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Mithalwen · 08-03-2006, 06:24 AM

I am not sure how much of the merchandising revenue the estate would have claim on - I imagine it rather depends on the deal originally made way back when - I think one of our legal beagles made some comments on copyright a year or so ago but I am not sure if it were Sauce or Mithadan. Interestingly the "book" names are trademarked to New Line/ Saul Zaentz not the Tolkien estate on the plastic figurines. However I have a spin off book that states that quotations from the original book are made with the permission of the Estate.... and the payment for this would surely count as an indirect royalty.

In an interview with Michael's grandson, he said that while they did benefit from the estate it wasn't riches beyond imagination and that they all worked...admittedly they probably have had the scope to chose congenial work without having to worry about keeping the wolf from the door. However it still suggests that as a family they have a fairly healthy attitude to the money.

08-03-2006, 06:24 AM	#9
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I am not sure how much of the merchandising revenue the estate would have claim on - I imagine it rather depends on the deal originally made way back when - I think one of our legal beagles made some comments on copyright a year or so ago but I am not sure if it were Sauce or Mithadan. Interestingly the "book" names are trademarked to New Line/ Saul Zaentz not the Tolkien estate on the plastic figurines. However I have a spin off book that states that quotations from the original book are made with the permission of the Estate.... and the payment for this would surely count as an indirect royalty. In an interview with Michael's grandson, he said that while they did benefit from the estate it wasn't riches beyond imagination and that they all worked...admittedly they probably have had the scope to chose congenial work without having to worry about keeping the wolf from the door. However it still suggests that as a family they have a fairly healthy attitude to the money. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 03-28-2007 at 11:29 AM.