This project is a legal, unofficial, fan reading of The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was undertaken in admiration of Tolkien’s works, and in preparation for my WIP recording of The Lord of the Rings. While this is an edited project (DM me for unedited version with personal commentary), I have not bothered to go through and polish the entire runtime, so expect the occasional mispronunciation or mischaracterization. It is also the first time I have read aloud a piece of text of this length, and my first experience voicing characters. I hope you enjoy!
Special thanks to Phil Dragash and Bluefax whose readings inspired me to produce this work, to my mothers for fostering my interest in reading, and to Asher Etherington and Chris Pugsley for their assistance with selected chapters.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF SERVICE
By proceeding, you confirm that your access and use are lawful where you are and that you accept sole responsibility for complying with the law of your location. Nothing here is legal advice.
This recording reads the literary text of “The Hobbit.” Under current New Zealand law, copyright in literary works generally lasts for the life of the author plus 50 years (Copyright Act 1994, s 22; see also IPONZ guidance on “Duration of copyright”). J. R. R. Tolkien died in 1973; accordingly, the underlying text is out of copyright in New Zealand from the start of 2024 on that basis (author’s death 1973; duration rule life + 50). Any use here is directed to that status under New Zealand law.
Making material available online can be a “communication to the public,” which is a restricted act while copyright subsists (Copyright Act 1994, s 16(1)(f)). Where the underlying text is no longer protected in New Zealand, communicating that text from New Zealand does not infringe New Zealand copyright law. This project reads the text itself and does not copy the typographical layout or editorial content of any particular modern edition (publisher’s typographical arrangement is a separate right lasting 25 years from first publication: IPONZ, “Duration of copyright”).
On future law changes: New Zealand has agreed through free-trade arrangements to extend terms toward life + 70 (for example, the EU–NZ FTA requires implementation within four years of entry into force). Public commentary and government/industry materials indicate that such extensions are to be implemented prospectively and are not intended to revive works already in the public domain; similarly, analysis of the NZ–UK FTA notes a long transition period and that extension will apply only to works still in term when implemented (EU–NZ FTA factsheets; NZ–UK FTA commentary noting no revival of public-domain works). On that understanding, this project remains lawful in New Zealand as it relies on a text believed to be public domain there.
This is a "fan-creation", for lack of a better term; not endorsed or officially associated with The Tolkien Estate, George Allen & Unwin, Harper Collins, or their affiliates and this production must not be bought or sold. To avoid any doubt about reuse, I do not claim copyright in my narration and dedicate the recording to the public domain to the maximum extent permitted (for example, CC0 1.0 in jurisdictions where a waiver is effective). Where a complete waiver is not legally effective, I grant an unrestricted, royalty-free licence for any purpose.
Any titles, names, or marks are used descriptively only; no affiliation or endorsement is claimed. By continuing, you agree not to assert claims against the host for your own use or onward sharing and to comply with the laws of your physical location.