Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
09-29-12, 07:58 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
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Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
WTF are you talking about?
ETA:
My work blocks the hosting site for that poster (checked it on my phone), so the combo of your title and an OP of just text really did make me say "WTF?".
ETA:
My work blocks the hosting site for that poster (checked it on my phone), so the combo of your title and an OP of just text really did make me say "WTF?".
09-29-12, 11:01 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
I know Asylum puts out these things all the time, but I'm surprised they can legally use the word 'hobbits'. Thought that was owned by Tolkien's estate.
09-30-12, 12:38 AM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
However, I would expect that to change at some point. Hollywood has a lot of movies that will eventually enter the public domain, and I really doubt that they will let them lapse into the pubic domain without a fight.
10-27-12, 03:51 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
Is that Chris Judge (aka Teal'c)? IMDB doesn't have much on this.
10-27-12, 04:02 PM
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
Ninety-five years after the publication date, I think, is what would probably apply to LOTR. It is ninety-five years after first publication for works before 197x; something published after that would enter the public domain seventy years after the author's death.
However, I would expect that to change at some point. Hollywood has a lot of movies that will eventually enter the public domain, and I really doubt that they will let them lapse into the pubic domain without a fight.
However, I would expect that to change at some point. Hollywood has a lot of movies that will eventually enter the public domain, and I really doubt that they will let them lapse into the pubic domain without a fight.
In 1998, all copyrights that had not expired already were all automatically extended by 20 years (from a 75 year max to the current 95 year max) in a bill that the late Sonny Bono sponsored (he was in Congress before he died). Disney was lobbying hard for it because Mickey Mouse was close to passing into the Public Domain, so the bill was nicknamed the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act". Since the bill passed, nothing made after 1922 has automatically passed into the Public Domain. And now that 2018 is not that far away, I expect a new lobbying effort will start to extend it again.
10-27-12, 04:17 PM
#15
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Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
all this Public Domain crap scares me honestly. Just the way things are set up.
I'm still pissed that Universal never picked up Chaney's Phantom. Now we...ugh...Rains' Phantom movie. It's really really weak compared to Chaney's film..but that chandelier sequence is still pretty cool.
I'm still pissed that Universal never picked up Chaney's Phantom. Now we...ugh...Rains' Phantom movie. It's really really weak compared to Chaney's film..but that chandelier sequence is still pretty cool.
10-27-12, 04:36 PM
#16
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
“Age of the Hobbits is about the real-life human subspecies, Homo Floresiensis, discovered in 2003 in Indonesia, which have been uniformly referred to as ‘Hobbits’ in the scientific community. As such, the use of the term ‘Hobbits’ is protected under the legal doctrines of nominal and traditional fair use. Indeed, a simple Google search of Hobbits and archaeology reveals dozens of articles containing the term “Hobbit(s)” in the title.”
The Asylum rep says the studio already has taken one step to avoid confusion. “Age of the Hobbits is not about the creatures in Tolkien’s novels,” the rep says in a statement. “Indeed, the artwork contains a disclaimer immediately below the title to that effect.” [THR]
The Asylum rep says the studio already has taken one step to avoid confusion. “Age of the Hobbits is not about the creatures in Tolkien’s novels,” the rep says in a statement. “Indeed, the artwork contains a disclaimer immediately below the title to that effect.” [THR]
And this synopsis is where it pretty much falls apart...
Still, the Dec. 11 release date for the knockoff film -- three days before The Hobbit opens in the U.S. -- and the similar marketing materials suggest Asylum is at least trying to trade off the mega-marketing Warner Bros. is planning for its film. Plus, the description of the film on the Age of the Hobbits website suggests a Middle Earth-like setting:
“In an ancient age, the small, peace-loving Hobbits are enslaved by the Java Men, a race of flesh-eating dragon-riders. The young Hobbit Goben must join forces with their neighbor giants, the humans, to free his people and vanquish their enemies.”
“In an ancient age, the small, peace-loving Hobbits are enslaved by the Java Men, a race of flesh-eating dragon-riders. The young Hobbit Goben must join forces with their neighbor giants, the humans, to free his people and vanquish their enemies.”
Unless the Java Men are riding Komodo dragons I don't see how this flies.
10-28-12, 12:46 PM
#19
DVD Talk Hero
10-28-12, 12:49 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
As far as Tolkien ripoffs go, I'd rather watch this one:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bMW-ja_Rkdw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bMW-ja_Rkdw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
11-08-12, 09:40 AM
#23
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
No more threats. They are now being sued by "The Hobbit" producers.
http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-e...&utm_campaign=
http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-e...&utm_campaign=
11-08-12, 10:55 AM
#24
Re: Age of the Hobbits 12/11/12
No more threats. They are now being sued by "The Hobbit" producers.
http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-e...&utm_campaign=
http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-e...&utm_campaign=
From the complaint:
"The Asylum has been and is promoting and advertising its low-budget film using the confusingly similar and misleading title Age of the Hobbits, in an intentional and willful attempt (i) to trade on the popularity and goodwill associated with the Tolkien novels, the extraordinarily successful Lord of The Rings film trilogy, and the famous HOBBIT mark, (ii) to free-ride on the worldwide advertising campaign in connection with the forthcoming Hobbit films, and (iii) to divert customers and potential customers away from the Hobbit films."
"The Asylum has been and is promoting and advertising its low-budget film using the confusingly similar and misleading title Age of the Hobbits, in an intentional and willful attempt (i) to trade on the popularity and goodwill associated with the Tolkien novels, the extraordinarily successful Lord of The Rings film trilogy, and the famous HOBBIT mark, (ii) to free-ride on the worldwide advertising campaign in connection with the forthcoming Hobbit films, and (iii) to divert customers and potential customers away from the Hobbit films."
