Tolkien Estate Sues Over Lord of the Rings Slot Machines 211
An anonymous reader writes "The Tolkien Estate has filed an $80 million copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court over the use of Lord of the Rings slot machines. The complaint hinges on a contract between the estate and Warner Bros. which allows the creation of LotR merchandise but not LotR 'intangibles,' like the experience of playing a slot machine game. According to the estate (PDF), 'Not only does the production of gambling games patently exceed the scope of defendants' rights, but this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works.'"
Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:3, Insightful)
...have enough FUCKING money yet?
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't Warner Brothers have enough money yet without making LotR slot machines?
How dare they... (Score:5, Insightful)
How dare they attempt to flagrantly abuse the creative works created by an author 80 years ago, when the great-grandchildren of said author deserve a life of luxury for all of their blood, sweat and tears!
Get some (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:4, Insightful)
None of us know whether WB have the rights to make the slot machines, whether for casinos or Toys-R-Us, as we haven't read the contracts.
We also don't know that money will soothe the estate's hurt feelings. If the parties settle and the slot machines remain, then it was about the money. If they settle and the machines go, or it goes to trial and the estate insists all along that the machines must go, then it isn't (at least entirely) about the money. It is too soon to rush to judgement on this.
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:How dare they... (Score:2, Insightful)
1 The literary estate of an author is often the only thing he has to give to his children --- and that is an incentive to be productive.
Whereas everybody else only has a small amount of real and personal property to bequeath.
Property purchased with the money derived from one's life's work.
I'm failing to understand why authors should get some special deal.