Hobbit battles 'Sauron'

A scene from the classic Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - but fiction has turned to reality as The Hobbit pub is hunted by mighty lawyers unleashed by a "Sauron" Hollywood film producer.

Far from Middle Earth in modern-day Southampton, owner Stella Roberts has been told by film producer Saul Zaentz Company to remove all references to the Tolkien classic.

That might be difficult because it's the whole theme of the pub.

SZC, which owns the worldwide film, stage and merchandising rights to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its prequel The Hobbit, said she had until the end of May to change the pub's make-up or face legal action.

The pub - named Southampton's best in 2007 - has been called The Hobbit for more than 20 years and is popular with students.

Now a "fellowship" of The Hobbit has been formed with an internet campaign and backing from actors Stephen Fry and - the Master of Laketown in the upcoming film - and Gandalf himself Sir Ian McKellen to help save the pub's theme.

Ms Roberts, who has briefed solicitors, said: "We just haven't got the resources to fight it. How can I take on a multimillion-pound power?"

The Lord of the Rings films are the sixth-highest grossing film series of all time and prequel The Hobbit is due out in December.

A Birmingham cafe called the Hungry Hobbit was also accused of copyright infringement last November by lawyers representing SZC and was told to "phase out" the name.

tonyp@peoples-press.com