Hobbit Pub Saved By Actors Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen

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Hobbit Pub Saved By Actors Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday March 22, 2012 @04:27PM from the gandalf-the-generous dept.

Fluffeh writes "Recently the Hobbit Pub in England was sued for rights infringement, but it seems Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen are going to re-pony-up the cash to keep the pub alive. Landlady Stella Roberts said she had been shocked by the actors' offer. She said: 'I had a telephone call on Saturday evening, while we were trading, from Stephen Fry's business partner and manager. That's when he told me. I was very shocked. They've said as soon as they finish filming they would like to come down and visit the pub.' However Ms Roberts said she was not celebrating just yet. She added: 'Until everything is in black and white, on paper, we're going to be a bit reserved because it could be $100 this year and $20,000 next year.'"

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Re:Pub? Where? What? by jamstar7 · 2012-03-22 16:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

OK, keep in mind the serious geekness of professing a love for LotR. Add to that an IP conflict in that this woman was ignored for years and now is gettin hammered on by the IP cops.

I could go on, but you get the general drift...

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Re:Bah. by Viceice · 2012-03-22 16:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

The difference here is, from TFA:

The pub in Bevois Valley, which is popular with students, has traded with the name for more than 20 years.
That pub existed wayyy before the movies made the franchise famous. It's not like they decided to name the business to ride on the films' fame.

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Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
Re:Pub? Where? What? by Viceice · 2012-03-22 16:44 · Score: 5, Insightful

Because it's a matter of freedom... of speech AND beer!

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Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
What the bloody goddamned fuck? by pla · 2012-03-22 16:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

This needs to stop, now

The word "Hobbit" predates Tolkein (the real one) by a good century. The prefix "hob" (from "hobbe"), with a variety of faerie-folksy suffixes, predates that by another three centuries - At least.

JRR knew all this perfectly well, and never claimed exclusive rights to a common word used to describe the wee people of mythology. Only these asshats that have tried to cash in on Grand-dad's legacy have so poor of a grasp of the work of their ancestor as to claim it as a "copyright". He, as a proper good ol' Don, would no doubt have outright disowned his fool-descendants for their ignorance.

Sad, really, and just one more reason we need to get rid of this entire BS charade we call "intellectual property" ASAP.
1. Re:What the bloody goddamned fuck? by Roger+W+Moore · 2012-03-22 19:36 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  But imagery from the LotR movies does not predate Tolkien, and the pub has been gratuitously using that in recent years.
  So why not tell them to stop doing that rather than trying to sue them out of existence?
2. Re:What the bloody goddamned fuck? by drinkypoo · 2012-03-22 23:08 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I gather you have never heard of fair use.
  Congratulations, you are a big fucking idiot. There's nothing in fair use which permits the use of someone else's IP for your own economic benefit. Fair use is for education and critique. You may make full copies of any materials needed for a formal educational lesson and copy as much as needed of any work for critique. Nothing in there says "you may use small clips, stills, and other unique characteristics from privately owned works to advertise your pub"
  
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3. Re:What the bloody goddamned fuck? by jo_ham · 2012-03-22 23:26 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  If your business is going to be sued out of existence due to a $100 licensing fee, then you have bigger problems than trademark infringement.
4. Re:What the bloody goddamned fuck? by hemanman · 2012-03-23 01:01 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  The name "Gandalf" was lifted by Tolkien from Norse mythology(along with a shitload of other stuff), and was actually the name of a dwarf.
  Norse mythology is worshiped as Asetro today, and is a legit faith in Scandinavia, so if you try to trademark a name like that, you'd be violating human rights.
  It would be like trying to trademark a name from the Christian Bible, which I don't think is possible, even in USA.
  If so, I think I'll write a novel with this guy, lets call him Jesus, and sue for rights infringement!
  -H
Re:Bah. by Dyinobal · 2012-03-22 16:48 · Score: 4, Insightful

True and in general I think it is a pretty dick move, but they are using images from the movies on their websites which I think is a bit of a no no.
the issue is not the name by YesIAmAScript · 2012-03-22 16:52 · Score: 1, Insightful

The pub uses (used?) images from the movies on its loyalty cards.
So yeah, they decided to ride on the films fame to bolster the pub's business.

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Re:Misleading Cause by Zemran · 2012-03-22 16:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Do you honestly think you know more about this than Steven Fry? Themed pubs are part of our culture and part of American culture and it is wrong that they are being litigated out of existence. They are not claiming to be official places, they are just pubs or restaurants and it is time that the legal system started defending them.

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I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
Re:Pub? Where? What? by osu-neko · 2012-03-22 17:17 · Score: 4, Insightful

Okay, mods, that's a new one... you can't call the First Post "Redundant".
Obviously, you can. Are you doubting the evidence of your own eyes?

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"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
Re:Pub? Where? What? by Dahamma · 2012-03-22 17:19 · Score: 5, Insightful

The vast majority of Slashdot readers probably thought is was both funny and a much better answer to your (cave?) troll than was deserved.
If you can't see the point or the humor the problem may not be whether the post belongs on Slashdot, but whether you do...
Re:Misleading Cause by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-22 17:43 · Score: 2, Insightful

After all, the British Empire was built on stealing other people's work - just ask India.
Re:Bah. by kdemetter · 2012-03-22 17:49 · Score: 3, Insightful

So if I'm going to a pub, and it has Coca-Cola posters, than Coca-Cola can sue them ?
It's a theme, that's all.
I agree that paying some royalties, would solve this problem, but I'm sure the pub would do that, if asked, and if the cost was reasonable.
However, in this case : they are just being fined into oblivion, after 20 years.
However, this is not about the pub : it's a cheap way for the film producer to get the film under attention. And judging for slashdot , it's working.

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Slipping shoelaces ?
Re:Misleading Cause by MisterMidi · 2012-03-22 18:36 · Score: 4, Insightful

No, they weren't just asking for $100, they were demanding to stop using "Hobbit" and all references to the book. Only after all the bad press and the support of Stephen Fry, Neil Gaiman and Ian McKellen they offered licensing for $100 a year. That's what this story is about, they're saved by this offer. What you're quoting is from when they decided to license existing businesses for this nominal fee.
Re:Pub? Where? What? by advocate_one · 2012-03-22 22:27 · Score: 5, Insightful

One does not simply walk into Mordor...

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Re:Saul Zaentz's lack of character by Tim+C · 2012-03-23 00:05 · Score: 4, Insightful

Just nit-picking here but actually, I'd say that using "ahole" instead of "arsehole" (or "asshole" if you prefer) is a good example of mincing your words - rewording something so as to not cause (as much) offence.

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