New Zealand going Hobbit

[Earniel]

New Zealand certainly fell victim to The Hobbit craze as testified by the (temporary) renaming of Wellington (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19869374) for starters.

But not just the town has gone Hobbit, apparently so did the airways (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlRbrB_Gnc).

I wouldn't mind flying that style, really.

[Midge]

Wow... that flight video cracked me up. I love that the Nazgul king has an iPhone. :D

[GrayMouser]

Just as long as you get permission before using the word "Hobbit":


A Kiwi academic's lecture on diminutive primitive humans known as "hobbits" has been renamed, under legal pressure from the company that owns the rights to JRR Tolkien's creations.

Victoria University earth scientist Brent Alloway had planned to call the free public lecture on the 1m tall human species Homo floresiensis "The Other Hobbit".

But the title had to be scrapped after lawyers for Saul Zaentz Company/Middle-earth Enterprises - which owns some rights to The Hobbit books - objected to generic use of the term "hobbit".

When do we get an end to these greedy pigs feasting on the works of long-dead others?

Copyright originated to protect the creators, not guarantee an income to eternity for their familial and corporate heirs.

[Earniel]

For EU that's generally 70 years after death of the author, I believe, so that would mean.. in 2043.

Could take a while.

Of course it could be a trademark thing rather than a copyright thing, which is indefinitely IIRC and much more of a 'use it or lose it' matter. If they don't make enough show of stomping on other people's reaching hands, they can lose it themselves.