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EmmaRiddle

11-05-2007 10:35 AM

Harry Potter Lexicon talks fan encyclopaedia lawsuit

Following statements made by J.K.Rowling, RDR Books and Warner Brothers, the Harry Potter Lexicon has now spoken about the fan encyclopaedia lawsuit.

Quote:

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support in recent days. Everyone here at the Lexicon, all volunteers, regrets the unpleasantness. We have always been interested in working with the publishers of the novels to satisfy their concerns, interests and needs and we certainly do not plan nor have we ever planned to publish anything which competes with Ms. Rowling’s fine literary capabilities. Our work has nothing to do with fiction writing and is only concerned with legitimate critical analysis and academic considerations. It has been widely approved and employed by Ms. Rowling herself.

My book was started in response to many, many people who talked to me and asked if there could be a print version of the Lexicon, not in some sort of attempt to profit off of fans. Because the material for the book was not only accepted but praised and used frequently by every entity concerned with creating the Harry Potter books, games, and films, I would never have thought that a print version could be judged differently.

I sincerely hope that this matter can be resolved amicably and ask for you patience and understanding during that process.

Steve

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon

Regarding the previous Q & A session with W.B. and RDR Books, ammendments have been made;

Quote:

Following yesterday’s post which said there was a possibility that essays would be included in the Lexicon, several Lexicon essay writers have publicly said that they were not asked for permission to have their essay reprinted, and some essay writers have been assured by Lexicon staff that there will be no essays in the book at all. We have asked the publisher which is correct and will amend this post if we get an answer.

More on the case can be read here, here and here.

Source: The Leaky Cauldron

Meritet

11-05-2007 11:23 AM

Goodness. This all leaves one with a really bad taste in one's mouth.

rellybelly

11-05-2007 01:20 PM

Why such bad news? :lol:

Maxilocks

11-05-2007 02:30 PM

Awww, I've always loved the Lexicon, I hope everything turns out fine for them in the end. :console:

marla_khulet

11-05-2007 02:42 PM

Hope these people will be able to get through this.

Eclipsed

11-05-2007 02:51 PM

Hmm, hope it all blows over soon.

SlytherinSissa

11-05-2007 02:56 PM

I don't think they even gave the concept much thought other than 'lets put this in print.' I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and I would like to think that they knew they were broaching on some kind of copyright infringement in creating something like this, that they also knew that she had planned much the same thing later down the line and that they should have stopped once she said no to the idea. By the looks of it, not much thought has come to pass through those on the Lexicon side of this debacle. No means no. Period. Rowling said no to the print version of Lexicon because she had planned to write her own encyclopedia, and Lexicon took it upon themselves to ignore that. Too bad, really.

dancerbookl

11-05-2007 03:47 PM

Er......I'm not making much sence with this

Abbie0312

11-05-2007 04:23 PM

... So is it all over?

Hermionespell

11-05-2007 09:24 PM

Interesting...

griffin_girl

11-05-2007 10:14 PM

Ahhh so basically these people who printed these stuff didn't ask permission from Lexicon. Lexicon on the other hand was approved by Jo...so, this was all some big misunderstanding a foolish mistake...I get it!xD

Zoe	11-05-2007 11:15 PM

Interesting ...

Cassirin

11-05-2007 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffin_girl (Post 5856398)

Nope, don't give credit where it isn't due :). The people publishing the book ARE doing so on behalf of the Lexicon, or Steve Vander Ark, it appears. Jo has been very positive about the Lex in the past, that's true, but she's also asked them not to go ahead with this book. I don't think it's a foolish mistake, although it IS an unfortunate choice.

ladycplum

11-06-2007 02:17 AM

I kinda have to wish Steve the luck here. Sorry! :(

Pottermaniac

11-06-2007 02:46 AM

I honestly think the website is a wonderful ressource, but I don't see a need for a book... But I like the lex, unbelievably useful, so I hope this sorts out quickly. I hate that this might very well tarnish their reputation, in the eyes of fans as well as Jo's. Because it's clear a large amount of work went into the lex, on the internet, and in the book.

MoviegoerKinz

11-06-2007 05:35 AM

I like it too, it's nice to look back on, however, if anyone were to write an encyclopedia it should be J.K. herself!

Mistress Vondella

11-06-2007 07:34 AM

I see the Lexicon "Encyclopedia" and JK's "Planned Encyclopedia" as two completely seperate entities.

The Lex would only be using stuff we already know, and making it concise, much like the information on their site, which JK has publically praised.

JK's would be more back story, or that's what I came to believe.

My question is: What's the difference between getting it online verus a bookstore, aside from payment? Would there be a big deal if they were requiring payment for using the site? If JK's Encyclopedia is going to be so similar to the one at the Lex, could the Lex then sue JK for using their site, their stuff, or would that fall under "public domain"? Also, if it's so similar, why should I buy JK's version when I can use the Lex for free?

However, it's the essay's that make the Lex, and if there are no essays, then why bother with it anyway?

EmmaRiddle

11-06-2007 02:51 PM

Quote:

My question is: What's the difference between getting it online verus a bookstore, aside from payment? Would there be a big deal if they were requiring payment for using the site? If JK's Encyclopedia is going to be so similar to the one at the Lex, could the Lex then sue JK for using their site, their stuff, or would that fall under "public domain"? Also, if it's so similar, why should I buy JK's version when I can use the Lex for free?

However, it's the essay's that make the Lex, and if there are no essays, then why bother with it anyway?

Any fan making a profit from Harry Potter would, theoretically, be opening themselves up to the possibility of a lawsuit. Hence why things such as fansites and bands are allowed to exist - we don't make a profit. Publishing a book, however, when it has nothing but information (academia and critical analysis is different) which belongs to Jo, and will be commercially available, is crossing that line. Things like the timeline, though constructed by fans, consist of content that belongs to Jo. I don't think the two books will be similar, their argument is more about money - especially since JK's will is that charities should benefit from ventures such as this. If the book did contain essays, then with the writer's consent, I think it should be allowed, as they count for academic work.

bitsyandtank

11-07-2007 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pottermaniac (Post 5857717)

I agree with you. I would hate to see something happen to the site.

nytingale

11-08-2007 09:08 AM

This is going to get messy. Polite but messy.

Mari of the Ocean

11-11-2007 04:32 AM

ohh God...

Riddikulus!

03-10-2008 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress Vondella (Post 5858491)

Thats exactly what I thought... But I see others don't feel that way or take the situation as lightly. This bites because I hate the negative controversy already surrounding Harry Potter, and this just adds more fuel to the fire. ((sigh))

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