Advertisement

Thousands join Save the Hobbit campaign after Hollywood firm threatens pub with legal action

Thousands of Facebook users have joined an online campaign supporting a pub called The Hobbit after lawyers in Hollywood threatened legal action.


They want the pub in Southampton, which serves cocktails named after characters in the JRR Tolkien book such as 'Frodo' and 'Gandalf', to choose another name.

The quirky haunt has traded with the name The Hobbit for 20 years.

Actor Stephen Fry, who is currently working on a film of the book in New Zealand, has now also lent his support to the campaign.

On Twitter he wrote: “Honestly, @saveTheHobbit, sometimes I'm ashamed of the business I'm in. What pointless, self-defeating bullying."

So far, @saveTheHobbit has attracted 3,897 followers on Twitter and campaigners are bidding to make #saveTheHobbit a trending topic on the social networking site.

The Saul Zaentz Company, based in California, has sent a letter to the pub asking it to make the changes, according to the BBC. The firm protects numerous brands connected with JRR Tolkein.

[Related story: Police called to 'The Hobbit' casting]


But landlady Stella Mary Roberts has told the BBC that changing the name of the pub and any references inside would cost 'thousands'.

A 'Save the Hobbit' Facebook page was set up five days ago by student Heather Cartwright from Southampton University and has attracted growing support with 19,000 likes and counting.

Outlining why it had set up the page, the Facebook site reads: “Obviously, it wouldn't be our beloved Hobbit if it weren't The Hobbit anymore, and whilst copyright must be respected it seems as though this legal case is being put forward for the wrong reasons.”


[Related link: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' – First trailer]



One user posted a comment on the ‘SavetheHobbit’ page saying: “Having run a small business in the UK myself for twenty years I really empathise with your plight.”