So, a few days ago the story broke about how a fanfic writer was trying to extract $250 million dollars from Amazon and the Tolkien Estate. After a bit of poking around the best account of it I saw on the internet is a piece on the PC Gamer site by Tyler Wilde:
https://www.pcgamer.com/rings-of-power-lawsuit
According to them, the sequence of events seems to have run roughly like this.
1. Fanfic author Demetrius Polychron registers the copyright for a novel called THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING (sic). (2017)
2. D. sends a letter to Simon Tolkien (JRR's grandson) describing the book and asking for the Estate to review the Ms. The Estate ignores query.
3. D. hires a lawyer, who renews his idea of collaboration. (2019)
4. The very next day, the Tolkien Estate, who don't fool around when it comes to protecting JRRT's copyrights, rejects any idea of collaboration.
5. D. personally delivers a copy of his Ms to Simon T's home.
6. Receiving no reply, D. asks for his Ms back and informs S.T. of his plans to self-publish the book and six sequels.
7. D's book is published (September 2022)
8. D. sues Amazon and the Tolkien Estate for $250,000,000.
9. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING disappears from Amazon. (April 21st 2023)
For those who are curious, a plot summary of the book can be found at the Fractal Books site:
Long before the arrival of Annatar, the original Rings of Power were forged by Celebrimbor and Narvi in Eregion near the Misty Mountains. These first magic Rings were far more powerful than those that came after and were corrupted by Sauron to be fought for in the War of the Ring.
Elanor, daughter of Samwise, is nervous the night before her debutante party in the Shire. In the 22nd year of the reign of the High King Elessar the Blue Wizards return from out of the East bearing perilous news: the rest of the Rings of Power have been found and they are in deadly danger. Thus begins the War of the Rings to End All Wars of the Rings. Before it is over Elves, Hobbits, Dwarves, Men and magical races long forgotten or never seen before will join the Quest for Celebrimbor’s originals and the last of Sauron’s corrupted Rings of Power.
Elanor, two Hobbit friends, the Crown Prince Eldarion of Gondor, his Elvish uncles the Princes Elladan and Elrohir of Gondor join the Wizards Alatar and Pallando of Aman in a war across Middle-earth fighting for their lives.
If they fail, they will witness the return of the Valar Morgoth, the source of Evil and former Master of the long defeated Sauron. With all the Rings of Power at his command, Morgoth will enslave the whole of Middle-earth – forever.
https://www.pcgamer.com/rings-of-power-lawsuit
No comments:
Post a Comment