We have an update for you regarding the legal battle between New Line Cinema and the estate of J.R.R Tolkien. It was decreed that punitive damages have been stripped from the case. We get the scoop from the justice caves of Yahoo:
Tolkien’s heirs claim New Line Cinema has failed to pay any royalties from the estimated $6 billion they say the movie has grossed worldwide. The lawsuit is seeking more than $150 million in compensatory damages based on breach of contract, fraud and other claims.
The charity’s trustees, which include Tolkien’s heirs, joined publisher HarperCollins to sue the studio in February. Besides damages, the lawsuit seeks a court order that would terminate New Line’s rights to make a two-film prequel based on “The Hobbit.”
So if I am to understand this correctly (and I may not be) the estate of J.R.R. is still able to proceed with the lawsuit, but punitive damages have been removed from the list. Compensation is still being sought and the desire to put a halt to the progress of The Hobbit still exists. I want to see the Hobbit and certainly hope they get this matter settled pronto.
It’s a shame that New Line and the trust of Tolkien cannot come to a mutually beneficial agreement. In memory of J.R.R., and with respect to his work, I hope everyone keeps it classy and considers him in all of this. WWJRRTD?
For those of you interested in the case – I suggest you mull over all the details that the source article has to offer.
if this messes up the hobbit, then i’m mad. just pay the money!! i loved LOTR so im looking foward to the hobbit. anything Del Torro directs is brilliant
I remember back in 2001 how I thought LOTR was going to suck because it was produced by New Line Cinema. Fortunately, the movies were awesome. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that NEw Line still and has always sucked.
As much as I am a fan of the series and of the original author, I accept that any great work should be adapted if possible and we’ve seen that middle earth adaptions are possible.
Just pay the people and get on with The Hobbit says I.