Foam sword maker loses Crusaders court bid

Crusaders fans like these boys were sold foam swords that infringed copyright. Photo / Geoff Sloan.

The creator of a foam sword and toy trumpet whose designs were copied and sold as Canterbury Crusaders merchandise is not entitled to additional damages, the Supreme Court said today.

The High Court previously awarded Julian Meates of Tiny Intelligence Ltd $50,000 of profits from Resport Ltd for copyright infringements.

Resport sold plastic swords and trumpets based on Meates' designs which became regular sights at Crusaders' games.

His claim for additional damages was rejected and his appeal to the Court of Appeal was turned down.

He then went to the Supreme Court which ruled today there was no need for profits and additional damages to be paid.

It ordered Tiny Intelligence to pay Resport costs of $15,000.

- NZPA