The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien is in the public domain in the United States, but Middle-earth Enterprises owns the intellectual property and trademarks for the names, characters, places, items, and events in the work. This means that while the wording, characters, and environment are free to use, you need permission to use the names or likenesses in a business name. You also can’t manufacture or sell items that include Tolkien’s text or artwork, or use the names “Tolkien,” “J.R.R. Tolkien,” or the JRRT Monogram or Signature.
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The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien is in the public domain in the United States, but Middle-earth Enterprises owns the intellectual property and trademarks for the names, characters, places, items, and events in the work. This means that while the wording, characters, and environment are free to use, you need permission to use the names or likenesses in a business name. You also can’t manufacture or sell items that include Tolkien’s text or artwork, or use the names “Tolkien,” “J.R.R. Tolkien,” or the JRRT Monogram or Signature.