In 2043...

[Cybernaught]

How many books about Hobbits do you think we'll see on the fantasy shelves? 2043 will be about 70 years after J.R.R. Tolkien's death, and I believe that's when every old stumblebum can start ripping him off (not that they haven't already anyway).

Or will the rights to his stories revert to his estate? Hopefully.

A seemingly random topic, but it's been on my mind for quite some time.

[Liosse de Velishaf]

Probably not too many, hopfully. Maybe if his estate can publish some random notes or something and slap his name on it, then we won't have to deal with all the half-assed fanfics?

[Cybernaught]

Probably not too many, hopfully. Maybe if his estate can publish some random notes or something and slap his name on it, then we won't have to deal with all the half-assed fanfics?

That's true. I didn't think about all the work his son has published. Hopefully he retains all the rights now.

[Rabe]

The rights can also be renewed to keep it from going into public domain by those who have a vested interest in it.

Rabe...

[Dark Cyril]

Probably not too many, hopfully. Maybe if his estate can publish some random notes or something and slap his name on it, then we won't have to deal with all the half-assed fanfics?

Wait a minute...

You mean we haven't been dealing with the half-assed fanfics over the past 35 years already?

What are we going to have to dread picking up in another 35 years?

In all seriousness though, it's not like the copyright has stopped people from ripping off the hobbits in the last 35 years. Look at Dungeons and Dragons. They have the halflings. They are hobbits with a different name. All another 35 years is going to do (and this is if the copyright isn't renewed) is going to let them drop the air of pretentiousness and call them what they are.