I believe if you are a HP fan, you will forever be a HP fan. You've gone through 7 years with them and well have grown a kind of bond with each character some more then others. I believe even IF STEVE DID TRY TO CONTACT WB AND JO AND THEY IGNORED HIM, he still should have ceased and desisted when asked to. I believe as an HP fan he should've done so, b/c well if he loves HP as much as we do, then you love the author as well, the one who created HP who spent even MORE than 7 years with these characters. We should respect her. And whether or not whose fault it is...i still side with Jo b/c let's face it guys, if she didn't write harry potter in the first place steve wouldn't have written that book. I believe that if you are to publish something it should be something you created (and or your opinion) something that could stand on it's own. this encyclopedia could not if Jo hadn't written HP therefore he has no right to make money off of someone elses idea. late -Billy

Aw, poor Steve. Looks like he just got in over his head, or RDR's over zealous lawyers pulled him in too deep.

i do feel kind of bad for him. but i kinda think it's for the money. the lexicon as a site is fine, i think. but why is he trying to push this over as well? and he's not stopping, is he. so... anyway, GO JKR!

I have no sympathy. If you don't want people thinking you're doing something unfair, then DON'T DO SOMETHING UNFAIR. If he is a fan he should respect JKR's wishes, as she is the one who brought us these books in the first place.

AHAHAHAH, IM THE ONE WHO LOVES UR NAME, POKEMON!!! AND LMFAO, im aris siter... the girl u wanna eff so bad it hurts? yeah :P

He has some nerve calling himself a fan. JKR spent a good chunk of her life writing these books that we all treasure, and in any case what-so-ever she should get a say. Whatever she chooses to do with her books is her choice, and none of us should have the place to say it's wrong. If she doesn't want him publishing the encylopedia than he shouldn't, end of story.

Word Alynne! You're soo true! And you're Ari's babysitter Marie_Lee, and who told u i like her? and wanna eff her??? that's wack! lol

I feel so bad for this guy. Seriously. He is a huge Harry Potter fan, and he was lied to, and like this said, he has now been criticized all through the Potter fandom. It's just not cool what RDR books put this guy through here. I still consider Van Der Ark a fan, and one that I respect. Especially after this statement. I stand by him, in the fact that RDR books lied to him, and they are the ones pressing this on. But I stand by Jo that this encyclopedia needs to be stopped. I mean, she was going to make one and donate it to charity. This is a last try by RDR books to get some profit. But thye have dug their own grave. This I guarantee will destroy that company... RDR books is finished. But I still feel bad for Van Der Ark. Don't get pissed at him... get pissed at the bunch of idiots who thought they could manipulate a true fan into creating this whole situation.

I feel terrible for poor Steve. Seriously, he's a dedicated fan just like the rest of us (he has to be to have put together a comprehensive site like the Lexicon) and all that a large portion of the fan community can do is bash him over this. Seriously, as much as it pains us fans to realize, Jo is not perfect. She and WB are somewhat at fault for this as well. (It takes two sides to have an argument... or a court case.) Personally, I lay more blame at the feet of RDR and their lawyers than Steve or Jo as it seems to me that they dragged Steve and the Lexicon into this mess. I cannot believe that Steve, as the fan he would seem to be, would refuse to put a stop on publishing the Lexicon if Jo had personally asked him to. Basically, I figure none of us have any right to bash either side and make them feel worse than they already do. Both parties in this case love Harry Potter and have devoted significant chunks of their life to it so that the rest of us can enjoy it. Taking a side here just seems wrong and I for one sincerely hope they reach an amicable settlement.

Look, I haven't really been following the huge court case. In fact I just now read anything about it, but to me the whole case itself seems overly ridiculous. a) Who cares if this guy makes an "encyclopedia" like book about Harry Potter anyway? I think it would be obvious just by looking at the author that, hey, that book wasn't written by JK so why would I buy it? Let the boy have his book, and 20 seconds of thinking he knows more about HP than anyone else out there. b) One of JK's reasons I read for doing all this legal bull was because "it could detrimentally affect sales of an all-inclusive encyclopedia". Why is she worried about money? She has billions of dollars. Billions. How greedy can one person get? I can understand that HP is like her "baby" and I would be mad too if someone where to butcher my work. Let's get real though, if someone did that to you, you don't do a bunch of whiny reasons like, I don't think I can continue if stuff like this keeps happening, no. You go out of your way to do better. If I was her I would let him keep his stupid book and then I would come out with a book far greater. but really....why the sales? She could put her name on toilet paper and it would sell better than that boy's book. So honestly why go through all this?

it does seem as if he got in too deep but didnt he have a lawyer who looked over the contract before he signed it and told him about the whole fair use thing? seems like a bad idea if he didnt

I don't hate him, but I don't feel too much sympathy either. JKR has talked about making her own encyclopedia. Since he's a HP fan, I'm certain he knows this. I don't think Lexicon should win just because fans want the information NOW. If they are that desperate they can just type up the info they want at the moment and print it. I'm sure JKR will do a great job on the encyclopedia and then the fans could use that. I'm not going to slander the guy, but I don't want him to win at all.

When Steven Vander Ark's publisher, RDR Books, told him it was okay to publish a printed version of Vander Ark's Harry Potter Lexicon Web site, which is largely derived from work by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Vander Ark accepted that without further question and proceeded with the project. That cavalier attitude is no surprise when one considers he had been trying to market this idea to two other publishers. When did it become okay to lift someone else's copyrighted material and present it as one's own? That's why,

so? SO? It's been JK's LIFE FOR TWENTY YEARS. Go whine elsewhere.

I feel very sad and sorry for both sides. But I am seriously irked at the people that demonize Steve as ruining JKR's life and how people are blindly supporting JKR. He's being made as a scapegoat and he's probably too deep to actually back out now. Also, do you think such a dedicated fan would be out to ruin JKR's life? No. And also, its not like the sales of this encyclopedia would offset the sale of JKR's encyclopedia. Infact, I'm willing to bet that it would probably sell a hundred times more than the lexicon's version (as it is all online...) but don't think I'm all against JKR now. Because I feel sorry for her too. It is her book and she is concerned about the money going towards charity that could be displaced by the sales of the lexicon's book. But I think, legally, she probably has alot going for her and will end up winning this case.

I agree with the above. Jeez guys be nice. There's no need for comments which are along the lines of "he has no right to call himself a fan", or the equally annoying "if he really loves the books he should respect the author!". There's no need to kiss JKRs feet. People ARE allowed to disagree with her on some issues. It just seems to me as thought Steve got in too deep and couldn't get out. But I think JKRs comments in court about the Lexicon were too harsh. Just my two cents.

This is the first time I've seen a picture of him. Is this a really old pic? 'cause he looks about 25 not 50.

Oh for crying out loud. I am still supporting Jo on this and I am trying not to feel bad for Steve. But this is his own fault. This was his choice. He had a chance to change this and fix it. He didn't.

That poor guy: It's obvious he is only guilty of being obsessed with HP, it's really sad it's turned out this way for him. I feel for Jo also, I just think that it could have been sorted out another way. I doubt he would have pursued this book if he knew what she thought of it, he seems really genuine in his repspect for the HP Legacy. It's a sad situation.

P.s. I agree 100% with swans_rule_the_afl I love the HP books, the stories - this doesn't mean that as a fan of JKR's work that I must agree with her on her personal life and choices. And in disagreeing, it wouldn't make me any less of a HP lover. It's unfair to say that this guy isn't a real fan: on the contrary, he spent so much time and effort on this book only to be completely shut down by the one person he obviously has such respect, appreciation and admiration for. For all those who feel the need to submit comments about him deserving this outcome, or not being a "true harry potter fan" (whatever that is), just cut him some slack already.

marie_lee the point is, he's NOT adding his ideas on to jkr's work - if he were, then it would be legal.

I feel so sorry for Steve, everyone who listened to canon conundrums knows how big a fan he is, and he really is a nice guy! But he is also a smart guy and should know better! Even if he thought he had the right to publish, when Jo said no, he should have respected her whishes and stepped back immediately!

I don't feel bad for him AT ALL! it's Jo's work-her creative mind came up with it and he wants to ruin that for MONEY! it's disgusting and it gets me so upset to see Jo have to be put through this when she doenst deserve it whatsoever.It's terrible.

i agree totally agree with powerfulmagic he should handover the encylopediea to jk rowiling and it burns me up when a so called harrypotter fan tries to steal something that doesnt belong to him/her.... I HOPE that jk rowling wins the case and he should accept defeat when battling a awesome author such as mrs.jk rowling

gah this makes me even more mad at jo (as well as whoever is pushing this guy to publish)

Personally, I think Jo Rowling has taken a trip WAAAY around the bend. Exactly how much money does it take before you stop worrying about someone's hand in your pocket? It's ludicrous to think that this Lexicon book will have adverse effect on the sale of her official encyclopedia. Or on WB's box office. I'm a huge HP fan, but I don't plan on buying this Lexicon book because I'm not interested in any HP that is unofficial. Let the little twit have his moment in the sun ... from what I can tell, the material is already freely available and easily accessible on his website. Why would anyone be buying a hard copy anyway? She's the one making a fool of herself ... settle out of court and go back to writing your little encyclopedia masterpiece (which we probably won't see within the next decade anyway). She really ought to hurry up and get the thing out there. HP mania will not last in its current frenzy forever and the interest in the minutiae of her work will certainly wane. As I felt with her "outrage" over the pre-release date book review for DH, I really think Jo needs to get a grip on reality, realize that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, count her millions, and GROW UP. (Read this while you can, guys, because I'm sure it will get deleted posthaste!)

Is anyone else as scared as I am that if Voldemark winsm, that Jo simply won't have the will or sufficient creativity to continue with the Harry Potter world and just won't publish her encyclopedia ever??? I really don't want them to win, SHE deserves credit for what she does best.

Does anyone acually think that this will cause Jo's book to lose money? Jo's book will make thousands of dollars more than Steve's, that's for sure. I thik that Jo's book will have backstory and stuff that we do not know already, Steve's will just be a very in depth record of what is already in the books. I mean, no one who just reads HP causally will go buy the Lexicon book. I think that they will be more likely to read/buy Jo's. I sort of think that the only reason everyone in the HP fandom is on Jo's side is becuase she is JK Rowling. i mean, I LOVE JK Rowling. I love her so much, I met her in NYC at the reading and it was the best thing that has ever happened to me, she was amazing and wonderful and I really do love her but that does not mean she can do no wrong. I can disagree with her on thing and that does not make me any less of a HP fan.

He totally knew what he was doing by adding the clause in the contract. I don't fee sorry for him and I agree with powerfulmagic (who posted yesterday) he is reaching stalker status by moving to London and trying to work this out. Too me...I wonder if he suffers from mental health issues that when he was in his mind "brushed off" by JKR he lost it????

i think the issue that really concerns jo is the plagiarism, or the principle behind steve's actions. i think the concern surrounding the actual amount of money they would lose is probably coming from warner bros. i mean, i think she might have already said that she'd donate proceeds of a forthcoming encyclopedia to charity.

My comment was erased when I commented fifth (that sucks). But I think Vander Ark is plsying it up, because if he really cared then he would have given up a while ago.

*Hisses, and bares fangs* Seriously, it's insulting to us that he calls himself a fan. If he were a fan, he would respect Jo's rights. You can throw in all the legal technicalities you want, but it's JUST THAT SIMPLE. I'm sorry, but I can't give him any sympathy. Jo has earned herself a nice break after writing the series we all love, she doesn't deserve this.

here here Tonia. I completely agree. It's overly obvious Steve is a fan. Why else would he dedicate all that time and energy into a website about HP and a book. Stop saying he's just a fan, and obviously he didn't just do it for the money cause it takes money to run a website. I think JK over reacted. She likes to complain an awful lot about fans, fans who are the ones who are making her all those millions. Honestly, I think this is just an attempt of JK to keep the harry potter thrive going. A sad attempt at keeping it alive, instead of letting it die with the last book.

This is only a mild subject change... Back in the seventies, there was this guy named George. George couldn't get funding to do what he wanted, so he put himself to the limit, broke the bank, and almost gave himself a heart attack to make the movie he wanted to make. Today, it's a massive machine that makes an obscene amount of money, and George lets other people into his world. It's created an entire genre of novels, comics, and toys that we refer to as the "Expanded Universe." Perhaps Jo should take a cue from the successes of George, who is happy as a clam and has more money than he'll ever need and who you never see in court, even though people like Tim Zahn have made money off of him. Everybody hug Steve, give snaps to Mr. Lucas, and shake your head at Jo's melodrama (because Lord knows she'd never stand for any of this if it were her, even if she were making money off of it). There--I said it. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

He's potentially ruining millions of fans getting a real encylopedia from Jo. He's a selfish, and in my opinion this is just a sad plea for attention from him. I'd never buy anything with his name on it.

I met this guy last summer a month before Deathly Hallows came out. He was at the Harry Potter store called Whimsic Alley in Santa Monica, CA to have a discussion about the next book, the movies, etc. He was able to go to England and see the HPOTP movie sets and meet the actors (lucky...). He mentioned the encyclopedia but I never thought it would turn into this court battle with Rowling. He was a very friendly guy and a true Harry Potter fan, but he just went too far. I would want to read J.K. Rowling's HP encyclopedia, not his.

aw! poor steve...he shouldn't of created the book in the first place.

I kind of feel bad for Ark now, but I still think he shouldn't be allowede to write this book. He doesn't need to be seriously punished, but Jo should get to write the book.

I would feel sorry for him, but the clause about taking care of any money issues if he got sued really bugs me. If he had any thought that this might happen, why would he do it? Why would he cause so much trouble for a book? That really sticks out in my mind. He might of not thought it would go this far, but really, if you had any thought in your mind that you were about to get yourself in trouble, why bother? It doesn't make sense. Jo has worked amazingly hard on these books and we all know she's planning to write her own encyclopedia. There was no reason for all the trouble if he expected something like this. If it wasn't for that clause I would feel really sorry for him, but that's ridiculous. I do hope Jo wins this.

I feel bad for him, but he's really being pathetic. If he's such a big Harry Potter fan he would have just dropped the book when Jo asked him to. He unnecessarily pushed the case and now he's in too deep to back out.

I support Jo in almost everything, I love how she gives to charity etc. In this circumstance I support Steve/RDR. Simple as that.

silverphoenix21 hes an HP fan not a JKR fan so y would he????? he likes the series not the lady who rote them so he'll dow hat he will for hp not whne jkr sets herf oot dpwn..

Thats the guy. He is wasting Jo's time when she could be on a vacation or finishing that book that shes writing!!! I hope Steven goes to prision or does Community Service because that will teach him not to playgerize someone elses work!!!!!!!!!

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if feel bad for him.. hes just one big harry potter fan, like us