Round one to Jackson in LOTR profits fight

Kiwi director Peter Jackson has won the first round in his fight with Hollywood studio New Line Cinema over profits from The Lord of the Rings.

A judge has fined New Line, the film trilogy's financial backer, $US125,000 ($NZ169,000) for failing to turn over court-ordered documents in the case.

The Hollywood Reporter said Jackson's lawyers might also be allowed to inspect New Line's files if the studio did not produce several audits within 21 days.

New Line must also hire an outsider to collect electronic documents, including e-mails, it said.

Jackson sued New Line two years ago over money made, including DVD payments, from the first The Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring.

When Jackson's suit was filed it did not specify the amount of damages sought, but his lawyers later told The New York Times they believed Jackson was underpaid by as much as $US100 million for all three films, which had made more than $US4 billion.