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[[Image:Middle-earth Enterprises.png|frame|Middle-earth Enterprises logo]]
[[Image:Middle-earth Enterprises.png|frame|Middle-earth Enterprises logo]]
'''Middle-earth Enterprises''', formerly known as ''Tolkien Enterprises'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''TE''), is the division of the Saul Zaentz Company, created by [[Saul Zaentz]] to manage his licenses for ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]''.  
'''Middle-earth Enterprises''', formerly known as ''Tolkien Enterprises'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''TE''), is the division of the [[Embracer Group]] to manage it's licenses for ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]''.  


==History==
==History==
In [[1969]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] sold certain rights to [[United Artists]], for US$250,000.<ref>John Ezard, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2001/dec/14/lordoftherings.jrrtolkien So, would Tolkien have liked the film?]", ''The Guardian'' ([[December 14]], [[2001]])</ref> This was then resold to independent producer [[Saul Zaentz]] in [[1976]]. [[Ralph Bakshi]], who had tried to argue with United Artists over an animated feature film for years, found more success with Zaentz. With a budget of US$7 million, it became quite an endeavour.<ref>[[Barry Langford]], "Bakshi, Ralph", published in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]'' (edited by [[Michael Drout]]), pages 48-50</ref>
In [[1969]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] sold certain rights to [[United Artists]], for US$250,000.<ref>John Ezard, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2001/dec/14/lordoftherings.jrrtolkien So, would Tolkien have liked the film?]", ''The Guardian'' ([[14 December|December 14]], [[2001]])</ref> This was then resold to independent producer [[Saul Zaentz]] in [[1976]], who in turn formed ''Tolkien Enterprises'' in [[1977]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=https://www.middleearth.com/timeline.html|articlename=Middle-earth Enterprises Timeline|website=[http://www.middleearth.com/ Middleearth.com]|accessed=24 October 2022}}</ref> [[Ralph Bakshi]], who had tried to argue with United Artists over an animated feature film for years, found more success with Zaentz. With a budget of US$7 million, it became quite an endeavour.<ref>[[Barry Langford]], "Bakshi, Ralph", published in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]'' (edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]]), pp. 48-50</ref>


[[Image:Tolkien Enterprises.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Tolkien Enterprises logo]]
[[Image:Tolkien Enterprises.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Tolkien Enterprises logo]]


After Bakshi's box office failure, and the non-success of the [[Rankin/Bass]] productions, Zaentz was reluctant to market another adaptation, but would grant license to [[Peter Jackson]] if he could find a production studio. After being turned down by [[Miramax]], [[New Line Cinema]] went ahead with the [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings|record trilogy]].<ref>''[[The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition|The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Special Extended DVD Edition]]'', "[[From Book to Vision]]"</ref>
After Bakshi's box office failure, and the non-success of the [[Rankin/Bass]] productions, Zaentz was reluctant to market another adaptation, but would grant license to [[Peter Jackson]] if he could find a production studio. After being turned down by [[Miramax]], [[New Line Cinema]] went ahead with the film [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]]'', "[[From Book to Vision]]"</ref>


==Ownership==
In [[2010]], the company changed it's name to Middle-earth Enterprises, which is it's current name.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/17/36215-tolkien-enterprises-changes-names/|articlename=Tolkien Enterprises Changes Name|website=[https://www.theonering.net/ TheOneRing.net]|accessed=24 October 2022}}</ref>
Tolkien Enterprises holds marketing and licensing rights for the titles ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'', and many proper names and short phrases from the books. As a consequence, they also own all stage and cinema rights to these two books, and the merchandise surrounding it.<ref>[[Chester N. Scoville]], "Estate", published in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]'' (edited by [[Michael Drout]]), pages 175-6</ref>  
 
In [[2022]], the Swedish holding company [[Embracer Group]] bought Middle-earth Enterprises, along with the rights for adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-ip-rights-to-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-literary-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/|articlename=EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE IP RIGHTS TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBIT LITERARY WORKS BY J.R.R TOLKIEN|website=[https://embracer.com Embracer]|accessed=18 August 2022}}</ref>
 
==Copyright==
Middle-earth Enterprises holds marketing and licensing rights for the titles ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'', and many proper names and short phrases from the books. As a consequence, they also own all stage and cinema rights to these two books, and the related merchandising rights.<ref>[[Chester N. Scoville]], "Estate", published in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]'' (edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]]), pp. 175-6</ref> However they do not have the television rights for the books (the rights to adapt both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in a television series in whatever form longer than eight episodes)<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017/11/15/104416-tolkien-rights-and-the-amazon-television-deal-some-insight/ |articlename=Tolkien Rights and the Amazon Television Deal – some insight|website=[[TheOneRing.net]]|dated=15 November 2017|accessed=24 October 2022}}</ref>.


==Current Licensees==
==Current Licensees==
* [[New Line Cinema]]
* [[New Line Cinema]] & [[Warner Bros.]]
* [[Electronic Arts]]
* [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]]
* [[Turbine]]
* [[Games Workshop]]
* [[Games Workshop]]
* [[The Lord of the Rings Musical]]
* [[The Lord of the Rings Musical]]
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* [[Lladro]]
* [[Lladro]]
* [[Royal Selangor]]
* [[Royal Selangor]]
* [[Mithril Miniatures]]<ref>[http://www.tolkien-ent.com/ Tolkien-ent.com], "[http://www.tolkien-ent.com/current_licencees_pop.html Current Licensees]"</ref>
* [[Mithril Miniatures]]<ref>[http://www.middleearth.com/ Middleearth.com], "[http://www.middleearth.com/current_licensees.html Current Licensees]"</ref>
 
==External links==
* '''[http://www.middleearth.com/ Official website]'''
* {{WP|{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}
* Tamer Asfahani, "[http://www.incgamers.com/2009/02/incgamers-tolkien-ip-license/ Tolkien IP License]", at [http://www.incgamers.com/index.php IncGamers]


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Tolkien Enterprises/Copyrights]]
* [[Middle-earth Enterprises/Copyrights]]
* [[Saul Zaentz]]
* [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]
* [[Licensing]]
 
{{references}}
{{references}}
==External links==
* '''[http://www.middleearth.com/home.html Official website]'''
* {{WP|{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}
* Tamer Asfahani, "[http://www.incgamers.com/Interviews/170/IncGamers-Tolkien-IP-License Tolkien IP License]", at [http://www.incgamers.com/index.php IncGamers]


[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Businesses]]
[[Category:American businesses]]

Latest revision as of 23:31, 21 December 2022

Middle-earth Enterprises logo

Middle-earth Enterprises, formerly known as Tolkien Enterprises (sometimes abbreviated to TE), is the division of the Embracer Group to manage it's licenses for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

History[edit | edit source]

In 1969, J.R.R. Tolkien sold certain rights to United Artists, for US$250,000.[1] This was then resold to independent producer Saul Zaentz in 1976, who in turn formed Tolkien Enterprises in 1977.[2] Ralph Bakshi, who had tried to argue with United Artists over an animated feature film for years, found more success with Zaentz. With a budget of US$7 million, it became quite an endeavour.[3]

Tolkien Enterprises logo

After Bakshi's box office failure, and the non-success of the Rankin/Bass productions, Zaentz was reluctant to market another adaptation, but would grant license to Peter Jackson if he could find a production studio. After being turned down by Miramax, New Line Cinema went ahead with the film The Lord of the Rings.[4]

In 2010, the company changed it's name to Middle-earth Enterprises, which is it's current name.[5]

In 2022, the Swedish holding company Embracer Group bought Middle-earth Enterprises, along with the rights for adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.[6]

Copyright[edit | edit source]

Middle-earth Enterprises holds marketing and licensing rights for the titles The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and many proper names and short phrases from the books. As a consequence, they also own all stage and cinema rights to these two books, and the related merchandising rights.[7] However they do not have the television rights for the books (the rights to adapt both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in a television series in whatever form longer than eight episodes)[8].

Current Licensees[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References