Evidently there is a clause in the contract that allows termination of rights in case of breach. That's how the family is trying to stop the Hobbit films.
The article quotes one expert saying that the family has a good case.
From: Helsinki | Registered: Aug 2001
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And termination for material breach is a common princple in contract law. It's only that US law handles that principle rather ineptly and that these contracts are rather complicated that causes a lot of problems in this case.
From: Amsterdam, Netherlands | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I'd love to see the studio concede and relinquish the movie rights rather than pay the money.
Perhaps the next Tolkien films to be made will have the full involvement and blessing of the estate and not be such an affront as PJ's movies.
From: Blacksburg, VA | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Looks like they settled it. I agree with Roberts though; I would have liked to see the film rights revoked, but looks like they're going to get made after all. I'm glad the heirs and charity won't be robbed anymore at the least, and hope some genuine good will come from the profits this time.
posted
I think in this case it was lawyers helping good triumph. Just because you like the movies doesn't mean the studio gets to steal money from Tolkien's children and charities.
And I think it is bizarre that they won't disclose the settlement. If they are paying the charity, it releases its figures annually so we can see how much the studio paid.
[ 09-09-2009, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: Thorin ]
From: Helsinki | Registered: Aug 2001
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