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davem · 03-03-2011, 04:05 AM

So.... what we have:

The Tolkien Estate has, over recent months prevented publication of at least a couple of non-fiction books (Books of Jonah & Wheelbarrows at Dawn), the publication of a fantasy series (cf the mention on Boing Boing - which the Estate's lawyers did not dispute), are attempting to ban & pulp an existing novel (self published & which without their intervention would probably have sold a few hundred copies & then vanished without trace, but which through their legal action has resulted in stories being run across the media, including major news sites like the Guardian & the Mail, & has even got a mention on the New York Times site: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/fashion/03Crib.html ). To top this catalogue of disasters off the cumulative effect of all this is that a story can be run stating that they have threatened legal action over the selling of a badge that mentions Tolkien's name - & even the Estate's strongest supporters believe that to be true based on the recent actions of the Estate & their lawyers.

I'd say the Estate's reputation is looking pretty poor, & that they've no-one to blame but themselves.

And now, let's ask what harm, exactly, would have resulted from letting Jonah & Wheelbarrows go ahead, & ignoring Mirkwood? None at all. The Estate have been stupid & shot themselves in the foot repeatedly..

03-03-2011, 04:05 AM	#60
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	So.... what we have: The Tolkien Estate has, over recent months prevented publication of at least a couple of non-fiction books (Books of Jonah & Wheelbarrows at Dawn), the publication of a fantasy series (cf the mention on Boing Boing - which the Estate's lawyers did not dispute), are attempting to ban & pulp an existing novel (self published & which without their intervention would probably have sold a few hundred copies & then vanished without trace, but which through their legal action has resulted in stories being run across the media, including major news sites like the Guardian & the Mail, & has even got a mention on the New York Times site: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/fashion/03Crib.html ). To top this catalogue of disasters off the cumulative effect of all this is that a story can be run stating that they have threatened legal action over the selling of a badge that mentions Tolkien's name - & even the Estate's strongest supporters believe that to be true based on the recent actions of the Estate & their lawyers. I'd say the Estate's reputation is looking pretty poor, & that they've no-one to blame but themselves. And now, let's ask what harm, exactly, would have resulted from letting Jonah & Wheelbarrows go ahead, & ignoring Mirkwood? None at all. The Estate have been stupid & shot themselves in the foot repeatedly.. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."