Editing Strategic Defense Initiative (section)

===The nickname "Star Wars"===

[[File:Keinen Krieg der Sterne.JPG|thumb|SDI drew criticism from abroad as well. This 1986 [[Socialist German Workers Youth]] graffiti in [[Kassel|Kassel, West Germany]] says {{lang|de|"Keinen Krieg der Sterne! Stoppt SDI! SDAJ"}} (No star wars! Stop SDI! [[Socialist German Workers Youth|SDAJ]]).]]

Historians from the [[Missile Defense Agency]] attribute the term "Star Wars" to a ''[[Washington Post]]'' article published March 24, 1983. It quoted a speech delivered by Democratic Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] the previous day, describing the proposal as "reckless ''Star Wars'' schemes", a reference to the [[space opera]] film series ''[[Star Wars]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smdc.army.mil/2008/Historical/Eagle/WheredowegetStarWars.pdf|first=Sharon Watkins |last=Lang |title=Where do we get 'Star Wars?'|date=March 2007|publisher=SMDC/ASTRAT Historical Office|work=The Eagle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227050446/http://www.smdc.army.mil/2008/Historical/Eagle/WheredowegetStarWars.pdf|archive-date=27 Feb 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some critics used the term derisively, implying it was an impractical science fiction. In addition, the American media's liberal use of the moniker (despite President Reagan's request) did much to damage the program's credibility.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kengor |first=Paul |url={{google books|plainurl=yes|id=6yidZucL-KAC|page=181}} |pages=181–183|title=The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism |date=2009-10-13 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-174099-2 |language=en}}</ref> In comments to the media on March 7, 1986, SDIO Acting Deputy Director Dr. Gerold Yonas described "Star Wars" as an important tool for Soviet [[disinformation]] and asserted that the nickname gave an entirely wrong impression of SDI.<ref>{{cite web |last=Yonas |first=Gerold |date=March 7, 1986 |title=SDI: Prospects and Challenges |url=http://commonwealthclub.org/missiledefense/yonassp.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713010908/https://www.commonwealthclub.org/missiledefense/yonassp.html |archive-date=2010-07-13 |website=Missile Defense Forum}}</ref>

Supporters of the SDI program eventually began to use the nickname as well. [[George Lucas]], the creator of the ''Star Wars'' franchise, sued public interest groups High Frontier (a liberal organization that supported the program) and Committee for a Strong, Peaceful America (a conservative organization) in 1985 for trademark infringement. The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge [[Gerhard Gesell]], who ruled that political application of the term was a non-commercial usage outside of the scope of trademark.<ref name="Justia1985">{{cite web |date=November 26, 1985 |title=Lucasfilm Ltd. v. High Frontier, 622 F. Supp. 931 (D.D.C. 1985) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/622/931/2395863/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |publisher=law.justia.com}}</ref><ref name="WashingtonPostFeinberg">{{cite news|last1=Feinberg| first1=Lawrence |title=Lucasfilm's 'Star Wars' Lawsuit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/11/13/lucasfilms-star-wars-lawsuit/c1c2ca50-8bc2-4f96-a792-5c22b7b3a35d/|access-date=February 21, 2025|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 12, 1985}}</ref><ref name="GiantFreakinRobotZagranis">{{cite web|last1=Zagranis | first1=Zack |title=Star Wars Creator Sued Government For Stealing Ideas|url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/star-wars-george-lucas-sdi.html|access-date=February 21, 2025|website=Giant Freakin Robot}}</ref><ref name="TimeBeckwith">{{cite web|author=Ryan Teague Beckwith |title=George Lucas Wrote ‘Star Wars’ as a Liberal Warning. Then Conservatives Struck Back|url=https://time.com/4975813/star-wars-politics-watergate-george-lucas/|access-date=February 21, 2025|website=Time|date=October 10, 2017}}</ref>