I never understand why Mithril was allowed to produce the Tale of Turin and Blacksword series in 90’s without any copyright issues. Maybe some wise members versed in Mithril history may tell the story?
I never understand why Mithril was allowed to produce the Tale of Turin and Blacksword series in 90’s without any copyright issues. Maybe some wise members versed in Mithril history may tell the story?
As far as I know in those “good old days” licences were not regarded that strict as they’re now. It also has to do with who is granting the licences. That has massively changed as now Christopher Tolkien is much more strict with such matters. – Unfortunately.
Nowadays (and for many years by now) all new Mithril-releases first have to be accepted by TE (?) before they’re allowed to be produced, as you know.
As far as I know in those “good old days” licences were not regarded that strict as they’re now. It also has to do with who is granting the licences. That has massively changed as now Christopher Tolkien is much more strict with such matters. – Unfortunately.
Nowadays (and for many years by now) all new Mithril-releases first have to be accepted by TE (?) before they’re allowed to be produced, as you know.
Christopher and the Tolkien Estate have absolutely nothing to do with the license of Mithril. This comes exclusively from Middle-earth Enterprises (MEE; formerly named Tolkien Enterprises – TE). The name change was probably to avoid misunderstandings ogf what the Estate is and what not. MEE is a copyright exploitation company founded to market the rights to games and films based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. These rights were sold by the Professor himself, and from this copyright sell the licenses for roleplaying games (i.e. MERP, LotRRPG, TOR), miniatures (e.g. Mithril, but also the GW range for Middle-earth wargames) and the big movies are derived.
All other rights (i.e. to all other books and the literary rights) stay with the Tolkien Estate. This split copyright situation is what makes thing so complicated. In the “old days”, copyright violations like the above mentioned Silmarillion-based Mithril ranges were more tolerated since there were not hundreds of millions of dollars involved (it was a rather small market compared to nowadays) and starting any great legal disputes was probably not worth the effort. MERP overstepped their license regularly (though often indirect, so they operated in a grey area) as well without major issues. IIRC the continuation of the Silmarillion-based ranges was banned since at last the Estate (not sure whether they were involved) and MEE (they were surely involved) reminded Mithril that this was not covered by their license.
Christopher is the primary actor for the Estate and he does not get very well along with all the movie stuff, and since the movies began it seems that the Estate is very keen in controlling that MEE does not overstep its license by adding things not included in said two books.
See, Master Mornedhel, you just have to tease an expert and soon have a reliable answer
Thank you very much indeed, Master Tolwen.
Also Master Gavin is a very reliable source … but I don’t know where he is at the moment.
all this matter may end up with Christopher (Tolkien, not Tubb here hehe) when he passes on.. I do not wish that of course! but I mean as main executor of the Tolkien Estate he is the one who is strongly against any bypass to create derived products of any kind for the work of his father. It is not a matter of money but respect for the work of JRRT.
Alas, LOTR and The Hobbit have NEVER been the property of Tolkien family and when you look at the profit all those who had the licence made, and the family got nothing, that can lead to hatred… both for financial reasons but for respect of the original work… some many products are.. derivated, in ALL the senses it means…
When Chris Tubb and Lars Edman learned that this domain was not covered by the licence of MEE, they also learned that they could be sued because not covered by ANY licence… and so, they did not take the risk to be sued by the Tolkien Estate because they perfectly know they would loose…
Prince August still hold a large stock of the two Turin series but cannot sell them anymore as Middle-Earth characters. On the mithril website you can find them on the loyalty figure section but if you pay little attention, you will note the “no-name” label on blister. The old blisters will continue to amass dust.
