More Litigation to Proceed Between Tolkien Estate and Warner Bros.

As I have previously discussed, the estate of J.R.R. Tolkiensued Warner Bros. and the Saul Zaentz Co. in November 2012, claiming the estatenever granted rights to license characters for slot machines and online gamesin a 1969 agreement.  Both companiescounterclaimed, contending the estate repudiated earlier grants and were inbreach of contract.  The companiesalleged the estate’s legal challenge cost them “millions of dollars in licensefees” from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit merchandising.

Tolkien’s estate motioned to dismiss these counterclaims asbeing a mere effort to stifle their legal challenge using priceylitigation.  U.S. District Court JudgeAudrey B. Collins disagreed with the estate, refusing to dismiss thecounterclaims.

See Ted Johnson, JUDGE: Warner Bros. Can Pursue ‘Lord of theRings’ Dispute with Tolkien Estate, Variety, July 11, 2013.