$80 Million Lord of the Rings Tolkien Estate Lawsuit Has Finally Been Settled
Turn back the clock back into 2012 when Tolkien’s Hobbit was just about to come to the big screen. It was at this time that a lawsuit against Warner Bros began. The Tolkien Estate is a collective of fiercely protective people who represent the interests of the late J.R.R Tolkien, it was this collective who found issue with with Warner Bros claiming they had exploited Tolkien’s characters through digital merchandising that they did not have the rights for. Now a recent court filing indicates that the lawsuit has finally ended leaving both parties pleased with the result.
The lawsuit began over the Estates claims that the production of gambling machines which began to show up in Las Vegas and other gambling venues outraged Tolkien’s devoted fanbase and tarnished the legacy of his name and his works. They also claimed that Warner Bros was only allowed to merchandise the characters through tangible means such as clothing and figurines. This was followed by Warner Bros as they counter sued the Tolkien Estate claiming they were preventing them from using the characters as they wanted which caused them a loss in millions of dollars.
While the lawsuit has finally been settled the details have not been shared, however both companies have explained that they have come to an agreement which both are pleased with by releasing this statement, “The parties are pleased that they have amicably resolved this matter and look forward to working together in the future.”
With the lawsuit settled what does this mean for the future of Tolkien films or games? Let us know what you thought about the Tolkien Estates v Warner Bros lawsuit in the comments section below. As always, don’t forget to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter for 24/7 coverage of all things gaming and entertainment.
Chris Calles1560 Posts
Known as "Stash" or Yippee Calles. He's a student of everything, avid adrenaline junkie, and creator of random things. When he's not delving into a game, book, or movie - He's out teaching himself new things or taking part in some pretty epic adventures. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.
