Beyond the Tolkien Estate - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

goldwine · 03-15-2002, 08:50 PM

There could be a frigtening avalanche of really bad interpretations etc.etc. and a worse marketing blitz(I think the current stuff has been pretty tasteful on the whole!)

drigel · 12-29-2004, 09:08 AM

hmmm I wonder if the law would view CT as a contributing author to the work..

radagastly · 12-29-2004, 09:22 AM

If I were in the Tolkien family, I would certainly view Christopher as one of the authors of at least the Silmarillion material and the HoME etc. It's defendable in court, and it would extend the period of monetary value of the material. There are also legal trusts, etc. that could take charge of the estate (possibly) and extend the copyright even longer, even indefinitely. While it is based in a different country, there are still pieces of music by Mozart and Beethoven and other composers that maintain full copyrights a century or two later. It just depends on how attentive the family is, and how valuable the material remains. I would not expect free reign on Middle Earth material in most of our lifetimes. Sorry.

drigel · 12-29-2004, 09:28 AM

No offense to fanfic's, but I am glad to see it that way. Mabye there could be in the future (with the help of a creative minded estate member) a series of "approved" novels - 'a la the Star Wars Universe.

Bêthberry · 12-29-2004, 09:59 AM

Eru protect us! Those Star Wars paperbacks are pulp fiction, based upon a movie script that hardly qualifies as formal literature per se. Could anything do justice to the original of Middle-earth, which is a highly developed work of prose? Holders of literary estates can be notoriously bad in using their authority. I would rather see nothing more carry a Tolkien imprimature.

But then, I'm grumpy this morning.

drigel · 12-29-2004, 10:06 AM

Im with ya Beth! IMO any attempt, no matter how well written or intentioned, would be wraith like compared to the original..

***Mister Underhill*** · 12-29-2004, 10:31 AM

I'm no loyer either, but from my seat on the periphery of the entertainment industry, I agree with radagastly -- I wager that Middle-earth rights will be tied up for many a long year to come. The Hobbit, for instance, is not expected to enter the U.S. public domain until 2032 at the earliest. I'm not sure how a book that's part of a larger setting like this is affected -- releasing Middle-earth and hobbits would arguably infringe on LotR, which would still be protected for another seventeen or eighteen years.

I'd say a greater danger to Middle-earth -- if in fact it really is a danger -- is the possibility that control of the Estate will fall into the hands of a less fastidious custodian than Christopher following his death.

There are movements afoot to extend copyright indefinitely, mostly so that corporations like Disney can continue to profit forever from certain big money-makers like Mickey Mouse. Even a cursory search on the web will reveal strong opposition to this movement. A short story called "Melancholy Elephants" by Spider Robinson sums up the views of the opposition.

davem · 12-29-2004, 01:46 PM

I've pointed this out elsewhere, but the Second Ed Sil is copyrighted:

Quote:

The JRR Tolkien Copyright Trust & CR Tolkien 1977.

& HoME has the same.

The new 50th Anniversary Edition of LotR is copyrighted:

Quote:

The Trustees of The JRR Tolkien 1967 Settlement.

I don't know whether there's a difference between copyright in an author's name & copyright owned by a 'trust'.

Let's face it, though, there is no-one (& there never will be) with Tolkien's knowledge of Middle earth, its languages, history & peoples and his storytelling abilities. Tolkien's creation was constantly evolving, & was never at any time 'fixed'. How could anyone step into his shoes?

03-15-2002, 08:50 PM	#1
goldwine Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Australia Posts: 64	There could be a frigtening avalanche of really bad interpretations etc.etc. and a worse marketing blitz(I think the current stuff has been pretty tasteful on the whole!) __________________ 2A Balrog. A demon from the underpants (Gandalf)

12-29-2004, 09:22 AM	#3
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	If I were in the Tolkien family, I would certainly view Christopher as one of the authors of at least the Silmarillion material and the HoME etc. It's defendable in court, and it would extend the period of monetary value of the material. There are also legal trusts, etc. that could take charge of the estate (possibly) and extend the copyright even longer, even indefinitely. While it is based in a different country, there are still pieces of music by Mozart and Beethoven and other composers that maintain full copyrights a century or two later. It just depends on how attentive the family is, and how valuable the material remains. I would not expect free reign on Middle Earth material in most of our lifetimes. Sorry. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

12-29-2004, 09:59 AM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Sometimes the road does not go ever on... Eru protect us! Those Star Wars paperbacks are pulp fiction, based upon a movie script that hardly qualifies as formal literature per se. Could anything do justice to the original of Middle-earth, which is a highly developed work of prose? Holders of literary estates can be notoriously bad in using their authority. I would rather see nothing more carry a Tolkien imprimature. But then, I'm grumpy this morning. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

12-29-2004, 09:08 AM	#2
drigel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: commonplace city Posts: 518	hmmm I wonder if the law would view CT as a contributing author to the work..

12-29-2004, 09:28 AM	#4
drigel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: commonplace city Posts: 518	No offense to fanfic's, but I am glad to see it that way. Mabye there could be in the future (with the help of a creative minded estate member) a series of "approved" novels - 'a la the Star Wars Universe.

12-29-2004, 10:06 AM	#6
drigel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: commonplace city Posts: 518	Im with ya Beth! IMO any attempt, no matter how well written or intentioned, would be wraith like compared to the original..

12-29-2004, 10:31 AM	#7
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	I'm no loyer either, but from my seat on the periphery of the entertainment industry, I agree with radagastly -- I wager that Middle-earth rights will be tied up for many a long year to come. The Hobbit, for instance, is not expected to enter the U.S. public domain until 2032 at the earliest. I'm not sure how a book that's part of a larger setting like this is affected -- releasing Middle-earth and hobbits would arguably infringe on LotR, which would still be protected for another seventeen or eighteen years. I'd say a greater danger to Middle-earth -- if in fact it really is a danger -- is the possibility that control of the Estate will fall into the hands of a less fastidious custodian than Christopher following his death. There are movements afoot to extend copyright indefinitely, mostly so that corporations like Disney can continue to profit forever from certain big money-makers like Mickey Mouse. Even a cursory search on the web will reveal strong opposition to this movement. A short story called "Melancholy Elephants" by Spider Robinson sums up the views of the opposition.