July 03, 2017
Warner Bros. and the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien have announced a settlement in an $80 million copyright dispute in which each side said the other breached an agreement over the rights to "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" merchandise, according to a stipulation to dismiss filed in California federal court.
April 13, 2015
J.R.R. Tolkien's estate on Monday told a California federal judge that Warner Bros. Digital Distribution Inc. can't see more than 3,000 communications between Tolkien's son and his lawyer in the estate's $80 million copyright suit over Middle Earth-themed gambling games, arguing business matters in the correspondence are still shielded by attorney-client privilege.
July 22, 2014
A California federal judge on Tuesday denied Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.'s bid to keep Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP from representing J.R.R. Tolkien's estate in an $80 million copyright suit over "The Lord of the Rings"-themed gambling games, saying Greenberg made concessions that mooted the motion.
June 10, 2014
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. urged a California federal judge on Monday to disqualify Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP from representing J.R.R. Tolkien's estate in an $80 million copyright suit over "The Lord of the Rings"-themed gambling games, saying the firm "impermissibly gained access to privileged information."
July 11, 2013
A California federal judge on Thursday said Warner Bros.' allegation that J.R.R. Tolkien's estate breached an agreement over the rights to "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" video games and gambling games wasn't a meritless retaliation for the estate's $80 million copyright suit.
March 29, 2013
J.R.R. Tolkien's estate on Thursday fought a counterclaim in its $80 million copyright and contracts suit against a Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. unit that is developing "The Lord of the Rings"-themed gambling games, arguing the company is trying to sue the estate for being sued.