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'''The Tolkien Trust''' is a British charity founded in [[1977]]<ref>[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/ShowCharity.asp?RegNo=273615 The Tolkien Trust - Extract from the Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales]</ref> that manages [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s estate (the [[Tolkien Estate]]).<ref name="guardian">[http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2255880,00.html|publisher The Guardian: Tolkien heirs sue Lord of the Rings studio for $150m], retrieved 2008-02-12</ref>
{{company infobox
| name=
| image=[[File:The Tolkien Trust - logo.png|225px]]
| founded=[[1 April]] [[1977]]
| founder=
| location=[[Oxford]]
| type=Charitable incorporated organisation
| keypeople=[[Christopher Tolkien]]<br/>[[Priscilla Tolkien]]<br/>[[Baillie Tolkien]]<br/>[[Michael George Tolkien]]
| members=
| subsidiaries=
| products=
| parent=
| owner=
| precededby=
| succeededby=
| website=[http://www.tolkientrust.org/ www.tolkientrust.org]
}}


On February 11, 2008, together with Tolkien's publisher [[HarperCollins]], it filed a suit against [[New Line Cinema]] over the profits of the ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]''.<ref name="guardian" /> On September 8, 2009, a settlement between the Trust and New Line was announced, clearing a potential obstacle to the making of a [[The Hobbit (2012 film)|new movie]] based on ''[[The Hobbit]].''<ref>Alex Dobuzinskis, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5875BK20090908 Legal settlement clears way for 'Hobbit' movie]", retrieved 2009-09-08 </ref>
'''The Tolkien Trust''' is a British charity founded in [[1977]] by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s children. As a charitable trust, it makes grants to a wide variety of organisations at the discretion of the current trustees.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1150801&SubsidiaryNumber=0|articlename=Charity overview - The Tolkien Trust|accessed=7 July 2015|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]}}</ref> It does not manage Tolkien's literary estate,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.tolkientrust.org/ The Tolkien Trust]|articleurl=http://www.tolkientrust.org/faqs.html|articlename=FAQ|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> even though its source of income is via the copyright it owns to some of Tolkien's works that were formerly owned by The [[Tolkien Estate]].
 
==Activities==
Created on [[1 April]] [[1977]], and registered with the Charity Commission from [[2 June]] [[1977]], the Trust was founded by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s four children: [[John Tolkien|John]], [[Michael Tolkien|Michael]], [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] and [[Priscilla Tolkien|Priscilla]]. Today, the trustees of the charity are Christopher, Priscilla, [[Michael George Tolkien]] (son of Michael, succeeding his sister Joan as a trustee in 2008),<ref name="Accounts2009"/> and Christopher's wife [[Baillie Tolkien]].<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1150801&SubsidiaryNumber=0|articlename=Contact and trustees - The Tolkien Trust|accessed=7 July 2015|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]}}</ref>
 
The Trust makes grants to other charitable causes at the discretion of the trustees. It currently does not accept unsolicited applications for funding,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.tolkientrust.org/ The Tolkien Trust]|articleurl=http://www.tolkientrust.org/applications.html|articlename=Applications|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> but does list a number of specific areas it supports:
 
{{blockquote|1. emergency and disaster relief<br/>2. overseas aid and development<br/>3. the homeless and refugees<br/>4. healthcare charities, especially those focusing on illnesses of childhood and old age, the needs of disadvantaged communities and medical research<br/>5. religious causes promoting peace and reconciliation and work with impoverished communities<br/>6. environmental causes<br/>7. education and the arts|[http://www.tolkientrust.org/about.html About The Tolkien Trust]}}
 
In the period [[2008]]-[[2013|13]], sizeable grants (£100,000 and over) have been made to: [http://www.edm.ch/en/ Enfants du Monde], [http://www.grailprogrammes.org.za/ The Grail Centre Trust], [http://www.oxfam.org Oxfam], [http://www.rebuildingsrilanka.org.uk/ Rebuilding Sri Lanka],<ref name="Accounts2009"/> [http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/south-america/haiti Action Against Hunger (Haiti Earthquake Appeal)], [http://www.msf.org/ Médecins Sans Frontières (Haiti Earthquake Appeal)], [http://www.unicef.org/appeals/haiti.html UNICEF (Haiti Earthquake Appeal)], [http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/medicine/units/community_health_sciences/media/Alan_Klass_Memorial_Health_Equity_Program.pdf University of Manitoba (Alan Klass Memorial Fund)],<ref name="Accounts2010"/> [http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/countries/asia/pakistan Action Against Hunger (Pakistan Flooding)], [http://www.find-your-feet.org/ Find Your Feet], [[King Edward's School]] [http://www.trust.kes.org.uk/ Birmingham Trust], [http://www.msf.org/ Médecins Sans Frontières (Pakistan Flooding)], [http://www.oxfam.org/en/countries/pakistan Oxfam (Pakistan Flooding)], [http://www.unicef.org/ UNICEF],<ref name="Accounts2011"/> and [[Bodleian Library|The Bodleian Library]].<ref name="Accounts2012"/> On top of that, The Tolkien Trust has also been listed as a supporter of Birdlife International,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.birdlife.org/ Birdlife International]|articleurl=http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/partnership/major-donors-and-supporters|articlename=Major Donors and Supporters|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> the Koestler Trust,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.koestlertrust.org.uk/ Koestler Trust]|articleurl=http://www.koestlertrust.org.uk/pages/funders2.html|articlename=How we are funded|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> the Orchestra of St. John's,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.osj.org.uk/ Orchestra of St. John's]|articleurl=http://www.osj.org.uk/about-us/supporters/|articlename=About our Supporters|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> the Oxford Botanic Garden,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/ Oxford Botanic Garden]|articleurl=http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/get-involved|articlename=Get Involved|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> the Prisoners' Educational Trust,<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://pet.netefficiency.co.uk/ Prisoners' Educational Trust]|articleurl=http://pet.netefficiency.co.uk/index.php?id=570|articlename=Our Supporters|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> and the WWF.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/other_publications/annual_review_archive/annual_review_2009/raising_support/our_supporters/|articlename=Our supporters|website=[http://www.wwf.org.uk WWF UK]|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref>
 
===Litigation===
From [[2003]] and [[2006]] the Trust and The [[Tolkien Estate]] demanded royalties from [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' films]].<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.worldcrunch.com/ World Crunch]|articleurl=http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/my-father-039-s-quot-eviscerated-quot-work-son-of-hobbit-scribe-j.r.r.-tolkien-finally-speaks-out/hobbit-silmarillion-lord-of-rings/c3s10299/#.VZvG9FKOZb0|articlename=My Father's "Eviscerated" Work - Son Of Hobbit Scribe J.R.R. Tolkien Finally Speaks Out|dated=5 December 2012|author=Raphaëlle Rérolle|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> Following claims from [[New Line Cinema]] that the films failed to make a profit, on [[11 February]] [[2008]] The Tolkien Trust, The [[Tolkien Estate]] and [[HarperCollins]] filed a lawsuit seeking at least $150 million (7.5% of gross revenue) in damages. They accused New Line Cinema of "unabashed and insatiable greed" and the "infamous practice of creative 'Hollywood accounting'."<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.guardian.co.uk The Guardian]|dated=12 February 2008|articleurl=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2255880,00.html|articlename=Tolkien heirs sue Lord of the Rings studio for $150m|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> The claim, which also attempted to stop production of the [[The Hobbit (film series)|forthcoming ''Hobbit'' films]], was concluded on [[8 September]] [[2009]] with an out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{webcite|author=Alex Dobuzinskis|articleurl=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5875BK20090908|articlename=Legal settlement clears way for 'Hobbit' movie|website=[http://www.reuters.com Reuters]|dated=8 September 2009|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> [[Christopher Tolkien]] said that they "regret that legal action was necessary, but are glad that this dispute has been settled on satisfactory terms"<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/09/new-line-resolves-lawsuit-with-tolkien-trust-and-harpercollins-over-lord-of-rings-.html|author=Claudia Eller|dated=8 September 2009|articlename=New Line resolves lawsuit with Tolkien Trust and HarperCollins over 'Lord of the Rings'|website=[http://latimes.com/ Los Angeles Times]|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> and that "New Line may now proceed with its proposed films of 'The Hobbit'", whilst their lawyer said that they "feel vindicated and are entirely satisfied with the terms of the settlement." Alan Horn, president of [[Warner Bros.]] (owners of New Line Cinema) said "we all look forward to a mutually productive and beneficial relationship in the future".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://latimes.com/ Los Angeles Times]|articleurl=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/09/business/fi-ct-hobbit9|articlename=Warner Bros. settles lawsuit over 'Lord of the Rings' licensing payments|dated=9 September 2009|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> Although both sides refused to reveal the size of settlement - simply saying that the Tolkien Trust would receive a "significant portion" - the Trust's accounts reveal that in [[2009]] and [[2010]] it received £24 million and £1.6 million respectively in film rights,<ref name="Accounts2009"/><ref name="Accounts2010"/> and in [[2011]] it received £603,515 in merchandising rights.<ref name="Accounts2011"/>
 
On the [[19 November]] [[2012]], Priscilla Tolkien as a trustee of The Tolkien Trust, [[Tolkien Estate|The Tolkien Estate]] and [[HarperCollins]] ("the plaintiffs") filed a lawsuit against [[Warner Bros.]], [[New Line Cinema]] and the [[Saul Zaentz Company]] ("the defendants") seeking damages of $80 million.<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ The Telegraph]|articleurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9691966/JRR-Tolkiens-daughter-sues-producers-of-The-Hobbit.html|articlename=JRR Tolkien's daughter sues producers of The Hobbit|dated=20 November 2012|author=Raf Sanchez|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> They claimed that Tolkien's copyright had been breached and that the defendants had no right to sell themed slot machines and downloadable video games; in the claim the plaintiffs state: "Not only does the production of gambling games patently exceed the scope of defendants' rights, but this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works."<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ The Daily Mail]|articleurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236141/Tolkien-family-sues-The-Hobbit-movie-makers-80m.html|articlename=Trouble in the shire: Tolkien family sues movie makers for $80MILLION over 'Hobbit' trilogy merchandizing|dated=21 November 2012|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> They assert that the merchandising rights only extend to physical, and not electronic, products.<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ The Daily Mail]|articleurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293844/Tolkien-family-Warner-Bros-prepare-legal-battle-Lord-Rings-fruit-machines.html|author=Daniel Miller|articlename=Gambling's a really bad hobbit: Tolkien family and Warner Bros at war over Lord of the Rings fruit machines|dated=15 March 2013|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref> On [[11 March]] [[2013]], Saul Zaentz and Warner Bros. filed counter-claims against the plaintiffs (including The Tolkien Trust) arguing that as a result of the Estate's actions the defendants had lost out on merchandising income, and that there has been a breach of good-faith by the Estate and the Trust.<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://www.theonering.net/ TheOnering.net]|author=Kelvarhin|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/07/16/75725-making-sense-of-the-latest-tolkien-lawsuit/|articlename=Making Sense of the latest Tolkien Lawsuit|dated=16 July 2013|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref>
 
==Copyrights==
The primary assets of The Tolkien Trust are the copyrights to certain works by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] which continue to provide income to the Trust. The assets held by The Tolkien Trust are a number of (many posthumous) publications by J.R.R. Tolkien:<ref name="Accounts2009"/>
* ''[[Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary]]''<ref name="Accounts2013"/>
* ''[[The Fall of Arthur]]''<ref name="Accounts2013"/>
* ''[[The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún]]''
* Renewal copyrights in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' in the USA
* ''[[Mythopoeia]]''
* ''[[Roverandom]]''
* ''[[Smith of Wootton Major]]''
* Author royalties from ''[[The Tolkien Family Album]]''
* 40% of the renewal copyrights in ''[[The Tolkien Reader]]'' in the USA
* ''[[Tree and Leaf]]''
* "published editions of various philological writings and fragments"<ref name="Accounts2013"/>
 
The Trust also holds a number of sundry assets:
* Letters from Tolkien to A.B.M. Ronald and C. Martin (see "[[Letter to Amy Ronald (15 March 1969)]]" and "[[Letter to Amy Ronald (20 March 1969)]]")
* Posters drawn by [[Pauline Baynes]]
* "Certain unpublished papers, letters, artistic works, pictures, photographs and other documents originally forming part of the Estate of J R R Tolkien, and the copyright in such materials formerly owned by the Estate."<ref name="Accounts2013"/>
 
==Finances==
The Trust does not partake in any fund-raising activity: all income received constitute royalties from copyrights and subsequent investments. Although the Trust holds literary assets no value is provided for them on the grounds that it would not be "practical and cost-effective"; as such, the primary assets of the Trust are cash and investments ([[wikipedia:Bond (finance)|bonds]] and [[wikipedia:Share (finance)|shares]]). The Trust has an [[wikipedia:Socially responsible investing|ethical investment policy]] so has no investment in tobacco, or the manufacture of armaments.<ref name="Accounts2009"/> In [[2012]], gambling services was added to the list of investments the Trust would not hold.<ref name="Accounts2012"/>
 
The Trust was founded on [[1 April]] [[1977]] and its financial year was the same as the [[wikipedia:Fiscal year#United_Kingdom|United Kingdom's fiscal year]] for individuals ([[6 April]] - [[5 April]]). In [[2013]] the existed unincorporated charity was closed and its assets transferred to a new [[wikipedia:Charitable incorporated organisation|charitable incorporated organisation]]; the new charity's financial year is the same as the calendar year.<ref name="Accounts2013"/>
 
<table class="TGtable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0 auto;"><tr><th style="background: #F2E6CE;"> </th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2008-9<ref name="Accounts2009">{{webcite|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends15/0000273615_ac_20090405_e_c.pdf|articlename=The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2009|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref></th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2009-10<ref name="Accounts2010">{{webcite|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends15/0000273615_ac_20100405_e_c.pdf|articlename=The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2010|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref></th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2010-11<ref name="Accounts2011">{{webcite|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends15/0000273615_ac_20110405_e_c.pdf|articlename=The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2011|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref></th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2011-12<ref name="Accounts2012">{{webcite|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends15/0000273615_ac_20120405_e_c.pdf|articlename=The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2012|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref></th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2012-13</th><th style="background: #F2E6CE;">2013<ref name="Accounts2013">{{webcite|website=[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission Charity Commission]|articleurl=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends01%5C0001150801_AC_20131231_E_C.pdf|articlename=The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2013|accessed=7 July 2015}}</ref></th></tr>
<tr><td>'''Income'''</td><td align="right">£24,536,138</td><td align="right">£2,017,443</td><td align="right">£1,752,286</td><td align="right">£1,717,200</td><td style="background: #F6F6F6;"></td><td align="right">£1,942,814</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Expenditure'''</td><td align="right">£2,324,124</td><td align="right">£4,397,323</td><td align="right">£1,395,694</td><td align="right">£1,091,223</td><td style="background: #F6F6F6;"></td><td align="right">£1,169,680</td></tr>
<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;(on charitable activities)</td><td align="right">£1,098,289</td><td align="right">£3,712,300</td><td align="right">£1,141,114</td><td align="right">£811,526</td><td style="background: #F6F6F6;"></td><td align="right">£681,906</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Assets'''</td><td>£27,511,980</td><td>£26,290,897</td><td>£26,876,848</td><td>£27,523,341</td><td>£27,521,895</td><td>£28,489,210</td></tr>
</table>
 
==See also==
* [[Tolkien Estate|The Tolkien Estate]], the company which holds the majority of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s literary estate
* [[The Tolkien Society]], an independent charity which aims to promote [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], whose vice-president is [[Priscilla Tolkien]]
* [[Middle-earth Enterprises]], formerly Tolkien Enterprises, an American company which holds the adaptation and merchandising rights to ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.tolkientrust.org/ The Tolkien Trust] (official webpage)
* '''[http://www.tolkientrust.org/ Official website]'''
*[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/FinancialHistory.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=273615&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Financial summary on the Charity Commission]
* [http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1150801&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Charity overview of The Tolkien Trust (no. 1150801)], the current charity ([[2013]]-present)
*{{WP|The Tolkien Trust}}
* [http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/RemovedCharityMain.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=273615&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Charity overview of The Tolkien Trust (no. 273615)], the preceding charity ([[1977]]-[[2013]])
 
{{references}}
{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolkien Trust}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolkien Trust}}
[[Category:British organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations (real-world)]]
[[Category:Organizations (real-world)]]

Revision as of 14:00, 7 July 2015

The Tolkien Trust - logo.png
Founded1 April 1977
LocationOxford
TypeCharitable incorporated organisation
Key peopleChristopher Tolkien
Priscilla Tolkien
Baillie Tolkien
Michael George Tolkien
Websitewww.tolkientrust.org

The Tolkien Trust is a British charity founded in 1977 by J.R.R. Tolkien's children. As a charitable trust, it makes grants to a wide variety of organisations at the discretion of the current trustees.[1] It does not manage Tolkien's literary estate,[2] even though its source of income is via the copyright it owns to some of Tolkien's works that were formerly owned by The Tolkien Estate.

Activities

Created on 1 April 1977, and registered with the Charity Commission from 2 June 1977, the Trust was founded by J.R.R. Tolkien's four children: John, Michael, Christopher and Priscilla. Today, the trustees of the charity are Christopher, Priscilla, Michael George Tolkien (son of Michael, succeeding his sister Joan as a trustee in 2008),[3] and Christopher's wife Baillie Tolkien.[4]

The Trust makes grants to other charitable causes at the discretion of the trustees. It currently does not accept unsolicited applications for funding,[5] but does list a number of specific areas it supports:

1. emergency and disaster relief
2. overseas aid and development
3. the homeless and refugees
4. healthcare charities, especially those focusing on illnesses of childhood and old age, the needs of disadvantaged communities and medical research
5. religious causes promoting peace and reconciliation and work with impoverished communities
6. environmental causes
7. education and the arts
About The Tolkien Trust

In the period 2008-13, sizeable grants (£100,000 and over) have been made to: Enfants du Monde, The Grail Centre Trust, Oxfam, Rebuilding Sri Lanka,[3] Action Against Hunger (Haiti Earthquake Appeal), Médecins Sans Frontières (Haiti Earthquake Appeal), UNICEF (Haiti Earthquake Appeal), University of Manitoba (Alan Klass Memorial Fund),[6] Action Against Hunger (Pakistan Flooding), Find Your Feet, King Edward's School Birmingham Trust, Médecins Sans Frontières (Pakistan Flooding), Oxfam (Pakistan Flooding), UNICEF,[7] and The Bodleian Library.[8] On top of that, The Tolkien Trust has also been listed as a supporter of Birdlife International,[9] the Koestler Trust,[10] the Orchestra of St. John's,[11] the Oxford Botanic Garden,[12] the Prisoners' Educational Trust,[13] and the WWF.[14]

Litigation

From 2003 and 2006 the Trust and The Tolkien Estate demanded royalties from The Lord of the Rings films.[15] Following claims from New Line Cinema that the films failed to make a profit, on 11 February 2008 The Tolkien Trust, The Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins filed a lawsuit seeking at least $150 million (7.5% of gross revenue) in damages. They accused New Line Cinema of "unabashed and insatiable greed" and the "infamous practice of creative 'Hollywood accounting'."[16] The claim, which also attempted to stop production of the forthcoming Hobbit films, was concluded on 8 September 2009 with an out-of-court settlement.[17] Christopher Tolkien said that they "regret that legal action was necessary, but are glad that this dispute has been settled on satisfactory terms"[18] and that "New Line may now proceed with its proposed films of 'The Hobbit'", whilst their lawyer said that they "feel vindicated and are entirely satisfied with the terms of the settlement." Alan Horn, president of Warner Bros. (owners of New Line Cinema) said "we all look forward to a mutually productive and beneficial relationship in the future".[19] Although both sides refused to reveal the size of settlement - simply saying that the Tolkien Trust would receive a "significant portion" - the Trust's accounts reveal that in 2009 and 2010 it received £24 million and £1.6 million respectively in film rights,[3][6] and in 2011 it received £603,515 in merchandising rights.[7]

On the 19 November 2012, Priscilla Tolkien as a trustee of The Tolkien Trust, The Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins ("the plaintiffs") filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and the Saul Zaentz Company ("the defendants") seeking damages of $80 million.[20] They claimed that Tolkien's copyright had been breached and that the defendants had no right to sell themed slot machines and downloadable video games; in the claim the plaintiffs state: "Not only does the production of gambling games patently exceed the scope of defendants' rights, but this infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works."[21] They assert that the merchandising rights only extend to physical, and not electronic, products.[22] On 11 March 2013, Saul Zaentz and Warner Bros. filed counter-claims against the plaintiffs (including The Tolkien Trust) arguing that as a result of the Estate's actions the defendants had lost out on merchandising income, and that there has been a breach of good-faith by the Estate and the Trust.[23]

Copyrights

The primary assets of The Tolkien Trust are the copyrights to certain works by J.R.R. Tolkien which continue to provide income to the Trust. The assets held by The Tolkien Trust are a number of (many posthumous) publications by J.R.R. Tolkien:[3]

The Trust also holds a number of sundry assets:

Finances

The Trust does not partake in any fund-raising activity: all income received constitute royalties from copyrights and subsequent investments. Although the Trust holds literary assets no value is provided for them on the grounds that it would not be "practical and cost-effective"; as such, the primary assets of the Trust are cash and investments (bonds and shares). The Trust has an ethical investment policy so has no investment in tobacco, or the manufacture of armaments.[3] In 2012, gambling services was added to the list of investments the Trust would not hold.[8]

The Trust was founded on 1 April 1977 and its financial year was the same as the United Kingdom's fiscal year for individuals (6 April - 5 April). In 2013 the existed unincorporated charity was closed and its assets transferred to a new charitable incorporated organisation; the new charity's financial year is the same as the calendar year.[24]

2008-9[3]2009-10[6]2010-11[7]2011-12[8]2012-132013[24]
Income£24,536,138£2,017,443£1,752,286£1,717,200£1,942,814
Expenditure£2,324,124£4,397,323£1,395,694£1,091,223£1,169,680
  (on charitable activities)£1,098,289£3,712,300£1,141,114£811,526£681,906
Assets£27,511,980£26,290,897£26,876,848£27,523,341£27,521,895£28,489,210

See also

External links

References

  1. "Charity overview - The Tolkien Trust", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  2. "FAQ", The Tolkien Trust (accessed 7 July 2015)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2009", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  4. "Contact and trustees - The Tolkien Trust", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  5. "Applications", The Tolkien Trust (accessed 7 July 2015)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2010", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2011", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "The Tolkien Trust - Accounts for the Year Ended 5 April 2012", Charity Commission (accessed 7 July 2015)
  9. "Major Donors and Supporters", Birdlife International (accessed 7 July 2015)
  10. "How we are funded", Koestler Trust (accessed 7 July 2015)
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