The estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien has resolved an $80 million lawsuit against the Hollywood studio behind "Lord of the Rings" over the licensing of casino and online gambling games featuring characters from the fantasy trilogy, according to court papers obtained Monday.
The settlement of the estate's 2012 complaint for copyright infringement and breach of contract against Warner Bros. was revealed in a Friday filing in Los Angeles federal court. Terms were not disclosed.
Both sides issued statements indicating that the parties look forward to working together in the future.
The estate alleged that Warner Bros. lacked the right to approve online slots, casino slot machines and Internet games based on "Lord of the Rings" characters and story elements created by the late British author.
A "Lord of the Rings" online slot game, for example, "outraged" Tolkien's fans and harmed the legacy of the English author, who died in 1973 at the age of 81, the suit alleged.
