When it comes to the somewhat wicked Spyder III Pro Arctic laser, described by the manufacturer as the "most dangerous laser ever created" and by others as something of a lightsaber, Lucasfilm, creator of "Star Wars," seems to have experienced a script change.
Enthusiasts of bellicosity might recall that Lucasfilm recently sent a cease and desist letter to Wicked Lasers, suggesting that its product was not only dangerous but also a little too similar to Luke Skywalker's weapon.
Wicked Lasers had made no mention of "Star Wars" or Lucas in its marketing of this interesting product. However, it had been referred to in the media as a "lightsaber."
Now, though, in a letter to Wicked Lasers, Lucasfilm said that it appreciated Wicked Lasers' clarifying comments about there being no association with "Star Wars."
The letter added: "The media and public has come to realize that Lucasfilm would never endorse or license a highly dangerous product such as your Arctic Pro Laser."
While the letter says it still would like Wicked Lasers to put an official disclaimer on its site, the tone is clearly more conciliatory, perhaps because the original cease-and-desist thrust might just have contributed to Wicked Lasers' sales.
Indeed, Wicked Lasers CEO Steven Liu told CNN: "This has been strange. We felt that it would have been a very bad thing in the beginning, but it ended up helping the business in a very big way."
Sales have, reportedly, tripled. So one can only look forward to the first time some large, hairy, unsteady individual pulls one out at a Rush concert.