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geordie
Tol Eressea
Jul 29 2012, 3:50pm
Views: 312
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often gets a bad press. It's unfortunate, and (I think) based on a misunderstanding of what an Estate is, why estates are set up, and what their duties and responsiblities are.
For example; many criticise the Tolkien Estate for not selling the film rights to Tolkien's works. Selling rights is not what the estate is for (AFAIK). There's also what seems to be an assumption that the Tolkien Estate exists in order to give permissions for material to be included in books. That's not so, either. If I were to write a book about JRR, and apply to the Estate for permissions, I would not do so assuming that they _have_ to grant them. Nor would I get upset if the answer is no.
Something that many commentators don't seem to grasp is that the Tolkien Estate was set up by JRR himself - it's his Estate - and the executors of his estate are carrying out his wishes as seems best to them. My wife and I have had the pleasure of meeting several members of Tolkien's family and other members of the Tolkien estate, and they are thoughtful, generous people - not at all like what some on the interweb seem to think. The legal arm of the Estate - Cathleen Blackburn - comes across as thoughtful and generous-minded too, and thoroughly professional.
The Estate has various duties, and can only deal with the requests they receive in one of two ways - yes, or no. Sometimes people try and circumvent the proper channels - I recall one time at the Tolkien Society's Oxonmoot weekend, when the Professor's daughter Priscilla used to meet 'first-timers' at lunch on the Saturday. Priscilla is a lovely person, always happy to talk about her father and his works; but sometimes people try and take advantage. The format of the 'meet and greet' session used to be that first-timers would form an orderly queue to say hello to Priscillla personally, and to share a few words with her. On this occassion, an American chappie walked over with his hand outstretched in greeting, and declared loudly 'Miss Tolkien, I've travelled four and a half thousand miles to interest you in...' - I don't recall exactly what it was he'd travelled four and a half thousand miles for, but I'd have thought that anyone with a head for business would know that this is not the way to approach the estate.
The proper way is that used by Kristin Thompson, and also by Michael Drout - Drout asked for permission to use some of Tolkien's unpublished material in his doctoral dissertation (of which I have a copy). Drout's dissertation includes an appendix with copies of the correspondence between himself and Cathleen Blackburn, acting on behalf of the Tolkien estate. The exchange is courteous and professional, and Ms Blackburn passes on her clients' best wishes for Drout's studies. So you see, sometimes the answer is yes...
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Subject
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User
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Time
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Researching THE FRODO FRANCHISE: Part 1, Off to Wellington without a Handkerchief
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News from Bree
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Jul 26 2012, 1:15pm
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Very interesting!
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Silverlode
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Jul 26 2012, 7:24pm
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work, work, work
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pasi
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Jul 26 2012, 8:03pm
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Thanks, Pasi!
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 27 2012, 12:03am
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Agree with previous post, nice distraction from Hobbit events, and
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jschomburg
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Jul 26 2012, 8:52pm
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Thank you Kristin
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SirDennisC
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Jul 26 2012, 10:17pm
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A very interesting beginning
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Jul 27 2012, 12:44am
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Barrie W. Osborne
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pasi
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Jul 27 2012, 11:06am
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Absolutely true about Barrie
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 27 2012, 1:55pm
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I think the Tolkien Estate
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geordie
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Jul 29 2012, 3:50pm
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I completely agree with you, geordie
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 29 2012, 4:52pm
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yes -
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geordie
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Jul 31 2012, 6:16am
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When we speak of money
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 31 2012, 2:05pm
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IMO
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Shelob'sAppetite
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Jul 31 2012, 7:06am
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Born of Hope
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Lurker in the Dark
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Aug 5 2012, 4:43am
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Born of Hope
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Lurker in the Dark
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Aug 5 2012, 4:54am
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Tolkien fanfilms and rights
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Kristin Thompson
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Aug 5 2012, 2:52pm
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As Kristen says
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geordie
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Aug 6 2012, 12:30pm
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Messed with?
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Lurker in the Dark
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Aug 7 2012, 5:24am
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Yes, that's the sort of stuff I mean -
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geordie
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Aug 7 2012, 5:26pm
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Sick burn!
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SirDennisC
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Aug 8 2012, 2:24am
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Thanks, SirDennisC!
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Kristin Thompson
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Aug 9 2012, 1:18am
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... and thank you for the book suggestion! //
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SirDennisC
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Aug 9 2012, 8:05am
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Um..
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geordie
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Aug 9 2012, 5:35pm
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Awesome!
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zarabia
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Jul 29 2012, 7:23am
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It wasn't exactly in every bookshop
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 29 2012, 2:40pm
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I _really_ need to get a copy of this book -
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geordie
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Jul 29 2012, 3:07pm
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You definitely do need a copy, geordie :)
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Kristin Thompson
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Jul 29 2012, 3:48pm
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Hmm..
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geordie
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Jul 29 2012, 4:20pm
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More please
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Lurker in the Dark
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Aug 5 2012, 4:34am
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Believe me,
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Kristin Thompson
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Aug 5 2012, 3:35pm
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A most important book
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Lurker in the Dark
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Aug 7 2012, 5:57am
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I'm afraid I have to disagree
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Kristin Thompson
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Aug 7 2012, 3:46pm
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