Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen step in to save 'The Hobbit Pub'

Wellington, Mar 21 (ANI): Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen have become heroes for The Hobbit Pub, which had been threatened to change its name or face legal action.

Stephen Fry had tweeted that he was ?ashamed? of the film industry after news broke that Saul Zaentz Company (SZC), which has the rights to several brands associated with Tolkien, told the UK pub it must carry out a complete rebranding before the end of May, or face legal action due to copyright infringement.

But it no longer faces a naming-rights battle as Fry and McKellen stepped in and offered to pay the annual licensing fee.

?Ian McKellen and I v pleased that The Hobbit pub appears to be safe. Between his FB and my tweet I hope we helped common sense prevail,? stuff.co.nz quoted Fry as tweeting.

He had earlier tweeted that the legal action against the popular music venue, which has been called The Hobbit for more than 20 years, was ?pointless, self-defeating bullying?.

The Save The Hobbit Facebook page attracted 58,000 followers in just over a week, many sharing Fry?s outrage.

?Good Evening Hobbits, Just a very quick update," staff from the pub wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

?I have just received a telephone call from Stephen Fry?s business partner. Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen will be visiting the Hobbit Pub sometime after filming is completed and they have even offered to pay for the license fee. How aewsome [sic] are these guys?? the post added.

The pub also tweeted, simply saying ?We are a happy pub?. (ANI)