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.'"
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:4, Informative)
The problem with copyright is that you either defend it or lose it
No. [wikipedia.org]
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:2, Informative)
They should have lost it in 1973.
Re:Doesn't the Tolkien estate... (Score:4, Informative)
Taking a flippant comment seriously:
Ngaruahoe, which played Mt Doom for the distant shots, is not erupting. Ruapehu, an adjacent larger vulcano which played Mt Doom in some of the close ups, has recently had its warning levels upgraded. It also is not erupting, but is considered more likely than normal to erupt in the near future. Nearby Tongariro (opposite side of Ngaruahoe from Ruapehu) had a brief minor eruption in August.