The battle of Middle Earth (Enterprises): British pub called The Hobbit for 20 years is sued by Hollywood giant over use of name

A pub that has been called The Hobbit for more than 20 years is embroiled in a legal battle with Hollywood over its name.



The themed bar in Southampton has become the target of legal action by a U.S. film company in what is being described as 'a war between the Hobbits and the orcs.'

Middle-earth Enterprises, which owns many of the rights to author J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, claims the pub is profiting from its apparent connection with the franchise.

A pub called The Hobbit, which has been embroiled in a legal battle with Hollywood over its name, has been saved thanks to the efforts of Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen

It comes months before the multi-million pound blockbuster The Hobbit hits movie screens around the world in December.



The pub's walls are decorated with colourful graffiti-style paintings of characters from the fantasy novels.

Even its cocktails and shots are even named after the cast, with the fantastical concoctions available including Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo and Legolas.



However, the pub has now been told it must undergo a complete rebranding before the end of May or face legal action.



That involves changing the name of the bar and drinks, painting over the murals and removing posters from the walls.



Staff and customers at the pub - many of them huge Tolkien fans - have reacted with anger to the letter, describing it as 'like hobbits versus orcs' - a famous scene from the Lords of The Rings trilogy.



Little people: Barman Dave Waidson, 25, has been working at the themed pub in Southampton for more than three years

Landlady Stella Roberts, 41, said: 'We have been told that absolutely everything to do with the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit must go.



'That includes the name of the pub, the logo, the name of the drinks and the artwork.



'I’m taking legal advice but, sadly, I have not got the financial resources to fight a multi-million pounds company.



'The pub has been called The Hobbit for more than 20 years and it has never been a problem.



'It has always been a tribute to Tolkien’s work and not a case of us jumping on a commercial bandwagon.



'I believe the decision to target us now was prompted by the release of the film, which is due later this year.'



She added: 'It’s a real blow for me, our customers and staff. We are all Tolkien fans and I don’t see what harm we are doing.



Brandybuck cocktails: The quaint watering hole had earlier been ordered to stop selling its Tolkien-inspired drinks and remove any reference to the franchise from its decor

'The support from the locals has been fantastic and we really appreciate it.



'It will be astronomically expensive rebranding the pub and if the rights’ owners also want money from us we will be finished.



'We will have to wait and see how things develop.'



Barman Dave Waidson, who has worked at The Hobbit for three-and-a-half years, criticised the demands by the U.S. company as 'petty'.



He believes the pub adopted the name The Hobbit around 1989 when a hotel on the site closed down and that it became a tribute to author Tolkien, who died in 1973.

Free publicity: Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, the Lord Of The Rings prequel, due to hit screens in December

He said: 'The suggestion from the rights’ holders that customers might get confused and think we are licensed by them is nonsense.



'I understand they have a right to protect their trademark and copyright but what do they have to gain by going after us?

'It is just petty legalities and it is sad and unfortunate that it has come to this.



'Many of our customers, like me, are passionate Tolkien fans.



'It is a David versus Goliath battle.'

A campaign to save the Hobbit pub name has been launched on the internet and attracted more than 3,000 followers.



A statement on the pub’s Facebook page says: 'The Hobbit is being threatened with legal action over all references to Tolkien.



'No, it is not Tolkien’s estate doing said threatening it a guy called Saul Zaentz who owns the film rights to the Hobbit (not the Lord of the Rings).

Evocative images: The landlord had earlier been told to paint over the murals painted on the walls of the beer garden

'Miffed by Peter Jackson’s staggering success with the LOTR films Mr Zaentz now spends his time taking out trivial legal actions in the UK to enforce his claim over the ‘Hobbit’ brand.



'We are not the first company to be hit and won’t be the last.



'We will not be closing, but will have to get rid of all references to the books and films.



It is just petty legalities and it is sad and unfortunate that it has come to this. Many of our customers, like me, are passionate Tolkien fans. It is a David versus Goliath battle.





'The solicitors are still huffing and puffing and charging us ludicrous amounts for their time but we will update you as soon as we have any news.'

The U.S. firm's website says: 'Middle-earth Enterprises owns exclusive worldwide rights to motion picture, merchandising, stage and other rights in certain literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.



'We have produced and licensed films, stage productions and merchandise based on these Tolkien works for more than thirty-five years.'

Middle-earth Enterprises is a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, which produced Academy Award-winning films One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The English Patient.



A spokesman for Edward Wildman Group solicitors, who are acting on behalf of The Saul Zaentz Company, said: 'Our client’s policy is not to comment on matters such as this.'

It is not the first time the company has tried to take punitive action against Tolkien homages.



In November, a Birmingham cafe called the Hungry Hobbit was accused of copyright infringement by lawyers representing The Saul Zaentz Company.

