Film Rights to First & Second Age - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sauron the White · 12-17-2007, 10:42 AM

People would do well to pick up a copy of LOTR and read the Appendicies. Right there in Appendix A, Section I The Numenorean Kings (1) Numenor, there is a wealth of information that gives a filmamker tons of material. The following are mentioned in this section of LOTR:
Feanor and some of his actions, the Eldar, the Silmarils, the Two Trees, Morgoth and some of his actions, Thangorodrim, the exile of Feanor and the emigration of his people to Middle-earth, the war of the Eldar and Edain against Morgoth, the coming of the Edain to Middle-earth. There is listing of Luthien and Beren, Idril and Tuor, the lineage of those people and some of their actions including the taking of a silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth, Dior and Elwing and the keeping of the silmaril. Gondolin and some of its people are listed. There is information about Earendil and his activities.

and then it says this:

"Of these things the full tale, and much else concerning Elves and Men, is told in The SIlmarililon."

And a ton of more information, even more detailed follows.

Consider these dates of progression:
1955 Return of the King is published containing the above information.
1969 JRRT sells films rights to LOTR including the above information
1973 JRRT dies.
1977 Christopher Tolkien oversees publication of a book length SILMARILLION expanding on much of the above information with much more added.

Consider that the film rights to the above information now lie in the hands of New Line Cinema and then Saul Zaentz when they expire in a couple of years.

Consider that Appendix describes these events and directly mentions The Silmarillion as the source of this information.

Consider that JRRT - in his lifetime - never published anything, or copyrighted anything which would change the rights he sold away.

Consider that Christopher Tolkien had published and copyrighted THE SILMARALLION four years after his fathers death and some eight years after the film rights to that material were sold.

Is it not possible, that a sharp legal staff with some innovative thinking, could well claim that they own the films rights to that material and anything published later and made known to the public can be used by them as well since it only details material which they already owned and had use of?

Could it not be legally argued that CT causing to be published the SIL after his fathers death, was the unfair diminishing of rights his father had already sold and were legally owned by others?

Yes, this would indeed be pushing the envelope and an attempt to expand upon what many now believe the film rights are constituted of. And yes, it would be an end run around the idea that THE SILMARALLION cannot be touched by New Line, Zaentz, Jackson or anyone else. But could it happen?

12-17-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Film Rights to First & Second Age People would do well to pick up a copy of LOTR and read the Appendicies. Right there in Appendix A, Section I The Numenorean Kings (1) Numenor, there is a wealth of information that gives a filmamker tons of material. The following are mentioned in this section of LOTR: Feanor and some of his actions, the Eldar, the Silmarils, the Two Trees, Morgoth and some of his actions, Thangorodrim, the exile of Feanor and the emigration of his people to Middle-earth, the war of the Eldar and Edain against Morgoth, the coming of the Edain to Middle-earth. There is listing of Luthien and Beren, Idril and Tuor, the lineage of those people and some of their actions including the taking of a silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth, Dior and Elwing and the keeping of the silmaril. Gondolin and some of its people are listed. There is information about Earendil and his activities. and then it says this: "Of these things the full tale, and much else concerning Elves and Men, is told in The SIlmarililon." And a ton of more information, even more detailed follows. Consider these dates of progression: 1955 Return of the King is published containing the above information. 1969 JRRT sells films rights to LOTR including the above information 1973 JRRT dies. 1977 Christopher Tolkien oversees publication of a book length SILMARILLION expanding on much of the above information with much more added. Consider that the film rights to the above information now lie in the hands of New Line Cinema and then Saul Zaentz when they expire in a couple of years. Consider that Appendix describes these events and directly mentions The Silmarillion as the source of this information. Consider that JRRT - in his lifetime - never published anything, or copyrighted anything which would change the rights he sold away. Consider that Christopher Tolkien had published and copyrighted THE SILMARALLION four years after his fathers death and some eight years after the film rights to that material were sold. Is it not possible, that a sharp legal staff with some innovative thinking, could well claim that they own the films rights to that material and anything published later and made known to the public can be used by them as well since it only details material which they already owned and had use of? Could it not be legally argued that CT causing to be published the SIL after his fathers death, was the unfair diminishing of rights his father had already sold and were legally owned by others? Yes, this would indeed be pushing the envelope and an attempt to expand upon what many now believe the film rights are constituted of. And yes, it would be an end run around the idea that THE SILMARALLION cannot be touched by New Line, Zaentz, Jackson or anyone else. But could it happen? Last edited by Sauron the White; 12-17-2007 at 10:45 AM.