NEW YORK–The companies that own the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” books are suing a New Jersey company for publishing a four-volume DVD compilation on the books.
Saul Zaentz Co., which owns the trademarks and related intellectual property rights for the LOTR books, films and merchandise, and New Line Cinema contend that Kultur has infringed the Tolkien copyrights by making and selling the DVD set “Inside Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.”
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The book’s characters are featured in the recent “Lord of the Rings” films and merchandise.
Each of the defendants’ four DVDs focuses on an individual volume of the Tolkien books, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to halt the alleged infringement as well as an unspecified amount in damages.
Anthony Keats of Keats McFarland & Wilson in Beverly Hills is representing the plaintiffs.
Case Name: Saul Zaentz Co. d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises and New Line Cinema v. Kultur International Films
Cite: U.S. CD California CV04-0340
