Save The Hobbit

[Beebo]

Is there something wrong here or am I being too romantic in the face of big business who paid good money for the naming rights?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17350103
BBC article on The Hobbit Pub being threatened with legal action by Hollywood.

The pub has been named The Hobbit for 20 years FFS.

 

[PpPete]

It was always the New Inn when I lived round the corner - and served proper beer too. Then they decided to go after the student market...

 

[Canrider]

There's a restaurant in Quebec City called Le Hobbit, been there for at least 25 years*. I'm sure there will be others around the world...


*Don't think they use images from the movie to promote themselves though, that might be the fatal mistake here.

 

[Yellow Fang]

They could rename it "The Halfling", or perhaps after that tavern they stayed at in Bree, or maybe "The Homofloresiensis".

 

[MontyVeda]

We used to have a pub called The Red Cross... then the Red Cross kicked up a stink and tried to get the pub to change its name... the pub proved it had been called the Red Cross for hundreds of years, far longer than thee Red Cross had existed. But the pub owners didn't ask thee Red Cross to change their name. The Red Cross pub is now flats.

 

[Beebo]

They could rename it "The Halfling", or perhaps after that tavern they stayed at in Bree, or maybe "The Homofloresiensis".

Marillion can do the benefit gig.

 

[Risex4]

Meh, what did they expect?

20 years is hardly a tradition forged over generations.

If it was merely called "The Hobbit" and therein finished the infringement, I'd be slightly more inclined to back their side. But character named cocktails, the font/design lettering, "and the face of Lord of the Rings film star Elijah Wood on its loyalty card." Dear oh dear. Thats simply asking for trouble.

Unless they can prove that Tolkien used to sit in that pub, puffing on a pipe whilst chatting to the locals and thinking "you're a funny chap, I can call you Bilbo and right a story about you" or some such yarn, then its entirely their own fault. And to be fair, that would only be a very limiting mitigation.

"How long do we need to protect works for? Do we protect the works of Mozart and Shakespeare?" That depends on the age of the publication and claims to renewel of copyright. Go and consult a lawyer dear. The ignorance of some is quite astounding.

Get your own identity and stop being lazy.

 

[2Loose]

Ah, but 20 years ago there wasn't an entire industry built on buying up copyright and threatening people with lawyers.

The concept of copyright belonging to the creator of the works are long since gone.

 

[Beebo]

Ah, but 20 years ago there wasn't an entire industry built on buying up copyright and threatening people with lawyers.

The concept of copyright belonging to the creator of the works are long since gone.

I think Risex4 is correct in that had they just stuck with a basic Hobbit name they would be OK, but using the face of Elijah Wood is asking for trouble. I suspect they may be hearing from Elijah Wood's agents too for Image rights abiuse.

 

[colly]

Gandalf's Kitchen. Kings Road Chelsea, back in the distant past of the 19...........? 60's ? 70's ? I don't know but it was there alright.

 

[colly]

Ah. Damn plagiarists............. tsk tsk, get in everywhere ...................mutter mutter

 

[Mr Phoebus]

Precious Wilson.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Why don't they just change the name to The Hobbitt - students wouldn't know the difference these days anyway, ignorant tosspots.

 

[colly]

Precious McKenzie..........MBE no less

 

[colly]

Why don't they just change the name to The Hobbitt - students wouldn't know the difference these days anyway, ignorant tosspots.

Just get on with yer cocoa!