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Gaming rumors: much ado about darned little - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

October 12, 2000 at 12:44:15

Variety and Gamespot are reporting that Electronic Arts may get the electronic games license for Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Variety is also reporting that Havas Interactive has asked the Tolkien Estate to clarify its rights. Xenite.Org earlier this year reported that Sierra Online, a division of Havas, filed suit against The Saul Zaentz Company, whose division Tolkien Enterprises administers film and merchandisng rights for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Sierra fired its development team on September 22, 1999 and suspended development of the Middle-earth Online game, which was expected to support up to 10,000 players per world/server. Although Sierra claims it has not abandoned the game, some industry observers expect the company to forfeit the license.

In the meantime, New Line Cinema has reportedly been shopping gaming and other rights around, and has allegedly pressured companies with existing licenses to return them. Toy Vault, manufacturer of the popular Middle-earth action figures, has been in negotiation with New Line Cinema over the continued use of its license, which expires at the end of 2000.