What Would Indiana Jones Do?

In a real-life Indiana Jones adventure a lawsuit has been filed in the state of Illinois by Dr. James Awe, director of the Institute of Archeology of Belize. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the nation of Belize over the Crystal Skull artifact that you will recognize from the film “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”.

Who is Dr. James Awe and why does he have anything to do with Indiana Jones and the crystal skull? Well, Awe is a real-life” Indiana Jones and he is demanding the return of the real Crystal Skull that is in the hands of a treasure-hunting family that allegedly stole it over 80 years ago from Belize. If that is not enough to make this story entertaining, Awe is also implicating Lucasfilms, the Walt Disney Co. (new owner of Lucasfims) and Paramount Pictures (distributor of the Indiana Jones movie) for allegedly using a replica of the Crystal Skull in the movie.

Awe claims that an adventurer named F.A. Mitchell-Hedges and his adopted daughter traveled to Belize in the 1920s and found the skull and took it back to England and has profited from it by exhibiting the skull.  Anna Mitchell-Hedges, the adopted daughter reportedly disclosed how she found the skill under a collapsed altar while exploring temple ruins. She disclosed this info to the Sci Fi Channel for a documentary that aired in 2008.

According to Awe’s lawsuit the Crystal Skull comes from the Mayan culture and is made of clear or milky quartz and is shaped like a human skull.  The skull is supposed to have magical powers are there are four known Crystal Skulls that have these valuable properties in the world. The other three Crystal skulls are on display in museums in London, Paris and the Smithsonian in Washington.

Among the damages Awe is asking for the “illegal profits” of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” which grossed about $786 million worldwide.

“Lucasfilm never sought, nor was given permission to utilize the Mitchell-Hedges Skull or its likeness in the Film,” says the complaint. “To date, Belize has not participated in any of the profits derived from the sale of the Film or the rights thereto.”

The lawsuit filed by attorney Adam Tracy attempts to make this claim by saying that Belize has a “right, title and interest in and to the Mitchell-Hedges Skull and its likeness” and that the film companies have participated in a civil conspiracy and tortiously interfered with its prospective economic advantage.

Dr. Awe is suing the Mitchell-Hedges family for removing the Crystal Skull from Belize and never returning it. The claim against Lucasfilms, Walt Disney Co, and Paramount Pictures is that the exhibition of the skull in the film is unlawful.

This lawsuit is an adventure in proportion to the Indiana Jones movie, but thinking about the big picture, what do you think Indiana Jones would have done in real life? Do you think he would file a lawsuit or would he find a way to take back what he thinks he owns?

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