"The former heads of Manches’ IP litigation and publishing and media groups have joined forces to launch a boutique specialising in IP, media and entertainment law and dispute resolution. Ex-Manches IP litigation head Steven Maier and the firm’s former head of publishing and media Cathleen Blackburn formed Maier Blackburn which [...]

' LONG-lost letters written by Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien have been returned to their rightful owner and will get top notch protection.
Former Oxford University student and professor, Tolkien was the guest of honour at the opening of Deddington Library in December 1956.
He wrote one letter accepting librarian Miss Stanley-Smith’s invitation, including [...]

An antiques dealer has been charged with selling allegedly fake Winston Churchill and J.R.R Tolkien signatures.
Allan Formhals, 65, from Milford on Sea, Lymington, Hampshire, faces 16 charges for offences related to owning and selling books and memorabilia.
The items in question also featured purported signatures from authors including Robert Louis Stevenson.
Mr Formhals has been [...]

"British police have arrested a 65-year-old man suspected of forging the signature of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill in books and then attempting to sell them on eBay or directly to buyers."
"Officers also seized a number of calligraphy pens with ink and approximately 30 books by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkein(sic), [...]

Did you know that Oxonmoot bookings close on 3 September? Online bookings aren't available for technical reasons, but you can download a PDF from the website. Do it today - you know it makes sense!http://www.tolkiensociety.org/oxon/Oxonmoot_booking_form.pdf
- wellinghall

http://wvupressonline.com/journals/tolkien_studies/volume_7
I've just ordered my copy
- wellinghall

"Oxford's Eagle and Child pub is to undergo a major facelift as part of a scheme to renovate buildings in a historic stretch of St Giles."
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/8260195.Historic_Oxford_pub_to_get_a_revamp/
- wellinghall

"In a surprising but not altogether shocking development, Deadline is reporting that Peter Jackson has agreed to direct the two HOBBIT films and that he's finalizing his deal right now with Warner Bros., New Line and MGM. While the obvious fingers were pointed at Jackson after Guillermo del Toro somewhat abruptly left the film, Jackson [...]

"A unique opportunity to collect a piece of The Lord of the Rings history.
A strictly limited edition of the maps for the new edition of the book The Lord of the Rings have been printed with the kind permission of the J R R Tolkien Estate."
http://tolkienmaps.com/
 http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/06/20/37152-british-artist-who-drew-the-maps-for-j-r-r-tolkiens-the-lord-of-the-rings-visits-usa/
  - wellinghall

Announcements: Finalists (June 1)
Fantasy Awards

Adult Literature

Barbara Campbell, Trickster’s Game trilogy consisting of Heartwood, Bloodstone, and Foxfire (DAW)

Greer Gilman, Cloud & Ashes: Three Winter’s Tales (Small Beer Press)

Robert Holdstock, Avilion (Gollancz)

Catherynne M. Valente, Palimpsest (Spectra)

Jo Walton, Lifelode (NESFA Press)

Children’s Literature

Kage Baker, The Hotel Under the Sand (Tachyon)

Shannon Hale, Books of Bayern consisting of The Goose Girl, [...]