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LoTR Lawsuit Threatens Hobbit Production
eyrieowl writes "J.R.R.'s heirs are suing for royalties on the LoTR films. Apparently they haven't gotten any money due to some creative accounting. Peter Jackson ought to understand...he had to sue the studio for much the same reason.
As for The Hobbit? FTFA: 'Tolkien's family and a British charity they head, the Tolkien Trust, seek more than $220 million in compensation...[and]...the option to terminate further rights to the author's work.'"
You know, if I were a Hobbit, I wouldn't let any lawsuit threaten my Hobbit-producing activities...
Bow-ties are cool.
Imagine if the Bard's estate could screw around with people like this.
Oh, man... the implications... I bet none of the Bard's Tale games would have ever been released!
Bow-ties are cool.
Dragon Magazine had a cartoon bit about this ... apparently they weren't even allowed to use the word "ring" anymore...
"Hey, someone get the phone - its been circular metal band-ing off the hook!"
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
You, good sir, are the first Troll in a thread about the Hobbit. Expect to be turned to stone.
"We must fuck the hobbitses we must."
Agreed, it should have been in the public domain when I bought my copy of the trilogy in 1970.
They're building one of those "Habitat Houses" down the street from me, and I wondered to my daughter if all the workers had tattoos of hobbits on them.
"Why?" she asked.
"Hobbit tat for humanity".
Ok, I'll get my coat...
Free Martian Whores!
Leegola: What else can we slay? Is that a hobbit over there?
Titanius Anglesmith: No, that's a hobo and a rabbit. But they're making a hobbit.
I don't know, but it'd make a great movie! I'll share profits with you for the rights to the story!
See sig below.
Apparently J.R.R. Tolkien warned us in advance of the actions his heirs would take WRT copyright.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something" - Plato
Have to hand it to them... they're pretty creative ;)
We need Eminent Domain for intangible properties as well. With that the government can nationalize the rights to LoTR and ensure seamless production of 'The Hobbit' films. The government can request to the Supreme Court that this lawsuit is considered "hindrance to the advancement of humanities" and therefore should grant eminent domain rights.
New Economic Perspectives
The one where the rights of private property and public good are balanced. The one where the rights of personal works and public culture coexist.
Also, the one established in the FUCKING CONSTITUTION, where Congress is given the duty (emphasis mine) "[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries" .
Notice also that it explicitly says authors and inventors, and not the estates thereof, but that is a side issue. What is important is that the time be Limited. Unless you want to get a shovel and go excavate Ugg the fucking Caveman and pay him back royalties for your use of fire and the wheel. Pelts only.
C.S. Lewis was British, so our FUCKING CONSTITUTION has nothing to do with him or his heirs. And I'm pretty sure it was Ogg the fucking Caveman who invented fire. Not 100% sure about the wheel. That could have been Ugg.....
David "Dangermouse" Morgan-Mar, is that you?
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Scene: Hollywood, California, 1972. Francis Ford Coppola sits in front of a fireplace, stroking a cat. Two underlings are in attendance.
A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.
I can just imagine the testimony now:
Lawyer: So you lost money on the LOTR films? ... . er, I mean no wa. . . er, , , umm, . . . , well, you know, . . . , it's hard to know with these movies, . . ., um ., why are you making more? Is "losing money", as you say that most films like LOTR do, really as good as "really great sex"?
Studio: That's right. It says so right in our documents.
Lawyer: But didn't a lot of people go to see it? Didn't you sell a lot of DVDs? And merchandise?
Studio: Well, yes, but we had a lot of expenses. Salaries. Marketing promotions? Directors and producers aren't cheap.
Lawyer: I see. Aren't you planning on making another Tolkien film? The Hobbit?
Studio: Yes, we're very excited. It will be the most exciting film since the LOTR series. And it will be bigger. And better. It's going to be fantastic.
Lawyer: Would you say that you're thrilled about it?
Studio: Are you kidding? It's freakin' awesome. It's going to be like really fantastic sex.
Audience: Chuckles
Lawyer: Will you promote it?
Studio: Oh yes. We've started planning for the marketing campaign already. Burger King will be doing a promotion. Mattel is doing the toys. Marvel will be doing a comic book. Dateline, Oprah, Today -- well, you name it, they're all planning on doing full shows on it.
Lawyer: I see. But it can't be as good, can it. I mean, Peter Jackson was the original director/producer.
Studio: Oh, Peter Jackson will be involved again. He'll be the executive producer.
Lawyer: Are you paying him?
Studio: Chuckle. Oh yes. Most movies that get made have budgets smaller than what Jackson will make.
Lawyer: Do you plan on making any money on The Hobbit?
Studio: Oh definit
Lawyer: I'm just asking, because, you know, you didn't make any on the last films, and well, I was wondering, well, if you lost money on the last series, . . . , well, . .
Audience: Hilarious non-stop laughter that lasts for 5 minutes.