Gambling's a really bad hobbit: Tolkien family and Warner Bros at war over LOTR slot machines
Gambling's a really bad hobbit: Tolkien family and Warner Bros at war over Lord of the Rings fruit machines
A shadow has fallen over Middle Earth, battle lines have been drawn and a daunting quest to protect the good names of Gandalf and the Hobbits of the Shire is currently underway.
But it isn't the dark forces of Sauron or the fiery breath of Smaug the dragon that threatens the peace of J.R.R. Tolkien's mystical land, but the hideous spectre of Lord of the Rings branded fruit machines.
The Tolkien estate, which is fiercely protective of the late author's work, is up in arms following the appearance of the gambling machines in Las Vegas casinos.
They claim the use of Tolkien's characters to promote gambling is a clear breach of contract and that it damages the good name of Tolkien and the reputation of the books.
Last year just days before the November premier of the Hobbit, they sued Warner Bros, In Line Cinema and Saul Zaentz owner of MIddle Earth Enterprises (MeE) which owns worldwide rights to elents of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings for at least $80million (£53million) over alleged exploitative merchandising.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293844/Gamblings-bad-hobbit-Tolkien-family-Warner-Bros-prepare-legal-battle-Lord-Rings-fruit-machines.html
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