New interview with Christopher Tolkien

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Thanks for that link, davem. I think the interview explains a great deal about the reasoning the Estate might have in being so mulishly opposed to third-party uses of Tolkien's work. Yes, there are probably instances in which permission to use the character names and likenesses could be harmlessly granted, .

The estate doesn't own the names though - they are all TMs of the Saul Zaentz company, As for things like the pub names... there are 2 pub restaurants locally with Hobbit in the title. One has had no trouble the one that has had trouble was due to them selling merchandise with the names on and was resolved by paying a very modest licencing fee.

I have had a quick look at the original and it is quite interesting to read the comments of the French readers.