We've received statements from Jo and Warner Brothers about today's verdict. Both of who have been battling this case since October 31st.
From Jo:
“I took no pleasure at all in bringing legal action and am delighted that this issue has been resolved favourably,” said J.K. Rowling. “I went to court to uphold the right of authors everywhere to protect their own original work. The court has upheld that right.
The proposed book took an enormous amount of my work and added virtually no original commentary of its own. Now the court has ordered that it must not be published.
Many books have been published which offer original insights into the world of Harry Potter. The Lexicon just is not one of them.”
From Warner Brothers:
"We are obviously pleased with today’s ruling by Judge Patterson supporting the position that the proposed lexicon book infringes on Ms. Rowling’s rights. As a content company, it is imperative that we work vigorously on all fronts to protect the intellectual property rights of those who create the stories and characters, words, pictures and music that entertain and benefit the worldwide audience."
Posted by
09-08-2008
at 4:00 PM
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Fan Comments |
Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:02:26
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:03:32
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:03:48
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:07:09
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:08:11
YEAH JO!!! See, good always prevails over evil!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:08:52
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:10:18
Very good news...that dude was about to bank on her success. I couldnt see the verdict going the other way.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:17:57
Yay Jo!!!!!!!!!!!
thats so great!!!!!!
it serves them right; im so
happy that she stood up for
all other authors around the world!!!!
=]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:19:17
well done...im glad, the right decision was made :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:20:42
Top ten??? Well, Im happy for Jo, there was no way the court could have resolved this any other way...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:20:44
You go, Jo! We love you and congrats!!!! Youve set a valuable precedent for future writers, thank you!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:21:17
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:21:28
Thats great! I am so happy for Jo. I cant imagine how much stress this trial has caused her. Glad its all over now.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:21:50
Yes, Congratulations Jo on crushing the little guy. Maybe you shouldnt have used the original Lexicon site as a source reference yourself. Oh wait... I remember now. It was just that you didnt want to make an issue out of things when the site was helping you create interest in your books. This site and all others like it along with the people at Cliff Notes better have a good legal department on retainer. JKR is on a money rampage.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:27:25
This not great news at all. "prevails over evil"? WTF!?
Steve has put so much work into the lexicon. JO has admitted to using it before. WB based their flipping timeline on theirs, they should be thanking him not sueing him.
As for "unoriginal research" (forgive me I dont know the exact phrase used). Bull. Bull. Have you read any of the essays on that site? They are far more detailed than any of the other companion books, Jo has even said this. Why have the singled Steve out? They should sue them all not just him. Hes been made an example of, and its not fair on him.
I appreciate that Jo is bringing out her encyclopedia, but its gonna have something new in it. This is one of its selling points. If Jos book is like the lexicon, I will not buy it, because I want new information.
The lexicon is a great place that is a great resource for any HP fan, whether in book form or website form.
I dont listen to pottercast but this was quoted in the pro steve FB group
"Whenever I listen to Pottercast its all about how theyve had to stop being friends and how hes a traitor. "
Well pottercast presenters if youre reading this:
This is really unfair, siding with the stronger side and abandoning a friend so the JK fan boys/girls will give you a thumbs up. I hope you realise what terrible people this makes you.
This verdict makes me sick
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:29:44
Its great the verdict was fair, but I just feel like everyone is forgetting about all the awesome Steve Vander Ark has brought to the HP fandom. It saddens me that everybody hates him now--we seem to immediately turn against anything and anyone who defies Jo, which I dont necessarily think is right.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:37:55
Thank God! Its finally over! Im very glad at the verdic but I dont think any one should hate Steve. Hes a good guy who made a bad mistake. Publishing this book would not have been healthy for the fandom or Jo.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:38:09
Goo Jooo Go Jooo its my birthday in 7 dayss its my birthday in 7 dayss *riddiculous song and dance* Hey guys I found this amazing site called www.accio-potter.com why dont you, you know umm check it out?? Come onn early b-day prezzyyy for me?!?!?!?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:40:39
chibikagome7 - Agreed 100%. The verdict is fair but Steve is such a wonderful man - he has done SO much for the fandom and it upsets me that everyone can forget this in a heartbeat. His presentations are absolutely inspirational, and hes just so... dedicated. I definitely respect him as a fan.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:40:55
Im glad it was fair and ended happily. But Im sad it caused both sides so much stress! and Potterfan3: your conclusion isnt worked out logicaly at ALL, sorry! Steve did put time into the lexicon, but he didnt put time and energy into the book! The book was mostly cut and paste, and it didnt include the timeline and all the maps, etc. It was almost entirely done for the money, they even almost admited that at one point. Were not on Jos side so she likes us, were on her side because its HER story, and if she doesnt want someone using it in a certian way, thats her choice. It should be up to her discretion completely.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:46:22
I am very happy for Jo! I am not going to pretend that I did know exactly was going on with the whole trial, as I have no knowledge of court cases whatsoever, but from what I learned from the discussions on MuggleCast, it sounded as though Jo should have been the winner, anyways. And rightfully so.... It would be so unfair for someone to take her work and put it all in a book to be sold for profit!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 16:52:40
@Rashmi- No one (okay, almost no one) is saying that Steve is a horrible person. He just made a mistake! People do that. He learned. We all learn. And most importantly Jo kept her work protected. Now she can choose how it is used (not to mention other writers), instead of having to let anyone use it any way they want.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:00:55
Feathery_Golden_Snidget - The main reason to do anything is for money.
Do you really believe Jo wrote Harry Potter because she had a good story and wanted to write it down? Then she decided she wanted to get it published for reasons other than making money? Of course she wanted to make money from it, it might not be the only reason but it is a reason. Steve may not have wrote the books, but he has put a lot of energy into that site, so what if its just cut and paste? That site is really good.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:09:31
he was greedy in my opinon, but i feel he also wanted some deep fame. yopu can say what you want about jo but as an aspiriring writer, i take the stance, if she says no, its my book, theres not a darn thing you can do... forgiver he for being protective, its her work. she made it, let cash off with it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:09:32
he was greedy in my opinon, but i feel he also wanted some deep fame. yopu can say what you want about jo but as an aspiriring writer, i take the stance, if she says no, its my book, theres not a darn thing you can do... forgiver he for being protective, its her work. she made it, let cash off with it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:14:53
Well.. theyre not shutting down his site, now, are they? Theyre just stopping the publication of his encyclopedia that teetered on the line of plagiarism because Jo has publicly announced that she would like to write a detailed encyclopedia on her PotterVerse as well. They knew Jo was going to publish an encylopedia in a few years so boo on them for trying to get it published first and earn all the profits. If it wasnt for Jo then they wouldnt have a successful website nor would they have any reason to publish an encyclopedia based on HER work! Im glad the court settled in her favor.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:15:33
Greedy??? The main reason to published anything is money. So is EVERY writer greedy, or just doing a job? Was mugglenet greedy for making T-shirts? I know theyre not allowed to anymore but did you consider them greedy for trying to make extra money to actually keep the site up.
So what if Steve would have made money at the end, the Lexicon is AMAZING. So much work has gone into it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:33:59
wow i completely forgot about the trial up until now but its great that she won!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 17:47:00
Well, that took long.
Personally, I dont hate Steve, Im just glad this whole mess is over.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 18:08:39
It saddens me that everyone just jumps on the bandwagon and has no thoughts of their own. Oh well, most people are ignorant and naive, and (most) commenters on MuggleNet are no exception.
Steve should have won this case. Id like to know what the differences were in HIS book and the others that simply sort out information, organize it, and publish it in a book. Its simply a fan-made encyclopedia. Honestly, the only difference I can see is that, in the Harry Potter case, JKR is planning on writing her own, so of course she and WB doesnt want anything to get in their way of profits.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 18:49:19
Heres what I find weird: Jos statement that there are "many books [that] have been published which offer original insights into the world of Harry Potter." When she gave Mugglenet the fansite award, didnt she say that the editorials here have "more insight than many companion books I will not name" ? something like this....
I dont really know how to pick a side on this case, I just think its unfortunate altogether.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 18:57:13
I am so disappointed with this verdict. Steve and RDR should have won. The Lexicon has been the number one source for encyclopedic information about the series for years. Steve and his team have invested countless hours in maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the information. Its an encyclopedia! For J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. to insist on Steve and his team publishing their "opinions" in "their own words" is like Encyclopedia Britannica suing World Book Encyclopedia for copying their facts. For J. K. Rowling to say that the Lexicon takes sales away from her future book is ridiculous. She has already stated that her HP book will contain information from her many notes that Steve and his team will never have access to. Her book is completely different (or should be) from a much needed encyclopedia of the series. Fans should have the right to purchase both books. This should never have been taken to court. Steve, many thanks to you and your wonderful team for all youve done for the true Potter fans.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 18:59:56
WOOT!!!!! Go Jo!!!! You are the best author that has ever lived on this planet!!!
And Im NOT saying "WOOT Warner Bros" because i am still extremely mad at you and will never ever ever ever fully forgive you for what you did to Harry Potter 6!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:02:36
Congratulations to Jo! I am not surprised by the verdict at all. It was a logical out come. I also believe that Jo found no glory in the entire event. Harry Potter and his world are hers and hers alone. They are her legacy.
PS
Dont really care what WB had to say, I also know who they are
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:09:06
I am happy that Warner Brothers demonstrated their support for J.K. Rowlings. It was a righteous victory.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:11:34
Boo, JK.
Way to turn on somebody who has helped you themselves. I think that the verdict was unjust as he wasnt claiming to have written the books... but, whatever. This really doesnt make me like JKs behavior, though. She really is trying to get as much publicity as possible because HP is done.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:13:10
Im not going to argue my point further, people are obviously so set in their opinions one way or another that they wont hear otherwise. But Im upset at the amount of anger and accusation going on here!! Suggesting that people with one opinion are not "true potter fans" or "follow others blindly" is quite rude, which is entirely unecessary.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:19:20
To this comment, "Do you really believe Jo wrote Harry Potter because she had a good story and wanted to write it down?" Yes, I do. Of course she wanted to write it down and share it, but most authors do not tend to be out solely for the money. (the majority of them go into their careers knowing they probably wont make very much anyway.) I dont think its probable she sued for the money, because she didnt expect to make very much, and as I said, a few thousand isnt much compared to the cost of lawyers. It wasnt a money driven action on Jos part.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 19:44:37
Yes, the Lexicon is a remarkable resource of easy-to-access information, but with the website being so fantastic, why did Steve feel the need to publish it in book form? Thats what always struck me. What would be the point of doing that EXCEPT to make money or to "beat her to it" since weve known for a long time JKR is planning her own encyclopedia? I dont think that shows very much love and appreciation for Jo. Its commendable and wonderful that he made the online Lexicon for us, but publishing it, trying to make money off it like that...was just wrong.
Im not taking JKRs side bc I like her, Im taking her side because I believe shes in the right here.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 20:16:21
Potterfan3, Im so glad you think you know more about this than, you know...a JUDGE. In a court of law. Youre wrong. The judge is right. Deal with it.
Im a published author. Im no where NEAR Jos status or popularity, but I protect the use of my blood, sweat and tears just as vehemently. Jo won something for all authors who work day in and day out to provide entertainment for the masses. Im a reader, too. I appreciate the hard work of authors and I believe they deserve to be paid for their labor the same way we pay doctors, teachers and the girl who rings up my groceries at the store. Intellectual property rights are very confusing, but this case was pretty clean cut. The only people who disagree with this ruling are those who think its perfectly fine to steal another persons words, lyrics, music, etc.
There are plenty of books out there written about the Harry Potter world that have been published and were not sued. Why? Because they were literary criticism or commentary...meaning the author had original content BASED ON the work, not word-for-word copying of the work itself. Read the whole ruling and catch up on the basic laws of copyright before you make such utterly ridiculous statements.
Go, Jo!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-08 21:20:36
I am so happy for you Jo and WB!!!!! Thats great!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 00:12:35
ok I am no judge or author but heres what I find soo funny with you guys...you havent even seen this encyclopedia yet you believe EVERYTHING that JKR and WB says in this trial about this book...sorry but I side with Steve...I think JKR is milking this because quite honestly she wont be making much money after the HP series...lol sorry if that sounds crass...but I believe that she wont be as successful as she was with the HP series...and no if he did do what they said he did and I strongly stress IF then he was wrong...so far I have see no proof that he has...if i am wrong I apologize....I think the whole case is just sad and just makes JKR look like a greedy person...I am a BIG fan of Harry Potter and I think she is a awesome writer but this doesnt make her look good in my eyes at least...and now I am rambling so I am going to quit lol
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 01:19:50
Good for Jo! Her work is protected, as should be! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 02:19:04
It is sad but its something that needs to be done. He didnt have the right to do that. So what if she wants to make her money we live in a world where it is the central core to our system. She is protecting her right to her work. Vander Ark saw an opportunity to make money off of her work and she didnt want him to do so. Its understandable. She may not look good in many peoples eyes but I just see someone proctecting what they have created. She can do what ever she wants no matter what you people say. Its her god given right. This is her work and she can sue everyone from ff.net to mugglenet and back if she wants. Which I dont think she wants to. If she did go that far then yes there would be a problem.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 02:43:27
Lol, "battling this case since October 31st" - coincidence?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 05:41:17
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 09:14:12
Congratulations Jo HP belongs to you and no one else, the rest of us should just consider it an honour that you have shared him with us. Now get cracking & write your encyclopaedia! At 16.00 (UK time) today it it is 10,000 hours since DH was published!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 10:34:44
Feathery_Golden_Snidget - You only choose to respond to ONE part of my post and when taken out of context it has a completely different meaning. I didnt say she did it solely for money, but money was a factor. If she wanted to share her story she could have gave it away for free, but she decided to try and get it PUBLISHED. Writing a book, and publishing it are 2 completely different things. Publishing = hope for money
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 14:32:03
ghbrat...you say we havent seen the book. Well, the judge has. He read the whole thing. JK Rowling has and so has Warner Brothers. Its called "discovery" in the legal world. They had to read the book before it went forward, so guess what...the judge determined that Van Der Arks work was in violation of copyright and did not fall under the doctrine of fair use. But you know better? How exactly is that? And look, if the woman never makes another dime for the rest of her life, shes still richer than any of us will ever be. Im not going to say this isnt about money...of course it is. But more than that, its about intellectual property rights, something a few of you here simply do not understand. There is no law, nothing ethically wrong or morally wrong with wanting to make money from your work. If you think writing is so easy that everyone should give it away for free, try it. Write a whole series of books that sets the reading world on fire and give it away for free. I dare you. Every serious writer seeks publication not only to share their stories with the world, but to make a living. I know I do.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 18:01:39
i kind of figured that she would win......
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-09 20:26:59
That is excellent news. Congratulations, Jo, on upholding the intellectual rights of authors everywhere!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-10 09:00:27
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-16 05:00:45
I think we all knew that Jo would win in the end.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2008-09-16 13:08:48
Well, I dont think this is good news. Steve has worked really hard on the Lexicon and it doesnt go against any copyright rules...hes not stealing anything from her and Im really disappointed in JK for suing him for no reason. Hes a die-hard fan and wanted to expand the HP world by actually giving us a dictionary on terms. Ive used the online version of the Lexicon and its a great thing. I dont know why anyone would want to jump down his throat like that! I say GO STEVE! Im a huge Harry Potter fan but I just dont agree with what JKs doing right now; shes also ruining her image with the rest of the fans who can actually see the other side of the stories....
AND THOSE WHO WRITE FANFICTION! Should we be sued as well because we use all the characters, spells, and places that apparantly JK thought and made up? Should we be sued because we forget to put a DISCLAIMER on each of our stories? How unfair that she can sue him but cant sue the other one billion people who write fanfiction? What is the difference in that, besides that Steve wants to show his affection for the books and what deep thoughts he had on them? It doesnt seem fair...and she shouldnt be doing what she is. Very disappointed in her.
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