The Lord of the Rings trilogy, originally published in 1954-55, is one of the most beloved and influential works of 20th century literature. Its characters, themes, and adventures, set in the fictional land of Middle-earth, have captivated fans around the world and created a vast, vibrant Tolkien fandom. Unfortunately, this fandom is often roiled by arguments and confusion when it comes to the rights to the Lord of the Rings and its related works.
The chaos is the result of a complex tangle of legal rights, often referred to by fans and scholars as the “Copyrights Maze.” According to the Encyclopedia of Arda, the rights to the Lord of the Rings belong to several parties: J.R.R. Tolkien’s estate, HarperCollins (and its predecessors), The Saul Zaentz Company, New Line Cinema, and various governmental bodies and organizations.
Tolkien’s estate originally retained the copyright to the books until it was later transferred to HarperCollins. The Saul Zaentz Company then acquired the rights from HarperCollins, and today holds the rights to the books and all related characters, objects, and places. New Line Cinema holds the film rights to the Lord of the Rings films, which were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
The complexity of the Copyrights Maze is only made worse by the presence of various locations, objects, and creatures from the works of Tolkien that have since become symbolic of Middle-earth and its culture. These include the White Tree of Gondor, the One Ring, and of course, the elves and hobbits themselves.
Though the rights situation may appear complicated and slightly overwhelming, there is a basic guideline which fans and artists should bear in mind when working with material related to the Lord of the Rings: use only figures and elements created or sanctioned by the copyright holders. This includes artwork found on licensed sites such as the Tolkien Library and the various fan sites and social media pages sanctioned by Middle-earth Enterprises.
Ultimately, fans of the Lord of the Rings should remain mindful of the various rights issues and be respectful of the work of Tolkien and those who own or manage the rights to his work. Although confusion around intellectual property and copyright is understandable, it’s important to be aware of the complexity of the Copyrights Maze and the specific rights that each party holds. That way, everyone can enjoy and participate in Tolkien’s mythology without fear of infringing upon someone else’s rights.
