005, and although I have two Star Wars related guests slated for appearance, and Im gearing the con towards more of a SW atmosphere, my theme is more generic (Pirates and Mercenaries of the Universe) Stuff like this would allow you to be more "friendly" with other groups in the area, and probably attract more attendees.

3) It depends upon how you want to use the names.

4) If you are going to use any specific names, and use it as promotion for your con, you will have to ask for rights....coming from Lucasfilm, they probably wont be cheap, or easy.

You could of course (and I am NOT endorsing this action) try to use items without attaining the rights, and pray to whatever diety you choose to get away with it. But thats asking for trouble. ALOT of trouble.

My suggestion: Go ahead and start a con, and have a heavy SW atmosphere to it. But keep it general, and keep it open for other groups to feel like they can attend. As for asking for rights, by all means do so, if you wish, but I wouldnt expect positive results. Also, you may want to talk to someone who knows more about how the Celebration cons are/were set up. Its quite possible they may have "exclusive use" of certain rights for a period of time.

Good Luck! And let me know if I can assist in any way.

 

The use of the Star Wars name and any other of their copyrighted materials is indeed copyright infringment.

However, there are a few things you can do so that they won't sue you

1- If it is indeed a Star Wars oriented convention, you can use the name yes. BUT make sure that everywhere the name of your convention appears also appears the short mention: Star Wars and all related names, material and images are solely property of LucasFilm Limited.

It's a cheap way out. And since I haven't been sued so far.. I guess it's ok.. or that LFL doesn't really care too much for my NON-PROFIT events.

If you want to try and go on the right path and ask officials, you should call their Fan relations department @ the following number: (415) 662-1800 and talk about your situation.

Since I've got some contacts with people at LFL, I'll ask about your situation (since I'm in the same boat with "Exar-Con")

 

Thanks to you both, yes is non profit but we are gonna charge an admittance fee.

If you can please me give more details about the use of the SW name it will be great.

 

Okay, So LucasFilm Limited will not go after fan sites, that's a rule they have. However, they will go after any site that comes to their attention with "StarWars" as part of the domain name. They would not accept the use of "Star Wars" in the title of a convention unless it's run by a licensed fan club or they specifically approve in advance.

The main reason is that people run conventions to make money in general. But I'm sure that if you call the number I gave earlier and explain your convention base to the person answering the phone, you should be able to get permission.

All hope is not lost my friend, I'm sure that if you persist, you will bring a nice con to life.

Feel free to contact me or post here for further inputs.

 

Thanks, I'll call the number and let you know.

 

Hope it works out for you! And once you have more info on your con, please share! Id be interested in knowing more about it.

 

Well I haven't called yet, but Derek Maki (a well known Star Wars guests manager) told me that you CAN'T use the Star Wars logo, just mention that the guest are from the Star Wars movies.

I will try to contact them and let's see what happens.

 

Ho yeah that's a big NO NO, you can't use the logo itself.

The words you need permission and they might let you use them, but they wil never allow the logo to be used on something else than the Official Star Wars Convention (Star Wars Celebration). (sorry)

 

Derek told me that actually you can use the words "star wars" to describe that the guests are from Star Wars movies.

The logo can't be used.

 

yeah for general purpose it's ok

(otherwise we wouldn't even be able to talk about it )

As long as you don't do something like that you know:

David Prowse from
STAR WARS

 

Well actually you can say something like:

Richard Le Parmentier (Admiral Motti from "Star Wars")

That's what I'm told...

 

yeah that you can..

I just put the emphasis on the star wars in my post as I was thinking as follow:

Dave Prowse in a font 12 size
and Star Wars in a font 200 size.

 

Well, I just called to LFL and they told me to sent an e-mail to Steven Sansweet, they also told me that he is out of the office for a couple of weeks but they will try to forward an e-mail. Let's see what happens.

 

Well Sansweet told me the same as you, put the copyright disclaimer, no logo and that sort.

Thanks to clear that out for me...