Members in Chat: evlpez, Antarctica, RiddleMeThis | |
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
| | Harry Potter News Latest news and rumors about the Harry Potter world! | Have a very Harry day!! 
10-31-2007, 10:02 PM
| | | J.K.Rowling & W.B. file lawsuit against fan encyclopaedia
J.K.Rowling and Warner Brothers have filed a lawsuit, citing copyright infringement, against a fan-written unofficial Potter encyclopaedia. The Harry Potter Lexicon, which is authored by the webmaster of the same-named site, Steve Vander Ark, is 400 pages long and was due to be released in late November. It has been accused of "inappropriately referencing Rowling's fictional characters and universe". Quote: |
"The infringing book is particularly troubling as it is in direct contravention to Ms. Rowling's repeatedly stated intention to publish her own companion books to the series and donate proceeds of such books to charity," said the lawsuit, which the plaintiff said was filed on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan.
| Damages and profits from the book have been sought. Quote: |
Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. and the distributor of the Harry Potter films, said in a statement it was seeking to protect its intellectual property rights so that "everyone can continue to enjoy Harry Potter books and films in the spirit in which they were created."
|
Last edited by EmmaRiddle : 11-02-2007 at 12:05 PM.
|
10-31-2007, 10:13 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| Filipino Language Mod DA President FDFC Co-Pressie Gryffindor Goddess Occamy
Location: In a fairytale Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 28,490
Hogwarts RPG Name: Mallory Moonstone Third | Well, it is unfair that the fans create a Potter encyclopaedia...I mean, Jo should do that because she knows it better than we do! I understand their enthusiasm, but...:/ |
| |
10-31-2007, 10:41 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| Portuguese Language Mod Potter’s Princess Tessalina Unicorn
Location: On Edward's arms Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 34,828
Hogwarts RPG Name: Melina Fay Roscoe First Ministry RPG Name:
Eleanor Jane Daniels Department of Mysteries | *pokes those guys* That's not nice :/ |
| |
10-31-2007, 10:43 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Mooncalf
Location: In the rain with Draco Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 515
Hogwarts RPG Name: Elizabeth First | What??? That's crazy. I didn't even know HP Lexicon was going to publish a book.... They should have stayed to the web. Jo has already credited the site on her website. Why did they need to go further? |
| |
11-01-2007, 12:03 AM
|
#5 (permalink)
|  Keeper of GeorgeDoll Baby Faerie
Location: With James and Oliver Phelps Playing Football (Soccer) RIP Dad and Nana Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,058
Hogwarts RPG Name: Paige Stevens First | Aw.. I like that site. I use to when I'm writing Fanfic if I can't remember how to spell something. |
| |
11-01-2007, 12:24 AM
|
#6 (permalink)
|  SS Quill Journalist Hermione Co-President Book Club Babe SotS Champion Vampire
Location: Maryland Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,303
Ministry RPG Name:
Jermey Jackston Special Ops | I'm glad that those people will be punished |
| |
11-01-2007, 01:31 AM
|
#7 (permalink)
| Japanese Language ModSlytherin by heart Abraxan
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,114
Hogwarts RPG Name: Armand Erikson Graduated Ministry RPG Name:
Armand Erikson Department of Mysteries | Wow. I wonder if a lawsuit was really necessary. I mean, do they have to sue over every little thing? I would think that asking for it to not be published would have sufficed. |
| |
11-01-2007, 01:57 AM
|
#8 (permalink)
|  Headmistress
 Browncoat Cutest High Queen Kelpie
Location: *Nom nom nom* Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,473
Hogwarts RPG Name: Headmistress Cassandra Rae Graduated Ministry RPG Name:
Minister Brennan Cooper Minister's Office | I'm really surprised by this considering Jo's relationship with that site in the past, but you really ought to ask permission before publishing an encyclopedia. The website was free and clear, but once it was a "for profit" venture that stepped on a project she was working on, I think it crossed a line for her. |
| |
11-01-2007, 05:07 AM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Plimpy
Location: Vacaville, Ca Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,058
Hogwarts RPG Name: Elizabeth Snape Graduated Ministry RPG Name:
Department of mysteries planet room | wow that sucks |
| |
11-01-2007, 05:54 AM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Doxy
Location: I left my body laying somewhere in the sands of time.. Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 414
Hogwarts RPG Name: Prince Helios Sunrider Second | When did Rowling announce a HP Encyclopedia? I really hate that something that is strictly for the fans by the fans is getting the pants sued off them.
Perhaps she should have turned to these folks to help her make her official encyclopedia. They obviously seem to be the best HP cataloguers out there.
I'm sure this book wasn't a big secret, a cease and desist should have been issued much sooner.
And Warner Brothers comment is just dreadful. Sueing quite possibly Harry Potters biggest fan is really keeping with the spirit of the series.
Take the guys profit, but its a shame to see such a book never see the light of day.
Guess I'll just have to buy some ink cartridges and a lot of printer paper. |
| |
11-01-2007, 09:16 AM
|
#11 (permalink)
| | Faerie
Location: Norway Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,805
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider I'm sure this book wasn't a big secret, a cease and desist should have been issued much sooner.
And Warner Brothers comment is just dreadful. Sueing quite possibly Harry Potters biggest fan is really keeping with the spirit of the series.
Take the guys profit, but its a shame to see such a book never see the light of day.
Guess I'll just have to buy some ink cartridges and a lot of printer paper. | Ditto. Very well said.
Take the profit by all means but please don't prevent the book from being released! It won't stop people from buying hers when she gets around to writing it anyway! Everybody knows people would buy both versions or just the official one by JKR so I doubt the HP-lexicon version is hurting any profits for JKR or WB.
Last edited by allucha : 11-01-2007 at 12:49 PM.
|
| |
11-01-2007, 01:49 PM
|
#12 (permalink)
| Formerly: football_chick DAFC VIPParvati's Personal Stylist Edward's Soulmate Vampire
Location: Co-ruler of Sporks. Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,052
Hogwarts RPG Name: Shayna Reagan | He really should have asked her before doing something like this. |
| |
11-01-2007, 03:21 PM
|
#13 (permalink)
| Tennant Tennant TennantInspirational Pygmy Puff
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10,935
Hogwarts RPG Name: Marcella Riddle Graduated | Quote: |
When did Rowling announce a HP Encyclopedia?
| Just after the release of Deathly Hallows. That aside Jo has said repeatedly over the years that after book 7 she intended to write books about the universe for charity. Quote: |
Take the guys profit, but its a shame to see such a book never see the light of day.
| It will though because Jo is doing her own. Having a website is one thing, publishing a book is quite another. Her permission should have been asked for. In fact, had it been, I think she probably would have considered a collaboration.
Last edited by EmmaRiddle : 11-01-2007 at 03:23 PM.
|
| |
11-01-2007, 03:58 PM
|
#14 (permalink)
| | Griffin
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,974
Fifth Ministry RPG Name:
Jordan Woodrow | I can see why they would sue over it, but I feel kind of sorry for the guy. |
| |
11-01-2007, 06:52 PM
|
#15 (permalink)
| Russia's Glam Girl Grindylow
Location: on the phone cell, land line to my HP crazy best friend! Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 931
Hogwarts RPG Name: Ginny Clearwater-Malfoy Fourth | Yea Jo knows the world better then us but poor guy that must have been hard work! |
| |
11-01-2007, 07:29 PM
|
#16 (permalink)
| SotS Head WriterUltimate PotteriteOriginal original Griffin
Location: USA Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 8,607
| Jo has every right to file a lawsuit against fans who do something of this sort. After all, it's her creation. |
| |
11-01-2007, 08:14 PM
|
#17 (permalink)
|  Dutch Language Mod Twins VP Sean's NZ Princess
Crup
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,112
| Personally I don't think it has anything to do with profit. Jo wouldn't fuss about that. It's that doing something like this is plain wrong. I think a lwasuit was the only way, otherwise Jo would have never agreed to that. |
| |
11-01-2007, 08:27 PM
|
#18 (permalink)
|  Headmistress
 Browncoat Cutest High Queen Kelpie
Location: *Nom nom nom* Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,473
Hogwarts RPG Name: Headmistress Cassandra Rae Graduated Ministry RPG Name:
Minister Brennan Cooper Minister's Office | I think she has said before that 1) she doesn't like people messing with her creation because it's like someone coming into your house and rearranging your furniture. It's hers and she ultimately can do as she wants with it. But 2) she wants to sell the encyclopedia to create money for charity, and she think this would take away from it. Considering that she's SAID they tried to nicely get the Lexicon man (VanderArk) to stop and he has not, this is her last recourse. I see nothing wrong with it. |
| |
11-01-2007, 08:36 PM
|
#19 (permalink)
| | Ghoul
Location: at the dance studio Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 567
| Quote: |
Wow. I wonder if a lawsuit was really necessary. I mean, do they have to sue over every little thing? I would think that asking for it to not be published would have sufficed.
| In the article it said that Quote: |
This decision was reached, on my part, with immense sadness and disappointment, and only because direct appeals for a reasonable solution failed.
| So it seems that they already tried the "please don't do it", and since it didnt work went right to the "okay, i'm going to sue you".
If they let this one slide, who knows how many others would try to do another version of this, or at least something similar. JKR and Warner BRos are right in their choice. |
| |
11-01-2007, 09:27 PM
|
#20 (permalink)
| R/Hr Bridesmaid Jobberknoll
Location: Somewhere........... Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 453
Hogwarts RPG Name: Ellen Calaway First Year Ministry RPG Name:
Ellen Jean Callaway Magical Transportation | *  * That's right. |
| |
11-02-2007, 12:37 AM
|
#21 (permalink)
| K.O. DD's Watch KO Neville's Clumsiness Skrewt
Location: Waiting for spring.. Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,388
Hogwarts RPG Name: Emily Melissa Watson Fifth Ministry RPG Name:
Charles Cedrian Cizorsky Magical Transportation | The owner of the publishing company lives in my area. This was all over the headlines of the local news today. What a weird feeling, to see something about JKR on my local news! |
| |
11-02-2007, 01:06 AM
|
#22 (permalink)
| Japanese Language ModSlytherin by heart Abraxan
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,114
Hogwarts RPG Name: Armand Erikson Graduated Ministry RPG Name:
Armand Erikson Department of Mysteries | Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightdanzer In the article it said that
So it seems that they already tried the "please don't do it", and since it didnt work went right to the "okay, i'm going to sue you".
If they let this one slide, who knows how many others would try to do another version of this, or at least something similar. JKR and Warner BRos are right in their choice. | Wow, that sucks. I really thought they would have been more reasonable. Ah well... I guess they were just asking for it at that point. It's so sad when it has to come to this. |
| |
11-02-2007, 01:58 AM
|
#23 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Location: Wherever Alan Rickman shall be, there will thou find me... Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 253
| Oh come on, The Lexicon is one of the most fantastic HP sites, why did he have to go try to publish something? But JKR and WB are a little suit happy at times tho.... |
| |
11-02-2007, 11:06 AM
|
#24 (permalink)
| | Skrewt
Location: Moving on to Hollywo Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,242
Hogwarts RPG Name: Jennifer Malfoy (Jenn\Jenni) Third Ministry RPG Name:
Ministry? Not yet... ^_^ | If that's her wish then let it be... |
| | |