The Strange Case of the Unauthorized Lord of the Rings Sequel and Amazon Prime
In a bizarre turn of events, author Demetrious Polychron recently found himself at the center of a legal battle with Amazon and the Tolkien estate over his unauthorized sequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Polychron, who released his book titled The Fellowship of the King, decided to go after the team that’s officially able to continue The Lord of the Rings franchise. He sued both Amazon and the Tolkien estate, claiming that the Prime Video show, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, had lifted from his sequel and infringed on the copyright of his work.
However, a California judge dismissed the case with prejudice, calling Polychron’s claim “unreasonable” and “frivolous from the beginning.” The judge also ordered Polychron to pay $134,637 in attorney’s fees to the Tolkien estate and Amazon.
What’s truly baffling is that Polychron attempted to legitimize his fan fiction and even planned a seven-part series without the authorization of the Tolkien estate. This case brings up questions about the boundaries of fan fiction and copyright law, as well as the ongoing battle between creators and those who seek to build upon existing works without permission.
While the legal outcome may have been unfavorable for Polychron, the case serves as a cautionary tale for those who attempt to capitalize on popular franchises without proper authorization. And as for fans eagerly awaiting the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, it seems that the show will continue on without interference from Polychron’s unauthorized sequel.