However, the word hobbit appears, in print, before JRRT was born, with the meaning of some sort of goblin. So whether JRRT thought he invented it, he didn't. It doesn't take much legal arguing. Did the word appear in print before Tolkien used it? Yes it did, here it is. Thank you. Here's my fee. According to a friend of mine who knows about these things, TSR were aware of this, but just didn't want to pick a fight over the issue. Incidentally, as well as fan art, there is parody, which is protected. So do Vampirella with exaggerated characteristics, with a sword, in a temple, and you are OK.