Comments on: Tolkien Battle Goes To Court http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/ News and gossip surrounding the hobbit movies Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Robhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1515 Rob Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:04:27 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1515 This situation happens again and again in the entertainment business. Film companies agree to royalty arrangements so they can use the works of writers, then later use accounting skulduggery to try to weasel out of them - e.g., claiming that because there was no profit (you can usually find enough expenses to make profits disappear), no royalties are owed. What's interesting in this case is that the trust apparently made a deal based on revenue, which is very smart. It should have reduced the danger of accounting tricks, but still the trust alleges that company is cheating them. Judges can be very harsh with movie companies when they get exposed for this kind of thing, and the Tolkien trust has the money to mount a good lawsuit. You have to wonder why New Line would even bother trying. Maybe they thought they could appease the TT until after the Hobbit gets released by making a bigger royalty promise if they held off - the old 'double or nothing' approach. After all, the $220 million in question is likely more than enough to make the film, so it means a lot to NLC. Guess there's a shortage of good people in high places. Gandalf would know a thing or two about that! This situation happens again and again in the entertainment business. Film companies agree to royalty arrangements so they can use the works of writers, then later use accounting skulduggery to try to weasel out of them – e.g., claiming that because there was no profit (you can usually find enough expenses to make profits disappear), no royalties are owed. What’s interesting in this case is that the trust apparently made a deal based on revenue, which is very smart. It should have reduced the danger of accounting tricks, but still the trust alleges that company is cheating them.

Judges can be very harsh with movie companies when they get exposed for this kind of thing, and the Tolkien trust has the money to mount a good lawsuit. You have to wonder why New Line would even bother trying. Maybe they thought they could appease the TT until after the Hobbit gets released by making a bigger royalty promise if they held off – the old ‘double or nothing’ approach. After all, the $220 million in question is likely more than enough to make the film, so it means a lot to NLC.

Guess there’s a shortage of good people in high places. Gandalf would know a thing or two about that!

]]> By: MeowCathttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 MeowCat Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:47:45 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1497 I guess I don't understand how the movie people think they have a case. The original deal was for 7.5%. They have not been honoring that? I guess I don’t understand how the movie people think they have a case. The original deal was for 7.5%. They have not been honoring that?

]]> By: Dain Heliushttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Dain Helius Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:51:39 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1491 I was 16 when i saw the fellowship and a year before hand i had bought and read most of Tolkien's work, it would be a shame to see the trust lose this case, I'd like to be able to see a director take a stab at The Silmarrilion someday... and hey $220 million has got to add to the likelyhood of it being made right? (haphazard narrative aside) I was 16 when i saw the fellowship and a year before hand i had bought and read most of Tolkien’s work, it would be a shame to see the trust lose this case, I’d like to be able to see a director take a stab at The Silmarrilion someday… and hey $220 million has got to add to the likelyhood of it being made right? (haphazard narrative aside)

]]> By: Liza Hamlinhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1485 Liza Hamlin Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:30:59 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1485 Fork it over Newline, Tolkien was a man of his word, 7.5 is a small price to pay for the masterpieces he created! Fork it over Newline, Tolkien was a man of his word, 7.5 is a small price to pay for the masterpieces he created!

]]> By: adyhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1430 ady Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:02:14 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1430 That's a very good point James. Being an actor though, you're probably biased ;-) That’s a very good point James. Being an actor though, you’re probably biased ;-)

]]> By: James Woodhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1429 James Wood Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:47:55 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1429 I think that this trilogy encouraged more people to read the books and they made it more accessable for our youth, so more books will have been sold because of it, i think they are even. I think that this trilogy encouraged more people to read the books and they made it more accessable for our youth, so more books will have been sold because of it, i think they are even.

]]> By: Harmony Aquarianhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1428 Harmony Aquarian Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:49:59 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1428 I took these guys to court with no joy, over employment and animal welfare issues. I hope that the Tolkien family has more luck. The film industry is not about art, in my own experience. I am an ex Rider of Rohan. I took these guys to court with no joy, over employment and animal welfare issues. I hope that the Tolkien family has more luck. The film industry is not about art, in my own experience. I am an ex Rider of Rohan.

]]> By: Rarahttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 Rara Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:41:36 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1399 I agree with Betty... sure they should pay, and if 7.5% was the deal, they should be true to their given word. I agree with Betty… sure they should pay, and if 7.5% was the deal, they should be true to their given word.

]]> By: Bettyhttp://the-hobbit-movie.com/2009/06/02/tolkien-trust-verses-new-line-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-1387 Betty Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:47:11 +0000 http://the-hobbit-movie.com/?p=214#comment-1387 Thanks to Dr. Tolkien we have these masterpieces, so NLC should compensate the Tolkien family and Trustfund. They will have nothing without Master Tolkien! Thanks to Dr. Tolkien we have these masterpieces, so NLC should compensate the Tolkien family and Trustfund.
They will have nothing without Master Tolkien!

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