Title: Amazon and Tolkien Estate Win Court Battle Against Author Claiming Prime Video Stole Series Idea
In a recent court ruling, the Tolkien Estate and Amazon have emerged victorious in a legal battle with an author who claimed Prime Video had stolen the idea for its TV series. The author, Demetrious Polychron, had published a book titled “The Fellowship of the King” and demanded $250 million in damages, alleging that the TV series “The Rings of Power” infringed the copyright in his book.
However, Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the District Court of California threw out both of Polychron’s cases and ordered him to pay the Tolkien Estate and Amazon’s legal fees totaling around $134,000. The judge also granted a permanent injunction against Polychron, preventing him from distributing any further copies of his book or any derivative works based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien.
In a statement, the Tolkien Estate’s UK solicitor, Steven Maier, emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating that they will not permit unauthorized authors and publishers to monetize J.R.R. Tolkien’s works in this way. Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” TV series, which is the most expensive TV series of all time, will proceed with its second season following the court’s decision.
It’s worth noting that Tolkien’s work will enter the public domain in the US on January 1, 2044, 95 years after his first work was published. The legal representation for the Tolkien Estate in this case was provided by Lance Koonce and Gili Karev of Claris Law, New York.
This victory highlights the importance of protecting the intellectual property and creative rights of authors and production companies in the entertainment industry.