Oh wow. That's really not cool. Why not sue everyone who's made costumes, replicas (like that Dark Mark over someone's house a couple Halloween's ago?), and all other things like that? I'm sure not everyone's gotten WB and Jo's consent to do those things and they've definitely been displayed for the public!

Haha, figures, let's sue everyone.

ok joe is awesome and everything but that's a little overboard. it's just for fun, and it's not like that's the only other harry potter model in the world. they make H.P. stuff out of legos all the time! wow

Cmon, this is too much. It's a festival, and they spent money on it, and they probably won't make a profit of it.

wow its paper mache. suing over paper mache. what is this world coming to. i can understand if they were trying to make another movie or something but its a festival.

XD

O, I wonder ehat will happen

Didn't Prince Harry build a replica of Hagrid's Hut someplace? Is she gonna sue him too? This is just ridiculous -- JKR and WB have enough money and shouldn't pick on some people doing something that is just for fun, not to mention a compliment to the entire series.

There must be something else to this story. Big companies don't just waste time on community events. I wonder what the other side of the story is. Hmmm....

They're not doing it to make money, which seems the only reasonable excuse to sue them. You can't use other people's intellectual property to make money, but if the replica is just for fun I think that JKR and WB are being petty.

Don't these people have enough money? Shame on them. These people are making replicas because they love Harry Potter, not because they are criminals. Stop he madness Jo and WB.

I'm sorry, but this is stupid. It's not like the group is leeching money off of the model. So are they going to start suing fanartists now?

This is madness. Why would she sue them for a paper replica??? It was going to be used as a palace for a goddess and just for 4 days during a festival.they did it because Harry Potter is so popular everywhere and they love it. but now they wont!!! I have seen that pandal and it was beautiful. people were really enjoying it. But now Jo destroyed everything. how much more money u want???

I agree with NHisSteps - there is more to this story than what is being told by this newspaper. When has JK ever acted mean and petty? It's completely out of character and I, for one, am keeping judgement until we know the whole story.

that's crazy! i respect Jo, but that's wayyyyyyyy too much! it's not like it was going to be sold or something and there's plenty of people out there that make replicas. Have they EVER visited eBay?!?! if they have, then y don't they sue people that sell HP stuff ILLEGALLY and actually KNOW perfectly well that it is in fact illegal? cus plenty of people do it! and they draw the line at a festival? what's that all about?

Wow, the next thing i know, theyre gonna sue me, well, i did dress up as Hermione last Halloween and one of my friends is gonna throw a HP theme Halloween party this month, well, i dont think he will be quite thrilled to hear this. In short, i mean that sueing those Indians is absolutely preposterous, i mean, is it not a compliment that their theme was HP, its not as if they printed fake books or something. I dont think that they are are quite telling us the whole thing, either they are exagerating jo's ations or there is more to the story than paper mache Hogwarts, hmm...a mistery......

no, theres nothing more to the story than paper mache Hogwarts. That cant be sold.I have seen it. this is ridiculous.

holy sh*t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! go canada!!

Yikes, I hate to go against anything Harry Potter, but that just doesn't make sense. Maybe there's more to it? It just doesn't seem that bad to me, and it seems like a waste of time and money to sue. You probably can't even get a lot of money out of a village. Seriously though, was it really that big of a deal? Are they going to start suing kids who paint a picture of Harry Potter to submit to an art show? Honestly...

Wow, that's stupid they would sue them for such a stupid thing. I can't support WB ok JK on this one, lol, only if there's more to the story that wa don't know.

hey guys did u guys move up??? anyways i gotta go for like 25 minutes.... which means april will try and get on til then........ feel free to ignore her!! actually feel well payed to *holds out cheeseake*

of course you are going to get sued! COPYRIGHTED! hello??!!

Seriously, this is one of the stuff JKR and WB need to frik'n let loose about. It was just a papier mache replica. Who the fudge cares? I've made my OWN shirts using HP logos and stuff (which are copyrighted) for festivals and HP release parties. Did I get sued for that? Get over yourself, JKR. It's not like they're trying to steal your freaking story *rolls eyes*

Just lost a bit of respect for JKR. Sure it's her idea and her little world, but it's a festival!!! Now if they're trying to sell it for profit then there is aproblem.

Nope. There HAS to be more to the story that isn't being reported. This seems too petty for it to be over a paper mache model of Hogwarts Castle. Even if it's copyrighted, so is Mickey Mouse, but Disney doesn't go out and sue anyone who draws Mickey's silhouette (You know you have too). The Superman "S", Coca Cola's logo...c'mon people, the list goes on and on. There's more to this. OR this is a rumor.

This doesn't seem right. Plenty of people make HP replicas and dress up as characters for Halloween. I even made my own wand and I didn't get sued! This doesn't sound like JKR at all...she's not the kind of person who would sue people over a bunch of paper and glue. I think there's more to the story.

HEY HEY HEY!!!!! its APRIL

Oh, Come ON! I hope this is a rumor because this is truly petty. Does this mean we all could be sued over our costumes and other HP props that weren't directly purchased from WB? This is sick. I hope if it's true they pull their heads out.

I am so glad that you all can love her and still have an opinion. Some of you can take it over the top by agreeing with everything she does and not being reasonable. This makes me feel a lot better about what I'm about to say. You all pretty much said it very well. As long as they don't make 1 penny from this I don't see how it's hurting anything. Honestly, I don't see how this is different from fanfiction and parodies which is what she accepts. HP is a fantastic series and she will always be one of my favorite writers, but no idea is original. It's what you do with it like The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. Entering a magical world through the train station. Only difference is it was Harry's gateway to school. As an author she would never admit that she'd read it. Authors advice is always "read other books." I've pretty much agreed with everything her company has sued for in the past like the pirating of the books, fake autographs, merchandise, plagiarism, etc. But, this one is not warranted. I can also see it from her point of view as I am a writer myself. There is nothing that angers me more than to see plagiarism and protecting the author's work, but in this case I cannot side with her and her lawyers. We'll see what the judge has to say.

I agree with everyone who said that there had to be more to the story then they've said. I mean it just doesn't seem like something Jo would do over a festival. So there must be more to it. I'm almost entirely sure of that.

THAT IS RIDICULUS!! i had a harry potter themed birthday party with an edible version of DH cover on my cake..do i have to ask permission for that too? COME ON!!! thats soooo stupid!! Its not like you can actually take the credit for designing Hogwarts cuz half the world has already seen the movies!! FERREAl!!

This can't be right.

I don't understand y there getting sued

OMG THIS IS A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO FIRST OR TOP TEN POSTS! IM SO PROUD OF YOU ALL!!!

lost_diadem, I agree with you. There has got to be more to this story. We all know the media, they either tell too much, not the whole story, or just flat out lies. Maybe they are making money in a sneaky way and somehow her lawyers found out. I know all about intellectual property by studying the publishing industry. But, I thought that as long as you weren't distributing for profit that it was okay. Which is what fanfiction is all about, developing your creativity and posting for all to see, but making no money. To anyone who is going to argue with people's opinion. If you are going to defend this, please support your arguments like everyone else has. Besides saying stuff like "it's not right, it's hers, they're going down." I'm asking in a very nice way. Explain why you think your opinions.

I agree with people saying the whole story isnt being told here.... I dont think JK would go after someone just for money. Thats not her. I think the reason this community is being sued is becuz they are using copyrighted materials to make money. (I am not sure on this becuz the articles did not report it) The reason why you can have HP costumes and cakes and tshirts and stuff is becuz YOU are not selling them for profit. the store taht you bought them from has the gotten the ok from WB or JK to sell the stuff for profit becuz prolly some of the profit goes back to Jk or the WB. My guess is that the WB felt that the community was using HP to bring people to the festival and make a profit. which would be using HP to make a profit, which they dont have the right to do. Of course I am filling in blanks here and i could be completely off. but from what i know you cant sue someone over copyright unless they are using your stuff to make profit without your permision.

How ludicrous! Do JK Rowling and WB NOT already have enough money? Oh my God. Next they'll be suing 3 year old children for costumes they've made themselves? This is absolutely ridiculous! I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan, but WB and JK Rowling should know where to draw the line. Shame!

ok that is why i originally said of course they are going to get sued.... i know its not the popular opinion on here, but if you have a question about copyright infringement google it and see what comes up.

lilbecky8, your post makes perfect sense. Even though most festivals are free, they do make money in some way. Like sometimes people set up booths to sell their things.

i agree

No offense or anything but come on people! A stupid little castle made out of paper mache! Oya that's copyright (Sarcastic voice). I mean I totaly LOVE J.K and all but this is going way to far. What's next, are we gonna get suued for having an H.P costume or poster?? **--- Luna ---**

thank you LadyDiana.... it just doesnt seem like Jo to sue.... idk

lets see, there are plenty of things that might not have been added to show a specific side. Maybe they were charging moeny t osee the float or something, the rules to suing, is trying to make money off of something thats not your own, without the original authors permission. Thats why your halloween/fanfic comparisons wont work.

http://www.reuters.com/ne ws/video?videoId=68543&vi deoChannel=3

oh, and for all the posters, and lego makers who are not being sued, its because they got permission to make the merchandise.

I doubt it was Jo--completely out of character. She would never do something so petty, I doubt it was for $$$- she just made BILLIONS on deathly Hallows.. Jo, sueing over a paper mache castle? In honor of her own books? At a RELIGIOUS festival? It's not right! I drew some fanart this morning...Am I going to recieve a letter saying I'm being sued $30,000 for copyright infringment? Something tells me it's just another blood-thirsty reporter (Rita Skeeter, anyone?) who's completely exaggerated the story. I'm reserving my judgement for Jo's side of the story- the media has probably twisted it, like always.

hey becky!! its me ari!

Hey cheesecakieans!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

The comment I made had a link to a video about the lawsuit. I'm not spamming, I swear!

thank you dragon_queen!! thats what i was saying!! if you decide to make Hp tshirts and sell them and not get permission, JK could come after you and sue you. but you can make anything you want for your enjoyment and not be sued. it comes down to making a profit off of something that is not yours to make a profit off of. so if the community was making a profit than JK has every right to sue them. its not about making money people, its about other people making money off of your property.