Copyright Laws

[ann]

In the Fellowship of the Ring Tolkien refers to some editions printed without his consent or cooperation. He mentions that the paperback versions printed by Ballantine are the only ones to which he gave consent. So, now that so many different books have been published, and many new editions since the movies, which ones are approved by his estate? Just wondering if anyone may know the answer. Thanks! :)

[Ñólendil]

I'll quote from the Note on the Text in the Millenium Edition of The Ring Sets Out: In 1965, stemming from what then appeared to be copyright problems in the United States, and American paperback firm published an unauthorized and non-royalty-paying edition of the The Lord of the Rings. For this new edition by Ace Books the text of the narrative was reset, thus introducing new typographical errors; the appendices, however, were reproduced photographically from the hardcover edition, and remain consistent with it.

Tolkien set to work on his first version of the text so that a newly revised and authorized edition could successfully compete on the American market. This first revision of the text was published in America in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1965.

The competition between the authorized and unauthorized LotR Volumes caused some commotion and did wonders for Tolkien's sales. He informed his devoted fan base in letters about the phony and there was an effective campaign against Ace books. Eventually Ace payed the royalities, I don't think their LotR is in print anymore.