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Tolkien Estate Sues Over Lord of the Rings Slot Machines
An anonymous reader writes "The Tolkien Estate has filed an $80 million copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court over the use of Lord of the Rings slot machines. The complaint hinges on a contract between the estate and Warner Bros. which allows the creation of LotR merchandise but not LotR 'intangibles,' like the experience of playing a slot machine game. According to the estate (PDF), 'Not only does the production of gambling games patently exceed the scope of defendants' rights, but this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works.'"
...have enough FUCKING money yet?
Thanks to the War on Drugs, it's easier to buy meth than it is to buy cold medicine!
...the Tolkein Estate wants to be Lord of the Blings as well.
How dare they attempt to flagrantly abuse the creative works created by an author 80 years ago, when the great-grandchildren of said author deserve a life of luxury for all of their blood, sweat and tears!
Though the litigiousness of the Tolkien Estate (via the ancient and gnarled iron grip of J.R.R's son Christopher) usually gives me indigestion, my organs seem unaffected by this case. LOTR-related merchandise is often tacky to a ridiculous level, but it seems WB has gone over the deep end here.
There are still questions as to whether HP Lovecraft's later works are public domain, so I think LotR and the Hobbit, both of which had second editions published in the 1960s are very much still under copyright.
What's more, it seems likely that major elements of this Hobbit "trilogy" are based in part of writings not published until 1980 in Unfinished Tales.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Poker machines are morally disgusting. They're basically a way of imposing a tax on people too stupid or hopeful to know better. Here in Australia, there's people who literally bankrupt themselves pouring money into the bloody things. I'm all for individual responsibility, but those bloody things are designed to addict more than cigarettes or crack cocaine.
What's more, venues that have poker machines deliberately target the poor. I've walked into a couple of poker machine venues, they are literally the embodiment of everything that is wrong with modern day society. Pensioners, disabled people, smoking heavily and desperate for, if nothing else, just a near-win.
when you put it on your dick and balls vanish!
I can't claim to be the biggest fan of Tolkien novels, but does anyone believe for a second that there are a significant number of fans that are outraged over the release of a LotR slot machine to the point of causing "irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy"? I would say that the greed of the owners of the Tolkien estate is doing more irreparable harm to the Tolkien legacy than the release of a fucking slot machine. After this, I would rather put $10 into a LotR slot machine than towards a ticket to see the upcoming Hobbit movie.
From the summary:
which allows the creation of LotR merchandise but not LotR 'intangibles,' like the experience of playing a slot machine game.
I haven't played (or seen) the LotR slot machines, but is the gameplay really themed to LotR? Most themed slot machines I've played are slot machines with themed graphics, but the gameplay is pretty much like every other slot machine out there. Does the gameplay of these slots have anything to do with the books? (aside from something like needing to roll 3 Gandalfs to hit the jackpot with a 3X The One Ring multiplier.
this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base,
I'd consider myself a Tolkien fan, but the only thing I'm outraged about is that his estate is still able to make money from the books 40 years after his death. It should have fallen out of copyright long ago and we should be seeing lots of derivative works building upon the stories.
There should be a spaceballs like parody with Gandalf selling merchandise.
Damn, now I had to cancel my plans to make a LOTR craps table with "you shall not bet the pass" written on it :(
"this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works."
Yeh, because Peter Jackson's atrocities didn't do this already?
I regret to inform members of this forum that, due to recent litigation, the term 'troll' can no longer be used in these forums.
Persons using said term, and all variants thereof, are subject to liability for copyright or trademark infringement involves the potential for significant civil damages, including in particular cases, statutory damages, liability for up to three times actual damages, and attorneys fees.
I thought the Hobbit all you can eat buffets were very appropriate.