Hobbit Pony Sued : Othor Games

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:33 am

Would you kindly remove that "huzzah"? I own the rights of that word.

I just got rights to your location and I say that you can no longer be from S?o Paulo.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:31 am

That's true - they shouldn't be using anything from the movie without permission, but the Hobbit name should NOT be an issue - it is almost common usage now

So get rid of the imagery and say it's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_%28unit%29

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:49 pm

I'm thinking split it into two words with a space.. the HOB BIT

And when people ask what the hell a 'HOB' is, they can say; "It's something that pisses off Hollywood." :cool:

That right there is brilliant.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:04 am

- Copyright the word "God" and "Lord".
- Sue every prayer in the world.
- ???
- Profit!

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:55 pm

That's true - they shouldn't be using anything from the movie without permission, but the Hobbit name should NOT be an issue - it is almost common usage now

I agree. It was a mistake to use assets from the film and they should stop doing that, but otherwise, the lawsuit sounds pretty vexatious. A quick Google makes it sound like the pub (and other small businesses) are collateral damage in a spat involving some z-list producer over the rights to the film version of The Hobbit.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:51 pm

"and the face of Lord of the Rings film star Elijah Wood on its loyalty card."

If they are using photos from the movies I can see where they can get into trouble.

» Mon May 14, 2012 9:05 pm

I'm familiar with the basic things about copyright and from how I've understood it, if something is created or named with something that is later copyrighted, they cannot be sued...
Or it might just be me thinking of how it should be if we think logically...

I don't know what to say...

But yeah, the movie thing is an entirely different subject. Those pictures are most likely protected, but the name The Hobbit, is not. (unless the copyright protection actually is older than the pub.. which I doubt.)

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:42 pm

She should change the sign to read "Haubit"

Or "The Hobbet"/"The Hobbett" in keeping with the unit of measurement. I doubt they could sue for that, as long as they don't use any copyrighted imagery.

I sincerely hope Peter Jackson has nothing to do with this. I have more respect for him than that.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:29 pm

That's pathetic. The book it bases its ideas on is over 70 years old, but now some [censored]tards who own the rights to a movie made decades after that pub opened think they have the right to close it down. Copyright law is a [censored] joke.

I agree. I don't like The Lord of The Rings either. But still, they are using a name. And the big shots of the plaintiff side are only interested in establishing their power. I should copyright the word "sue" so when big companies sue each other for millions, I get the money because I will call copyright infringement on those suing each other.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:16 am

So get rid of the imagery and say it's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_%28unit%29 :smile:

This IS brilliant - I think the Hobbit name is safe to use

» Mon May 14, 2012 9:07 am

Rename the pub "The Green Dragon".

I'd say rename it "The Prancing Pony", but that's probably copyrighted as well. Will the lawsuit be dropped if they stop using images from the film on the loyalty cards etc; I wonder?

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:23 pm

Yet another reason why I hate Hollywood.

The case will probably be dropped though, it doesn't really seem like the lawyers have much of a case considering the pub was made before the movies.

They might have to change their call card though.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:22 am

I tire of big film and music shenanigans with copyright, which is turning into far more a liability of financial bullying and frivolous litigation-inducing bureaucratic court mess than a protection of works. I hope the Hobbit pub wins and film studios get told to stick it where the sun doesn't shine, and hell, tell copyright to do the same while they're at it..

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:51 am

So get rid of the imagery and say it's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit_%28unit%29 :smile:

if you read that article further you'll find that even as a unit of measurement there have been legal issues. unrelated to the J.R tolkien books.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:20 pm

if you read that article further you'll find that even as a unit of measurement there have been legal issues. unrelated to the J.R tolkien books.

It just shows to prove that as long as there are hobbits, there will be unrest in the law.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:54 pm

I hope the Hobbit pub wins

They can't win. They can't even fight. Just to take it to court would cost them tens of thousands of dollars, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. A little town pub doesn't have that kind of money.

Even if they DID win, now they've got a $100,000 worth of legal fees to pay.

They will most likely settle outside of court nice and quiet, like the Hollywood people like, and change everything in the pub.

Don't you love lawyers?

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:46 pm

They can't win. They can't even fight. Just to take it to court would cost them tens of thousands of dollars, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. A little town pub doesn't have that kind of money.

Even if they DID win, now they've got a $100,000 worth of legal fees to pay.

They will most likely settle outside of court nice and quiet, like the Hollywood people like, and change everything in the pub.

Don't you love lawyers?

Lawyers are just doing their job, but it's copyright and [censored] politicians letting the film and music industry write ridiculous legislation that I don't like.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:35 am

I agree. I don't like The Lord of The Rings either. But still, they are using a name. And the big shots of the plaintiff side are only interested in establishing their power. I should copyright the word "sue" so when big companies sue each other for millions, I get the money because I will call copyright infringement on those suing each other.

You mistake intent. I love LotR, both the books and the movies. I just hate corporate [censored] like this.

I was unaware that the pub used actual movie-specific content, like those pictures. I can understand them getting sued for that, but all the rest should be left alone. They damn sure shouldn't have to change their name.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:08 pm

The LotR films were in the works for years and years weren't they? If so then I imagine the copyright, or trademark, or whatever, probably does run that far back...

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:44 pm

The LotR films were in the works for years and years weren't they? If so then I imagine the copyright, or trademark, or whatever, probably does run that far back...

I'm not really inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the corporate bullies personally; even if that were the case, is it acceptable for them to push around the little guy like this? It's not as if a small backwater pub is going to make the slightest bit of difference to their profits.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:04 am

I thought the family, or im not to sure whether it was a book company that own the rights and only licensed it out to the film company, i dont think they own the rights, theyve only got a license from the owners of the rights, so if i was the pub id be finding out who really owns the rights and go to them, and if the film company is only licensed to use the name, then get permission from the owners, and tell the US film company to stick it.

Also funny thing is that Tolkien actually would have really hated this sort of thing happening, and LOTR was adapted from the worlds mythology, ive watched interviews with him and he says basically the books are taken from here and there.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:22 pm

But here's where I read mine at incase people want more on it (assuming they are even that different from eachother)
http://torrentfreak.com/hollywood-lawyers-threaten-hobbit-pub-120313/

isn't the last few bits in that article enough to win a court case outright?

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:24 pm

GRRR! this [censored] makes me mad.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:40 pm

Looks like this isn't the first time it's http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15825960

I'm all for the pub being allowed to keep it's name but I can see where the lawyers are coming from with Elijah Wood's face on the loyalty cards and stuff

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:00 pm

Looks like this isn't the first time it's http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15825960

That guy's sounding like a real knob end.