The author of the Harry Potter series is suing to suppress a fanbase lexicography slated for release later this year. What do you think about this? Does an author really hold copyright over annotations, an area where reviewers and literary crtics have traditionally enjoyed free reign. The lawsuit has tremendous implications for the restriction of secondary writing about writing and also shows Rowling as a true greedy slitherin' one. Full story here: J.K. Rowling Pulls a Muggle's Move with Punitive Lawsuit
I think the whole premise is really twisted in the ezwitchcraft post - I read the MSNBC article and it sounds like she has absolutely no problem with the site and doesn't want the book published because a) she has already announced she will be publishing her own encyclopedia and b) it will encourage other online Potter fans who run websites to start charging for their content. She has always been a fan of fan creativity and has never had a word against the millions of fan-written stories online. But to start charging for them would basically destroy the creativity that is allowed through free fan communities. I think she's perfectly in her right to file the lawsuit and should win without any issue.
I second that! Her fan can write a bunch of wildly popular books, have a hit with tons of movies, get lots of fans everywhere and then he can put out his own book about his concept.
Think so? Here's another supporting opinion from a non-corporate source. Your last point shows where Rowling is really coming from; she has no problem with the information, only the price. Why is she afraid to compete with fan's compendium? Her audience will surely buy both and choose hers if confronted with a choice. What you all seem to be missing is that copyright law does not restrict fair use for academic purposes and that this has nothing to do with whether the publication of literary reviews are for sale or free. Rowling's powerful attorneys are attempting to literally rewrite the law. Consider, for example the impact this case could have on the freedom of press for book reviewers.
Really? Is this thread, and your post in it, a violation of copyright? After all, this is an adsense revenue-sharing forum. The publication of these HP-related materials is certainly not non-commercial.
I think JKR is rich enough to allow people start to make their own books related to hers without caring or now about profit but you have to admit if you made a super duper hit creative fantastic book which has Zillions of fans all over the world then somebody comes up and says I wanna write a guideline book about your book then I'm sure you would be pissed of too. Certainly fanfiction creative writing are allowed but not to the degree you can make your own official guide book on others creative thinking idea. This is quite unfair. I'm sure thats over-reacting. Just IMHO. Thanks I like ur template though.
Perhaps it is over-reacting, but frankly it bothers me that this lawsuit enjoys so much support. Definitive fan guides have been produced and sold for every major "world" in speculative fiction. This lawsuit expresses both a meanness of spirit and disregard for the law which allows critical review. Many people claim that Vander Ark is simply repackaging the Harry Potter world for profit, that he contributed nothing salesworthy in researching and defining the Lexicon. If so, it should sell poorly and is no threat to Rowling's edition. Another factor people seemed to miss is the lengths to which Vander Ark went to assure that his release followed the conclusion of the series, and that his publisher contracted the book with the understanding that they were within the confines of the law. Writers frequently devote a volume to the work of another writer, this has traditionally and legally been considered public domain. Whether or not you like Rowling, the larger issue is what this litigious literary Metallica is doing to redefine copyright law in the most restrictive fashion. Miss Napster? You can thank Metallica. If you want to write and sell the definitive guide to Blues 4 Kali, be my guest. Why should Indi be pissed off? A great compliment you'd be paying, as well as boosting sales of the original. Just don't claim to be the original author. But Indi isn't world-famous or hyped by million-dollar ad budgets, so that guide will probably never be written.