Latest news with #Middle-earth
CNN
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
This aircraft mechanic is using social media to make flying – and grieving – a little less scary
Max Comer never set out to become a social media star. But somewhere between fixing landing gear in Oklahoma and raising two young sons on his own, the 33-year-old aircraft mechanic — known as 'Airplane Facts with Max' online — started gaining followers by the thousand. In his quirky, deadpan videos, Comer introduces aircraft components like speed tape, cargo doors and ice detection systems — often relating them to elaborate 'Lord of the Rings' references. In one video about titanium engine fan blades, for instance, he dives into an extended overview of the origins of Andúril, the sword carried by Aragorn, which was reforged from the shards of Narsil by the Elves of Rivendell. But it's not all Tolkien. Sporting metal-band tees and long, wavy strawberry-blond hair, Comer also helps demystify air travel by posting reassuring videos about common in-flight worries, from banging sounds during takeoff to the origins of the 'smoke' coming from overhead vents. A post shared by Max (@airplanefactswithmax) He also clears up misconceptions about things like 'duct tape' on planes (it's actually speed tape) or the 'black' box (which is actually two bright orange boxes). To his surprise, people have embraced his dry humor and mix of aviation facts and Middle-earth lore — a curious combination that's earned him over 1.2 million Instagram followers and nearly half a million more on TikTok. 'One thing I've learned from my page is that aircraft mechanics aren't talked about much — we usually work behind the scenes, so I'm glad to shine a little light on what we do,' he tells CNN. 'There are hundreds of thousands of us out there, working overnight in the dark and the rain, changing tires and brakes, getting covered in hydraulic fluid. It's not glamorous. It's dirty. It can be hard on your body. But someone's got to do it — and we do.' Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Comer had a lot of freedom to pursue hobbies and do his own thing. He recalls spending his youth skateboarding, playing guitar in local bands and helping his dad with repairs on the family ranch. After high school, Comer gave college a try for about a year and a half, but it wasn't a good fit, so he dropped out. It's not glamorous. It's dirty. It can be hard on your body. But someone's got to do it — and we do.' Max Comer, aircraft mechanic In 2013, Comer met his late wife, Jones, and they later welcomed their first son, Finn, a year later. At the time, he was bartending while searching for a more stable career with benefits. A friend's father, an aircraft mechanic, was about to start school for his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license and invited Comer to join him. So in 2015, he enrolled in a full-time A&P program while continuing to work nights at the bar. 'It was a grind,' he says. 'We were scrambling to make ends meet. But I knew it was just 18 months — and I could do it.' After graduating, Comer took a job with Horizon Air in Seattle, working on regional jets like the Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 175. 'I was really green,' he says. 'In school, you're working on engines that have been sitting there for 25 years. Then suddenly working on a live aircraft that's about to carry real people.' Thankfully, he was surrounded by veteran mechanics who showed him the ropes during overnight shifts when they would take care of whatever the planes needed, such as tire and oil changes or flight control checks. Sometimes, he worked on planes that carried his own family. He recalls one morning when he was stuck trying to fix a plane's cargo door. 'My wife, Jones, and my kid were actually on that flight,' he says. 'She's texting me from the terminal like, 'Fix the damn plane, Max! We're gonna miss our connection!'' And while it could be high pressure at times, Comer loved the job. 'There's a lot of stress in aviation for everybody in the industry. There's a low margin of error, so things have to be precise,' he says. 'The plane can't pull over. There's no side of the cloud where you can stop and check something. It makes me feel like what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis is important, because it is.' For the next few years, life was good for Comer — he had a fulfilling career, was deeply in love, and welcomed a second son. But then his world collapsed. In September 2022, Jones passed away unexpectedly. 'It was by far the hardest time in my life,' he says. 'She was the love of my life. A one-of-a-kind person who brought so much joy to our lives. I felt like my life was over. I couldn't sleep. I was spiraling.' As he struggled to stay afloat under the crushing weight of grief, Comer searched for distractions and comfort in literature. He turned to the world of 'The Lord of the Rings,' losing himself in Elvish languages, gruesome battles and the lore of Tolkien's magical realms. 'Tolkien has always been a comfort story for me,' he says. 'Oddly enough, my wife didn't like 'Lord of the Rings' — she thought it was boring. So, it was one thing that didn't remind me of her. It felt like a safe space away from everything.' Around the same time, Comer began posting short, monotone videos about aircraft parts on his private Instagram. His friends thought they were funny and urged him to try TikTok. So, in November 2022, he gave it a shot. 'I posted on TikTok, then accidentally fell asleep on my lunch break,' he says. 'I wasn't sleeping much back then and just dozed off.' He never imagined that first 'airplane fact' would take off. 'When I woke up, it already had 20,000 views. My phone had exploded,' he recalls. 'It was wild.' About three months later, he posted his first Tolkien-themed airplane fact, just to see if he could connect two wildly different interests. 'I didn't think I could do it again,' he says. 'But then I came up with another one, and then another. And I realized — I could just keep going.' If it were up to him, he says he'd talk about 'Lord of the Rings' all day. 'But I realized most people don't know as much about airplanes as I do,' he says. 'So I figured, why not do both? It's a win-win.' For a long time, Comer didn't mention Jones on his page. But when he finally did, the outpouring of support caught him off guard. 'It was overwhelmingly positive,' he says. 'People shared their own stories of grief, and it made me feel less alone.' Looking back, he says, Airplane Facts with Max gave him something vital. 'During that time, I had a hard time wanting to just keep going day to day. It gave me something to look forward to — a creative outlet I really needed.' And what would Jones think about it all? 'She loved social media. I think it would blow her mind. Especially because it's about two things — 'Lord of the Rings' and airplanes — that she thought were so boring,'' he laughs. 'She'd probably be like, 'My dumb husband? This guy?' But I think she'd probably be a mix of proud and jealous.' While Comer occasionally shares more personal posts, the vast majority of his content is lighthearted — created just for the fun of it. He says he truly enjoys finding unlikely links between cargo bays or landing gear and obscure Tolkien plotlines. 'I don't script the videos,' he says. 'I tried once, but it looked like I was reading. Now I just visualize it and go.' A post shared by Max (@airplanefactswithmax) He's especially proud when his content helps viewers overcome a fear of flying or inspires a new career path. 'I've had people message me saying they're starting A&P school because of my channel,' he says. 'That's wild to me. I hope that the industry treats them as well as it's treated me.' Comer currently works in heavy maintenance on Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s, performing comprehensive 'C-Checks' that commercial aircraft undergo every couple of years. 'We take the airplane apart and put it back together. When it leaves, it's basically a brand-new aircraft,' he explains. 'That's why a plane from 1996 can still fly.' Beyond aviation and Tolkien content, Comer has also started sharing his original music — mostly heartfelt acoustic tracks written about his late wife. 'For me, it just kind of flows out, and it feels good to be able to take that emotion and create something,' he adds. Whether through his poignant music or humorous aviation facts, Comer hopes his content resonates on multiple levels. He aims to shine a light on aircraft mechanics, ease anxieties around flying, delight fellow Tolkien fans — and perhaps offer solace to those navigating grief. 'This all started when I was at the lowest point in my life,' says Comer. 'It helped me find myself again and made me feel like I had something of value to give. 'If I've brought anyone a little laughter or comfort over the past few years, that makes me feel really good about what I've been doing.'
CNN
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
This aircraft mechanic is using social media to make flying – and grieving – a little less scary
Max Comer never set out to become a social media star. But somewhere between fixing landing gear in Oklahoma and raising two young sons on his own, the 33-year-old aircraft mechanic — known as 'Airplane Facts with Max' online — started gaining followers by the thousand. In his quirky, deadpan videos, Comer introduces aircraft components like speed tape, cargo doors and ice detection systems — often relating them to elaborate 'Lord of the Rings' references. In one video about titanium engine fan blades, for instance, he dives into an extended overview of the origins of Andúril, the sword carried by Aragorn, which was reforged from the shards of Narsil by the Elves of Rivendell. But it's not all Tolkien. Sporting metal-band tees and long, wavy strawberry-blond hair, Comer also helps demystify air travel by posting reassuring videos about common in-flight worries, from banging sounds during takeoff to the origins of the 'smoke' coming from overhead vents. A post shared by Max (@airplanefactswithmax) He also clears up misconceptions about things like 'duct tape' on planes (it's actually speed tape) or the 'black' box (which is actually two bright orange boxes). To his surprise, people have embraced his dry humor and mix of aviation facts and Middle-earth lore — a curious combination that's earned him over 1.2 million Instagram followers and nearly half a million more on TikTok. 'One thing I've learned from my page is that aircraft mechanics aren't talked about much — we usually work behind the scenes, so I'm glad to shine a little light on what we do,' he tells CNN. 'There are hundreds of thousands of us out there, working overnight in the dark and the rain, changing tires and brakes, getting covered in hydraulic fluid. It's not glamorous. It's dirty. It can be hard on your body. But someone's got to do it — and we do.' Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Comer had a lot of freedom to pursue hobbies and do his own thing. He recalls spending his youth skateboarding, playing guitar in local bands and helping his dad with repairs on the family ranch. After high school, Comer gave college a try for about a year and a half, but it wasn't a good fit, so he dropped out. It's not glamorous. It's dirty. It can be hard on your body. But someone's got to do it — and we do.' Max Comer, aircraft mechanic In 2013, Comer met his late wife, Jones, and they later welcomed their first son, Finn, a year later. At the time, he was bartending while searching for a more stable career with benefits. A friend's father, an aircraft mechanic, was about to start school for his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license and invited Comer to join him. So in 2015, he enrolled in a full-time A&P program while continuing to work nights at the bar. 'It was a grind,' he says. 'We were scrambling to make ends meet. But I knew it was just 18 months — and I could do it.' After graduating, Comer took a job with Horizon Air in Seattle, working on regional jets like the Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 175. 'I was really green,' he says. 'In school, you're working on engines that have been sitting there for 25 years. Then suddenly working on a live aircraft that's about to carry real people.' Thankfully, he was surrounded by veteran mechanics who showed him the ropes during overnight shifts when they would take care of whatever the planes needed, such as tire and oil changes or flight control checks. Sometimes, he worked on planes that carried his own family. He recalls one morning when he was stuck trying to fix a plane's cargo door. 'My wife, Jones, and my kid were actually on that flight,' he says. 'She's texting me from the terminal like, 'Fix the damn plane, Max! We're gonna miss our connection!'' And while it could be high pressure at times, Comer loved the job. 'There's a lot of stress in aviation for everybody in the industry. There's a low margin of error, so things have to be precise,' he says. 'The plane can't pull over. There's no side of the cloud where you can stop and check something. It makes me feel like what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis is important, because it is.' For the next few years, life was good for Comer — he had a fulfilling career, was deeply in love, and welcomed a second son. But then his world collapsed. In September 2022, Jones passed away unexpectedly. 'It was by far the hardest time in my life,' he says. 'She was the love of my life. A one-of-a-kind person who brought so much joy to our lives. I felt like my life was over. I couldn't sleep. I was spiraling.' As he struggled to stay afloat under the crushing weight of grief, Comer searched for distractions and comfort in literature. He turned to the world of 'The Lord of the Rings,' losing himself in Elvish languages, gruesome battles and the lore of Tolkien's magical realms. 'Tolkien has always been a comfort story for me,' he says. 'Oddly enough, my wife didn't like 'Lord of the Rings' — she thought it was boring. So, it was one thing that didn't remind me of her. It felt like a safe space away from everything.' Around the same time, Comer began posting short, monotone videos about aircraft parts on his private Instagram. His friends thought they were funny and urged him to try TikTok. So, in November 2022, he gave it a shot. 'I posted on TikTok, then accidentally fell asleep on my lunch break,' he says. 'I wasn't sleeping much back then and just dozed off.' He never imagined that first 'airplane fact' would take off. 'When I woke up, it already had 20,000 views. My phone had exploded,' he recalls. 'It was wild.' About three months later, he posted his first Tolkien-themed airplane fact, just to see if he could connect two wildly different interests. 'I didn't think I could do it again,' he says. 'But then I came up with another one, and then another. And I realized — I could just keep going.' If it were up to him, he says he'd talk about 'Lord of the Rings' all day. 'But I realized most people don't know as much about airplanes as I do,' he says. 'So I figured, why not do both? It's a win-win.' For a long time, Comer didn't mention Jones on his page. But when he finally did, the outpouring of support caught him off guard. 'It was overwhelmingly positive,' he says. 'People shared their own stories of grief, and it made me feel less alone.' Looking back, he says, Airplane Facts with Max gave him something vital. 'During that time, I had a hard time wanting to just keep going day to day. It gave me something to look forward to — a creative outlet I really needed.' And what would Jones think about it all? 'She loved social media. I think it would blow her mind. Especially because it's about two things — 'Lord of the Rings' and airplanes — that she thought were so boring,'' he laughs. 'She'd probably be like, 'My dumb husband? This guy?' But I think she'd probably be a mix of proud and jealous.' While Comer occasionally shares more personal posts, the vast majority of his content is lighthearted — created just for the fun of it. He says he truly enjoys finding unlikely links between cargo bays or landing gear and obscure Tolkien plotlines. 'I don't script the videos,' he says. 'I tried once, but it looked like I was reading. Now I just visualize it and go.' A post shared by Max (@airplanefactswithmax) He's especially proud when his content helps viewers overcome a fear of flying or inspires a new career path. 'I've had people message me saying they're starting A&P school because of my channel,' he says. 'That's wild to me. I hope that the industry treats them as well as it's treated me.' Comer currently works in heavy maintenance on Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s, performing comprehensive 'C-Checks' that commercial aircraft undergo every couple of years. 'We take the airplane apart and put it back together. When it leaves, it's basically a brand-new aircraft,' he explains. 'That's why a plane from 1996 can still fly.' Beyond aviation and Tolkien content, Comer has also started sharing his original music — mostly heartfelt acoustic tracks written about his late wife. 'For me, it just kind of flows out, and it feels good to be able to take that emotion and create something,' he adds. Whether through his poignant music or humorous aviation facts, Comer hopes his content resonates on multiple levels. He aims to shine a light on aircraft mechanics, ease anxieties around flying, delight fellow Tolkien fans — and perhaps offer solace to those navigating grief. 'This all started when I was at the lowest point in my life,' says Comer. 'It helped me find myself again and made me feel like I had something of value to give. 'If I've brought anyone a little laughter or comfort over the past few years, that makes me feel really good about what I've been doing.'
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: BOOM CRACK! Dance's ‘Bruta' finds the potent potential of hip hop
BOOM CRACK! Dance Company has not gotten the credit it deserves. To be sure, artistic director Trae Turner has made elegant strides in sending his distinct style — a blend of urban contemporary and commercial street dance — to the concert dance stage, and that's garnered some high-profile appearances at festivals in Chicago and beyond over the company's 16-year history. But BOOM CRACK!'s latest full-length evening, titled 'Bruta' and running two days at Edgewater's Edge Theater on Broadway, seems to subversively say something about the dance field's historic dismissiveness toward the creative capacity of hip hop, without making the project a dull intellectual exercise. On the contrary, 'Bruta' has everything we've come to know and love about this company: it's tightly composed, earthy and hard-hitting, with the right amount of sultry sauciness. And in 11 short pieces spread across three brief acts, the evening implies a narrative arc about breaking free. From what, I'm not totally sure. But I'm here for it. A prelude by soloist Abdiel Figueroa Reyes opens the evening, the former Hubbard Street dancer confined to a ruddy, lumpy ring at the center of the Edge's petite stage. Reyes writhes and contorts in what, given his history, struck me as the stripped-down, primordial shadow of Kyle Abraham's 'Show Pony.' Or maybe not. But throughout the evening, choreographers Turner and Krista Ellensohn (plus a spectacular second-act trio by company member Alexa Kruchten set to Michael Jackson's 'Dirty Diana') take the audience on a somewhat similar journey, oscillating between dark and light, guttural and ethereal, feral and ferocious. Those contrasts are most evident in how Turner and Ellensohn divided the performance, with the first act leaning far more heavily on lyrical and contemporary vocabulary outside this company's comfort zone. Guest performers Reyes, Sophia Cozzi, Emma Miquelon and Ella Querry do the heavy lifting on that front, lending an ooey-gooey aesthetic that evolves to meet the moment as the music and dance veers more toward hip hop. But that Middle-earth feel laid down at the beginning returns at the top of Act 3, with BOOM CRACK! dancers Ellensohn, Krutchen and Sophia Santore confined to rings of their own, impatiently pacing within their self-imposed borders. It doesn't last. Santore bursts onstage for an electrifying solo leading into 'Bruta's' rather joy-filled finale, the cast donning baggy fatigues and personalized 'Bruta' T-shirts. BOOM CRACK!'s full-length productions are few and far between, produced at a rate of less than once every other year. Thus 'Bruta' feels special, and The Edge Theater is perhaps a too-small venue for what it is trying to do and say — in some moments literally. Music, arranged by Turner, ranges from cinematic schmaltz to dubstep to the aforementioned 'Dirty Diana.' One track, featuring the largest cast of the night, with 11 dancers on that tiny stage, says 'I can do anything' on repeat. Another: 'I want that recipe,' a line parroted by an audience advised in Ellensohn's curtain speech to express themselves — which they thankfully did at Thursday's preview. The space is well-appointed enough for lighting designer Michael Gobel to find some striking looks, and smartly used, even in 'Bruta's' more crowded moments. Immersive, booming bass from a great sound system is felt right down to your bones. But with short snippets separated by needed pauses for costume changes, plus two intermissions, 'Bruta' feels like a bit of a tease, serving us peaks and valleys rather than a steady build of momentum — a most delectable tapas, but not quite enough food on the plate to send the table away feeling 'Bruta' (3 stars) When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: BOOM CRACK! Dance Company at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Running time: 70 minutes with 2 intermissions Tickets: $30 at
1News
08-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Lord of the Rings says Australian burger chain name shall not pass
In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and an Australian vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The franchise was in New Zealand from 2016 until last June when its franchisor, Chip Lord NZ, went into liquidation. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said today. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is, I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Lord of the Rings says burger chain name shall not pass
In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and a vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said on Thursday. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ms Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment. In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and a vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said on Thursday. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ms Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment. In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and a vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said on Thursday. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ms Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment. In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and a vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said on Thursday. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ms Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment.
