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.'"

Comments

Threatening Hobbit Production...

[Tetsujin]

You know, if I were a Hobbit, I wouldn't let any lawsuit threaten my Hobbit-producing activities...

Re:Threatening Hobbit Production...

[Anonymous Coward]

ah...good ol uncle adolf. How we miss him.

Re:Bad news all around

[Tetsujin]

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!

Dragon magazine...

[i.r.id10t]

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!"

Re:Read this elsewhere

[Niris]

You, good sir, are the first Troll in a thread about the Hobbit. Expect to be turned to stone.

Re:Damn leeches

[mcgrew]

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...

Ob. Futurama

[DarthVain]

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.

Re:Ob. Futurama

[DinDaddy]

I'm a rabbo, you insensitive clod!

Re:Read this elsewhere

[Red Flayer]

See sig below.

Apparently J.R.R. Tolkien warned us in advance of the actions his heirs would take WRT copyright.

Obligatory

[hobbit]

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

Re:but but the MPAA is for the artists?

[CannonballHead]

Have to hand it to them... they're pretty creative ;)

Eminent Domain for Copyrights / Patents

[ub3r n3u7r4l1st]

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.

Re:Damn leeches

[camperdave]

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".

David "Dangermouse" Morgan-Mar, is that you?

Re:Bad news all around

[Odin's Raven]

Once you're dead, your work should hit the public domain.

Scene: Hollywood, California, 1972. Francis Ford Coppola sits in front of a fireplace, stroking a cat. Two underlings are in attendance.

• Coppola: So where were we...? Oh yeah, that "Godfather" book - are we ready to start shooting the movie?
• Underling #2: Don Coppola, I'm sorry to say that Mario Puzo still has not agreed to give us the rights, even after your latest, most generous, offer.
• Coppola: What were we budgeting to make the movie? Four million? Five million?
• Underling #1: Six and a half million, Don Coppola.
• Coppola: And the projected profits?
• Underling #1: 245 million.
• (Coppola pulls out a gun and shoots Underling #1.)
• Coppola: And the projected profits?
• Underling #2: (gulps) 245 million, Don Coppola!
• Coppola: Very good, you learn quickly. Here's 5 million dollars. Find Stan "The Popgun" Phlegmy, let him know that I want Puzo "released into the public domain" by Friday. We start filming at 7:00 am Monday morning.
• Underling #2: Yes, Don Coppola. It shall be done, Don Coppola.