Rowling sues over Harry Potter book

Cory WarrenNov 2nd, 2007 - 07:15:01

Whats frustrating is that the publishers now being sued is taking swipes at jk rowling for protecting her property.

Anyone who has visited the lexicon can note that is is made of predominatly of facts taken from the books imagined, written, and owned by jk rowling. periodicly they will write a essay to discuss a element, or draw a map, but most of it is information taken direction from the books. RDR publishing is claiming that jk rowling is infringing upon the lexicons copyrights and trademarks. jk rowling however is the only one who owns copyrights on her characters and storys, where as she jointly owns the trademarks with Warner Brothers and herself.

Jo has made it clear that no legal action would have been taken if the hp lexicon sought to write a book of their essays and commentary, but in international copyright and trademark laws, RDR and Lexicon do not have the right to repackage the harry potter novels and sell them.

RDR has also posted on their website that jk rowling has no plans to write a encylopedia, something that is wrong because jk rowling has stated plans to write it even before the lexicon had appeared, and as a owner of the harry potter franchise, she has full rights to decide to write something else that is not harry potter before she starts in on the long promised encylopedia.

What this comes down to is a publisher claiming victim for printing material that is taken from copyrighted material and publishing it for their own profit. given that this is a small publisher, one could see why they would want to cash in on harry potter with no regard to international trademark and copyright law. it just shows how shameful they truly are. if my suspicons are correct, then I would not be shocked if they solicited to steve to publish the website. if that is true, Steve, my heart goes out to you are you get caught up in the middle of this.

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Turner D. CenturyNov 2nd, 2007 - 16:27:59

The above positive comment is suspicious. Warner Brothers/Rowling are money hungry. That is all there is to it. There are plenty of unofficial guides around. They are just worried that they can't squeeze any more money out of the franchise. Isn't all those billions enough? Rowling is showing her true colors. I would expect this behavior from Warner Brothers, so no surprise there.

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Cory WarrenNov 2nd, 2007 - 21:29:48

Actually, the books in question are commentary. I am a fan of the hp lexicon as a website, which basically takes everything we learn in the books are organizes it. they have sections devoted to lengthly list of charecters, their affiliation *hogwarts houses, death eaters, ministry, dumbledores army, etc*

however, this information is still owned by its originator, and the website, as a non for profit entity is allowed to exist because it is a free resource. I frequently used said website when working on fanfiction or check the proper spelling of a spell or character.

the difference between the book that is at the center of the controversery, and all the other books already published about harry potter is that those books are analyasis and commentary on the harry potter series where this is a repackaging of information from the book without commentary.

Fair Use laws within copyright do allow you to quote passage of a book up to a certian point , ususally around 3000 words. something that if rdr is to be taken serious in that thier book is just the website printed out and formatted into a book, goes beyond. they did not ask permission therefore to do this, and that is the issue.

and oh yah, jk rowling is money grubbing. how dare, after spending over five years saying she intends to write a encylopedia of her world after the seven novels are finished to give any royalties directly to charity like she has done before with two of her other books. jk rowling is protecting her property and legal rights. there is nothing suspicous as that. As a avid writer myself, I have gone out of my way to know what my rights are when it comes to my works, and jk rowling is no different. just because her books are highly sucessful does not mean they become public domain to be repackaged and reprinted for personal gain.

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Turner D. CenturyNov 3rd, 2007 - 03:53:35

Are you in anyway associated with Warner Bros? I'm very suspicious of you. Warner Bros. used the guy's website and admitted it! You can make guides. Unofficial guides are everywhere. Wake up! It is not illegal. It seems you have a hidden motivation.

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Turner D. CenturyNov 3rd, 2007 - 03:56:22

And you can't copyright ideas! She can say she is going to write whatever she wants, but that doesn't mean someone can't write a guide! Rowling worrying about her ideas being stolen is like the pot calling the kettle black! Her series is full of other people's ideas/situations/characters.

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C.M. WarrenNov 16th, 2007 - 13:42:27

Turner, how can we be certian you are not a employee of RDR books?

honestly, jk rowling those own harry potter. she created the idea of harry potter and owns the character copyrights and trademarks. the books are heres, and they were her idea.

as such, by international copyright law, you can not market her creation without her permission. warner brothers handles marketing of the films and owns joint trademark.

I am not affliated with Warner Brothers like you are insinuating, but as a writer myself, I have gone out of my way to know my rights when it comes to my creations. I own them because I created them.

the harry potter lexicon didnt create anything, they simply reorganized someone elses creation.

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