Tolkien Estate Threatens Lawsuit Over Book Featuring Tolkien As Character
The Tolkien Estate has sent a ‘Cease and Desist’ order over author Stephen Hilliard’s attempt to release his new book ” Mirkwood, A Novel About J.R.R. Tolkien”, which contains JRRT as a character and is described as an exercise in ‘literary criticism’.
On Feb 17th Hilliard filed suit against the Tolkien Estate arguing that his work should be allowed to be released under the First Amendment and fair use. You can read the full story here.
8 Comments
This is stupid. Tolkien created the world. Christopher is pretty much just expanding on how it was created. But, now this idiot wants to come in and change it. I don’t think so. Get out Hilliard. Leave the Middle Earth series as is. Start your own series as far away from Tolkien’s books as possible. Thank You 🙂
This seems to me like the author has just picked a random famous name (and Middle-earth concepts which are copyrighted, right?) to make curious people buy his book :7 I fully support the Estate’s attitude; I believe if JRRT himself was alive, he would have forbidden it as slandering.
There are many fanfiction sites that would gladly publish Mr Hillard’s piece if he wants to share it with the world- without him causing legal trouble by making any profit out of someone else’s name and realia 🙂
I hardly believe it. What a loser.
Go Tolkien Estate!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, Hilliard, but slander is, after all, one of the seven deadly sins. (Slander being, I believe, the basis of the book?)
Must love Tolkien. Buzz off, interloper.
The first amendment promises freedom of religion, press, and assembly; it does not protect against copyright. I have no idea why he thinks that is a legitimate argument or what is going through his head.
That’s riduclous. Go Tolkien Estate for protecting the legacy.