> "I would draw some of the great tales in fullness, and leave many only placed in the scheme, and sketched. The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama.”

> Tolkien several said he wanted see what other people with their own creative vision could do set in Middle Earth.

That would explain why the Tolkien state sued "Dungeons and Dragons", and Warner Bross, and anybody trying to clone middle earth in their own shows...

This explains also why the Witcher would need to find a way to have elves depicted as much different as possible from Tolkien's elves. Tolkien's elves are extremely advanced technologically and the "de facto" standard now for the term, Witcher's elves are a tribe of poor forest people, closer to the (copyright free) traditional goblins, but that went extinct with Tolkien's work.

Why are you even trying to make an argument like that? The point, as I'm sure you very well know, is Tolkien wanted other people to contribute original material to Middle Earth on their own terms. He was all for it. The opinion of his estate since his death is different of course, but that's got nothing to do with his own opinion.

You are right, is not really relevant here. Fair point