Tolkien's Heirs Sued The Creators of The Hobbit

The Tolkien Legacy Foundation and HarperCollins Sued The Hobbit Trilogy Producers and The Lord of the Rings, Warner Bros., New Line, and owner of the movie rights, Saul Zantz.

According to The Holywood Reporter, a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles District Court alleges that the defendants violated the terms of the contract, allowing them to license the production of goods related to the characters and events of Tolkien's books.

The writer's heirs are sure that it was only about `` tangible goods '', such as souvenirs, clothing, accessories and etc. `` The Agreement did not include rights to operate property in electronic or digital form, other intangible assets, such as modern services, '' the documents say.

The foundation claims to have learned about the misuse of their property through spam emails when they were asked to participate in the game Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Online Slot Game ". The plaintiffs later found out that the Warner Bros. plans to release traditional slot machines based on the works of Tolkien.

Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction against illegal use of their property, as well as compensation for damages in the amount of $ 80 million.