Indian court allows Hogwarts replica
Indian court allows Hogwarts replica As reported yesterday, a lawsuit was filed against an Indian community that had created a replica of Hogwarts castle to be used in an upcoming festival. Today, an Indian court rejected the claim made by author J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers for copyright breach.

"The group's lawyer said they argued that since the celebrations were held in the public interest and they were not for profit, the community did not need to pay compensation."

Neither court officials nor the lawyers for J.K. Rowling were immediately available for comment.

Posted by Micah on Oct 12th | 570 Comments
Visitor Comments
Posted by Willowrose Oct 12th 2007

Good. I'm kinda glad.


Posted by rooon Oct 12th 2007

2?


Posted by julietsurvives Oct 12th 2007

I'm pretty glad they didn't have to pay compensation... That would have been pretty messed up...


Posted by Dobbysgirl13 Oct 12th 2007

hm.. wonder what JK's doing right now then. THey are HER books so i can understand.


Posted by Mwah Oct 12th 2007

top 5 x


Posted by rooon Oct 12th 2007

I'm very happy.


Posted by Ravleen Oct 12th 2007

I'm glad they didn't have to pay, honestly suing them for that was pretty ridiculous, and if it was JKR's idea it saddens me. I hope she clears it up on her website.


Posted by Mariami Oct 12th 2007

Yes, that was the right decision. Nothing wrong with what they did, seriously. I honestly don't think it was JK's idea, more like WBs, but I could be wrong.


Posted by LindsayS Oct 12th 2007

Okay, that was stupid. Paying for that would be pointless. That's like suing the places that dressed up their streets like Diagon Alley for book releases.


Posted by rooon Oct 12th 2007

HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Posted by dakapaul Oct 12th 2007

Claim is that they chose this, the castle and train, to introduce the people to the 'magic' of the stories. At least that is what the story through Reuters claims. There are videos and written story there if you search. The models are AWESOME. Visit the site www.reuters.com and search Happry Potter, Festival your find will give you a couople of stories and video of the models.


Posted by ronlover15 Oct 12th 2007

I have two things to say. I have indian heritage, but I am also a great great great supporter of JKR. It kills me to know that they would sue people just b/c they made a replica (that they weren't even getting money for!) and that they came up with this ridiculous idea to sue the community. I'm glad that it dodn't work out, but I hope that this will not happen again in the future. (and if someone doesn't know that they were taking rights, what are they suppsed to do about it?) Loads of people do harry potter stuff, so yeah, This is how I feel . I'm glad it did't work out though. "Ridikulus!"


Posted by sri007 Oct 12th 2007

Good judgement..! Expected this..!


Posted by sirius_lee Oct 12th 2007

Top 15 WOOT WOOT XD


Posted by Slither Oct 12th 2007

Yayayayayayzzzzz The right decision was made, i think ... ^_^ it seemed pure and utter fallacy to begin with. :( I don't reckon Jo was directly behind it. At least, i hope not....


Posted by voldy_x3 Oct 12th 2007

woot! top 20? good. they shouldn't have to pay money for this.


Posted by Quiscalus Oct 12th 2007

I think the Indian court made the right decision. But I am still waiting for the other side of the story (JKR and WB's).


Posted by Winky_911 Oct 12th 2007

i think wb made the right choice, i still refuse to believe that Jo had anything to do with it


Posted by MagdaleneRose Oct 12th 2007

well as I thought it was really stupid to sue them for a paper mache piece not for profit project... I'm glad the court stopped the case.


Posted by ninja58 Oct 12th 2007

That's good. It seems like the general consensus. It was stupid to sue in the first place.


Posted by rivendellroseOSU Oct 12th 2007

I honestly thought it was kinda bogus when I heard it anyway...that seems sorta selfish to sue over that, really. I mean, yeah, they're her books, but no one else is allowed to enjoy them in their own way? That sorta defeats the purpose. Now if they were making money off it, I could definitely see a problem. But since they're just for fun, I don't see a problem. Sorry Jo, I disagree on this one.


Posted by rivendellroseOSU Oct 12th 2007

I honestly thought it was kinda bogus when I heard it anyway...that seems sorta selfish to sue over that, really. I mean, yeah, they're her books, but no one else is allowed to enjoy them in their own way? That sorta defeats the purpose. Now if they were making money off it, I could definitely see a problem. But since they're just for fun, I don't see a problem. Sorry Jo, I disagree on this one.


Posted by Ruby_321 Oct 12th 2007

Im really glad they dont have to pay... it would have been kinda stupid


Posted by bobfredc3q Oct 12th 2007

yeah i agree, it would b pretty messed up if they had to pay. and it would have made WB and JKR look bad.


Posted by Taegre Oct 12th 2007

Im glad that this was thrown out. It probably wasn't even initiated by Jo, it says in the article that the man in charge of copyright of WB in south east Asia who initiated it. Also for the people who thought there must be something more, and they could be getting profit from it, speaking as a Indo-Canadian Hindu who is celebrating Durga Puja over the weekend (the religious holiday celebrated inside the model), you go inside where the ceremony happens. Sometimes you eat, sometimes you dance, there is most definitely games and songs. It is considered immoral to charge for these things as it is a religious holiday, so their is no profit from this. If there are people inside selling things, it would be for things that cost like 5 or 10 rupees like flowers and such. Considering that $1 = 35 rupees, there wouldn't be enough profit worth anything to WB. So overall, thank god they dismissed the charge, and I really don't think that Jo had anything to do with it. It was probably the bums at WB.


Posted by Clark Oct 12th 2007

Good to hear/read it, in all honesty. ~Clark (D69)


Posted by MissMalfoy Oct 12th 2007

This is good news...a replica isn't harmful to anyone, unless it is used for profit. Obviously they didn't want to make a profit.....so i'm glad its sorted now =)


Posted by naveh4 Oct 12th 2007

Shame on them for trying to sue this community. It's this love for HP that has poured so much money into so many people's pockets. JK should not have allowed her name to be attached to this. Richest woman in England!


Posted by purplgirl123 Oct 12th 2007

I'm glad they ruled in favor of them. Cause if they didn't it would be totally wrong they weren't try to make a buck it was part of a celebration!


Posted by Wolfstar Oct 12th 2007

Good! I want to hear from JK herself though. I really hope she wanted nothing to do with this petty, money-grabbing, and frankly selfish incident.


Posted by sagarkhushalani Oct 12th 2007

good decision! it was stupid of them for suing in the first place. i really hope this was not jkr's idea. that will really make me sad. i mean, if anything, this is going to make hp more famous than ever, if it that can happen. and its not like they were making money out of it. its a temporary bamboo/cloth/paper structure for heaven's sake


Posted by lost_diadem Oct 12th 2007

I'm so glad that the Indian community didn't get fined or have to go to court for this! It sounded pretty dumb in the first place, anyway. I highly doubt JKR was behind it because she's so giving and wouldn't be so petty over something non-profit. I think it could've been WB's idea and they just added in JKR's name, considering they make HP movies with her consent, but I could be wrong. I would really like to know JKR's side of the story. I hope she gives a statement to clear it up some more.


Posted by rooon Oct 12th 2007

Whoop whoop! :) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


Posted by polkadots_7 Oct 12th 2007

Yeah, I agree with the above posters. I don't think JKR could be directly behind this....lets just wait until she issues a statement.


Posted by polkadots_7 Oct 12th 2007

Yeah, I agree with the above posters. I don't think JKR could be directly behind this....lets just wait until she issues a statement.


Posted by weasleyisdaking10 Oct 12th 2007

good im glad because they did it 4 fun and 2 celebrate the harry potter series and theres nothin wrong with that not that i dont love jo bu ti did lose a little respect 4 her :( but i wish that i could c it in person


Posted by Syonnain Oct 12th 2007

Ha! In your face, petty rich people!!


Posted by ginervaginnyp Oct 12th 2007

They should have at least been forced to take down the replica, public and non-profit or not, it's still copyright infringement and I support Jo 1000000%


Posted by i_am_nagini_777 Oct 12th 2007

I agree with everyone who agrees with me on this.


Posted by lost_diadem Oct 12th 2007

Totally non-related to the news topic!!!! Anyway... I was in my civics class today and my teacher was talking about Lord Oglethorp (or however you spell that) and this one kid yells out "OH MY GOD!!! LORD VOLDEMORT?!?!" and the whole class started cracking up! It was hilarious!!!


Posted by justHippo Oct 12th 2007

the publishers and the merchandise people just lost a wonderful opportunity to sell books and related junk. (theyshould have had a stall or two near this community marquee and seen how the kids would have pestered their parents into buying the pretty useless thingummybobs.) they are ABSO IDIOTS of the crabbe-and-goyle variety. and the eager-beaver lawer who thought up this lawsuit is pure malfoy. jkr herself is coming across as stan shunpike, imperiused by her lawyers.


Posted by Hannah_at_Hogwarts Oct 12th 2007

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That is how WB and Jo's attorneys should have looked at this. and Ginervaginnyp - remember that next time you wish to draw anything Harry Potter related, or make anything HP related.


Posted by chaibabachai Oct 12th 2007

That's good :) I think that was the right decision.


Posted by LadyM Oct 12th 2007

Eh. I don't think Jo would sue for something like that. I agree, she's not directly behind this, and I'm also happy that the replica got to be displayed..the whole thing is ridiculous, really..


Posted by Hannah_at_Hogwarts Oct 12th 2007

Here is my last thought on this whole 'copyrighted' issue: Fine, it's copyrighted - but WB and Camp JKR have the choice whether or not to sue. They chose to sue. THAT is the problem I believe, that everyone is having a problem with. The fact that the Indian community wasn't looking for a profit from this display further infuriates the situation. I don't think anyone is arguing the fact it IS copyrighted, only the fact that WB and the lawyer for JKR were petty enough to bring about this silly lawsuit. (Notice how I don't say it's JKR? That's because I refuse to believe she gave the 'OK' for this nonsense).


Posted by rooon Oct 12th 2007

Yes, I believe that this was the right decision. JK Rowling and WB have loads and loads of money. Maybe I don't know enough about this kind of situation,but why do this?


Posted by m81 Oct 12th 2007

I have lost whatever respect I had for jkr.


Posted by xchrisvx Oct 12th 2007

I think it was more the WB doing the suing than JKR. Also I'm not sure if they were looking for some monetary compensation rather than just consulted for the rights to use the images. It's possible the suit was a cease & desist type.


Posted by Katherine_The_Crowned Oct 12th 2007

That was a good decision.


Posted by JupieSmurf Oct 12th 2007

Good, they shouldn't have to pay! That's just ridiculous! Dang, that's a huge castle, I had no idea it would be so big lol






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