I would dislike corporate LotR a lot less if the IP were in the public domain.

As it is right now, corporate ownership of Tolkien’s work just puts a bad taste in my mouth because the people selling it really want you to believe that their product is a “real” addition to the work of someone dead for decades. Meanwhile everything else is fan fiction and illegitimate.

When a story belongs to everyone though, then anyone can tell it however they please and choose to ignore or disregard the additions of other people.