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Save the Shire!

by Karen Blundell
29 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
If you are a Tolkien fan, love hobbits and the Shire, we need your help!

This is about the Saul Zaentz Company, who, three months ago, filed to get the word "Shire" trademarked. They already have the word "hobbit" trademarked and are going after some small businesses in England who just happen to have the word in their business name or product materials.


Read more about it here.


Why are we concerned? Because there are many hobbyists, artists, fan-sites, small businesses, even towns in England with "Shire" in their names. After all, Shires have existed in England for centuries.


If the Saul Zaentz Company acquires the trademark to "Shire", my 5 year-old site raisingtheshire.com could also be shut down. And that would be a sad thing for me, a Tolkien fan and a lover of the lore of Middle Earth, and who holds hobbits and the Shire very dear to my heart.


We think greed is a very nasty thing. So we must fight against a greedy corporation who is acting separately from the Tolkien Estate. If J.R.R. were alive, he wouldn't stand for this nonsense and he would have fought too, we're sure.


Please help by spreading the word. When tweeting or posting, please use the official hashtag, #savetheshire as well to tag @middleearthnews on twitter or facebook.com/middleearthnews.


thank you!
  • Profile picture of the author pressurewashing
    I'm just about to move to the Sutherland Shire in Sydney.
    What will they call that?
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by pressurewashing View Post

      I'm just about to move to the Sutherland Shire in Sydney.
      What will they call that?
      I know! It's ridiculous, isn't it?
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by pressurewashing View Post

      I'm just about to move to the Sutherland Shire in Sydney.
      What will they call that?
      Actually every local administration region in Australia not big enough to qualify as a town is officially a "Shire".

      Since all of these, as well as the English counties, predate even Professor Tolkien using the term Shire, Mr Zaentz doesn't have a leg to stand on.

      Every court in Australia as well as the UK will throw any lawsuit/injunction out of court before it even gets started.
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub
    from the nice-of-them dept

    Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub | Techdirt
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

      Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub
      from the nice-of-them dept

      Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub | Techdirt

      yes, this is fantastic, and they are also helping spread awareness about the "Shire" trademark issue.
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      • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
        Really?

        I live in Berkshire which borders Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

        Then there's Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Devonshire plus about another 20 shires in Scotland.

        These are called Counties in the UK.

        The people who used to keep the peace in each Shire on behalf of the King in days gone by were the Shire Reeves (Peace) hence Sheriff.

        I don't know what it is about US companies when they become huge that they think they own the words in the dictionary.

        Dan
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        • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
          Originally Posted by jimbo13 View Post

          Really?

          I live in Berkshire which borders Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

          Then there's Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Devonshire plus about another 20 shires in Scotland.

          These are called Counties in the UK.

          The people who used to keep the peace in each Shire on behalf of the King in days gone by were the Shire Reeves (Peace) hence Sheriff.

          I don't know what it is about US companies when they become huge that they think they own the words in the dictionary.

          Dan
          It's not companies. Our law schools are pumping out too many lawyers with nothing else to do...
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          • Profile picture of the author jimbo13
            Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

            It's not companies. Our law schools are pumping out too many lawyers with nothing else to do...
            Thanks Dave that is a good point.

            So I guess they just trawl around until they find something then.

            Dan
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        • Profile picture of the author Eric Seiler
          I never really liked New Hampshire anyway.

          To a certain extent, if they register a trademark they have to defend it, otherwise the trademark becomes worthless. It will be declared public domain.

          That doesn't mean I agree with what they are doing. I don't.
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        • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
          Originally Posted by jimbo13 View Post

          Really?

          I live in Berkshire which borders Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

          Then there's Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Devonshire plus about another 20 shires in Scotland.

          These are called Counties in the UK.

          The people who used to keep the peace in each Shire on behalf of the King in days gone by were the Shire Reeves (Peace) hence Sheriff.

          I don't know what it is about US companies when they become huge that they think they own the words in the dictionary.

          Dan
          You Guys are going to owe a LOT of big-time money for that jimbo...:p
          (I mean, just because you named these places umpteen centuries ago...did you think you could slide?)

          Just ask actress Talia Shire!
          Look at all the back royalties she owes on the 'Godfather' and 'Rocky' movies!!
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    • Profile picture of the author glacey
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

      Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub
      from the nice-of-them dept

      Hobbit Actors Stephen Fry & Ian McKellen Pay License For Hobbit Pub | Techdirt
      Saw this on our local news and thought April the 1st had come early. Hope Sir Ian does visit always wanted to meet him.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Since when does getting a patent on a word mean you can wipe out all pre-existing uses? All it takes is one or two of those entities (towns most likely) to contest that patent and the company is done. Even if they did patent it, there would be no way for them to force everyone to change town names. Is the town of Berkshire going to be confused with one of their products?

    This all sounds like a publicity stunt to me.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    The "shire" trademark is being contested. Since there are many uses of the word "Shire" that predate Tolkien's usage of the term, the contest should prevail. Unless there are some forms of really new and whacked out trademark laws. Actually - what could stop a town, of say West Shire, that was in existence before Tolkien's books from suing whatever entity owns the Tolkien content now?

    Whether real or just a lot of publicity -- it's a real wad of crap. Or should I say "Hobbit Crapshire".
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    What about the one owned by my friend Will? Wilshire.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Sadly I can see corporation America allowing such a stupid thing to go through.

    A bit off topic here,but is anyone else missing their thank button?
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      I have my thank you button, Kim

      Do you have yours yet?

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Nope,i Had it last night,but I didn't think I used it that much.Maybe I did and it will come back later.I was just wondering if it was me or the forum. Thanks Terra.

    Now back to our regularly scheduled thread......
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      thanks all, for your input on this thread. I think it's all BS, and I don't think it's going to fly. I hope I'm right.

      The Saul Zaentz Company would be tied up in too many legal battles, l would think. It should be interesting to see how everything unfolds in the next while.

      You'd be surprised at how passionate Tolkien fans are and how many are willing to fight this. It's actually quite awesome
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        I think it's a pipe dream, to tell you the truth, Karen.

        I don't see how they could ever pull that off!

        That's about as ludicrous as me doing the same thing with my name and trying to sue everyone who uses terra instead of earth. :rolleyes:

        I think you all are safe.

        Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author KimW
        Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

        thanks all, for your input on this thread. I think it's all BS, and I don't think it's going to fly. I hope I'm right.

        The Saul Zaentz Company would be tied up in too many legal battles, l would think. It should be interesting to see how everything unfolds in the next while.

        You'd be surprised at how passionate Tolkien fans are and how many are willing to fight this. It's actually quite awesome


        Karen, you have no idea how big of a Tolkien fan I am!
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        • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
          Originally Posted by KimW View Post

          Karen, you have no idea how big of a Tolkien fan I am!
          I do now, Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    When The Silmarillion in was first published in the states,the made a mistake and said one of his previous works was Father Giles of Ham instead of Farmer Giles of Ham.Well a first edition with a misprint was speculated it might be worth money one day so when the corrected version was put out I used it as my reading copy and stashed away the first edition.
    Alas, it really isn't worth much more than face value,even now,but I'm still glad I have it.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      When The Silmarillion in was first published in the states,the made a mistake and said one of his previous works was Father Giles of Ham instead of Farmer Giles of Ham.Well a first edition with a misprint was speculated it might be worth money one day so when the corrected version was put out I used it as my reading copy and stashed away the first edition.
      Alas, it really isn't worth much more than face value,even now,but I'm still glad I have it.

      Well, you can see how easy it is to lose things like that in translation - given that they were transposing it from English, to English...
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Jonsson
    Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

    If you are a Tolkien fan, love hobbits and the Shire, we need your help!

    This is about the Saul Zaentz Company, who, three months ago, filed to get the word "Shire" trademarked. They already have the word "hobbit" trademarked and are going after some small businesses in England who just happen to have the word in their business name or product materials.


    Read more about it here.


    Why are we concerned? Because there are many hobbyists, artists, fan-sites, small businesses, even towns in England with "Shire" in their names. After all, Shires have existed in England for centuries.


    If the Saul Zaentz Company acquires the trademark to "Shire", my 5 year-old site raisingtheshire.com could also be shut down. And that would be a sad thing for me, a Tolkien fan and a lover of the lore of Middle Earth, and who holds hobbits and the Shire very dear to my heart.


    We think greed is a very nasty thing. So we must fight against a greedy corporation who is acting separately from the Tolkien Estate. If J.R.R. were alive, he wouldn't stand for this nonsense and he would have fought too, we're sure.


    Please help by spreading the word. When tweeting or posting, please use the official hashtag, #savetheshire as well to tag @middleearthnews on twitter or facebook.com/middleearthnews.


    thank you!
    Hail Karen!

    I am a Founder over at Middle-earth Network.

    Just wanted to say thank you for offering your support!

    Save the Shire - Help Save the Shire!
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    MAN, someone needs to start ENFORCING THE LAW! A common name is NOT supposed to be trademarkable! A you are RIGHT about shire! What is next City? State? Providence? Country? Europe? USA? GIVE ME A BREAK!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      MAN, someone needs to start ENFORCING THE LAW! A common name is NOT supposed to be trademarkable! A you are RIGHT about shire! What is next City? State? Providence? Country? Europe? USA? GIVE ME A BREAK! Steve
      You're right. Imagine the band Kansas trying to make their name a trademark. Same thing with Boston.

      They can trademark their logo design, but not the name itself.
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