The Last Stand
Filed under: Anglophilia > Legal Matters > Harry Potter
Hell hath no fury like an author scorned!
During yesterday's court case in the ongoing Harry Potter dramz, JK Rowling tried her best to persuade the judge to block the release of The Harry Potter Lexicon, written by former middle school librarian Steven Vander Ark.
Rowling said, "I believe the floodgates will open. Are we the owners of our own work?"
Rowling was asked by U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. if she thought anyone would read the book and its facts about the wizard world for "entertainment value."
Rowling responded, "Honestly, no. I think there are funny things in there, and I wrote them."
Ouch!
Unfortunately, it will be a few weeks before the lawyers finish filing all the legal documents and possibly even longer before a verdict is received since the judge is deciding, not a jury. This means we won't find out the outcome for some time to come.
It seems the judge might be on Vander Ark's side.
During one part of the case, he explained how he read half of the first book of Rowling's Harry Potter series to his grandchildren once, and even he was a bit confused.
He added, "I found it extremely complex," and suggested there is a worth in having a book like Vander Ark's that explains the often misunderstood or unknown names and words in the novels.
Let's see how this ends.
Hopefully they can settle out of court.
Reports are that both Rowling and Vander Ark suffered "great personal distress" throughout the first two days of trial. And if you consider the appeals and everything that is likely to take place, this might get dragged out for years.
We say, mediate and resolve quickly!
The lawyers on both sides are the only ones happy in this case.
[Image via WENN.]
first
secondd lol
third
ugh that book can't be allowed to come out.. if it does we will never get JK's version which will be sooo much better.
third!
I don't give a shit….
i'm on J.K's side, it's her book she should do with it what she wil. Who is this guy to publish her ideas to make money. Its totally unfair, since when we we allowed to claim others work as our own and get away with it!
I hope she wins. (and you ass-hats that rushed to type "first" need to get a life)
He's a judge and is confused by the first book of the Harry Potter series? How did he make it through law school?
If you woke up a rich white lady today, PLEASE do not tell me your problems. From where I'm sitting in the cheap seats, You Don't Have Any.
Mirar www.los40.com!! Perez sales!!!
If this Vander Ark guy wins….then there is something very wrong….
I've never read any of the books but it seems wrong that someone else will profiting from using the works of someone else….
I think it's fucked up that that judge would even think that this is ok. I am not a big Harry Potter fan, i might if i read it. But this is clearly copywrite issues. Who ever this is that is writting this book, should not be allowed to do so. If they do then Mrs. Rowling should get 90% of the profit. Her idea, her money!
MB
BE ON JKS SIDE!! HE IS STEALING HER IDEA TO MAKE PROFITS WHEN SHE ORIGINALLY HAD THIS IDEA TO DONATE TO CHARITY!! JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP JK ROWNLINGS ARMY!
wow,
this is getting really serious
why cant they just write an encyclopedia together??
i swear shes the only one who gets the books anyway.
love you perez
xxx
. . . the judge thought the books were confusing? I'm concerned for the legal system if a judge of all people doesn't understand a book written for children.
I am so f*cking sick and tired of judges bringing in their personal experience when making a decision. This is an intellectual property issue, not a reading comprehension test.
That's HER work !
Don't spoil it !!
I am amazed the statement will depend on a stupid judge, not smart enough to understand the Harry Potter books without help !
Stupid story ! that's hers !! I want her encyclopedia and not another one !
This has nothing to do with money. This man is doing nothing but taking characters that SHE created. Show me one thing in that encyclopedia that is not from one of JK's books or interviews. This man is just copying things that HP fans already know.
She should be allowed to write her own encyclopedia about her books, because its not fair to let someone take her work and make a book and profit from it. No matter how hard he cries, its not right. And I think JK rowling is fighting for not only her rights, but those of all published writers.
I don't think anyone would disagree with the judge regarding the value of a such a book, the question is whether or not Vander Ark stole J.K. Rowlings work in creating the book. That answer is yes. Rowling hasnt gone after everyone who has written books about her characters or plots etc. She is not on a which hunt. Go to amazon and type in harry Potter, watch how many books not authored by Rowling pop up. She is suing this man because she sees her work in it. Nothing altered, nothing original offered to the reader. It is a Potter Encyclopedia. It tells you the history of Harry Potter, didn't Rowling do that already. It tells you what a bezoar is, isn't Rowling the person who defined it? This is what she is suing for. HER WORK! If a Potter Encyclopedia is to be put out (which it will be) Rowling should be authoring it.
ah is crying her way to the bank, really she should give it up
She's doing this because the encyclopedia she's going to write will give all it's profits to charity. every penny. &this stupid Vander Ark guy is gonna pocket millions just by copying and pasting Rowlings work, if he get's away with this…
GO JK
Not sure Malario's take on the judge's comments are accurate or foretelling of what the judge is thinking. This is about copy right law and who owns the Harry Potter material. It's not about the fact that the judge thought the book confusing and therefore this other book should be released so that this judge won't be confused. If the judge rules based on his own problems understanding the book, then not only should the judge be removed from the bench but it will open the doors for others to just ignore copy right law.
and who really gives a fuck???
She's the only one who should be allowed to create and publish books on the characters she created.
How could anyone adult be confused reading half-way first HP novel??? Are we living in retarded society? What a lame excuse for theft!
The only person to write Lexicon on HP should be the author (when she is still alive,) she is the only peson to know what she meant when she wrote those books. This is not like some unauthorized biograpy, its just copying everything what is in the books, calling it "explanation".
I'm worried for the legal system then if the judge found a book for children complex! Thats quite disturbing actually.
At the end of the day JK created the characters, it should be up to her if this man is allowed to create this book.
Before the usual shouts of 'you got enough money' start, its not about the money that has been stated over and over again. It is her work, she should have the right to say who can write about it or not.
And anyway whatever happened to people using their imagination for reading books. Why do you need a Harry Potter Encylopedia anyway.
That judge is an idiot. It's her work!
I really hope Vander Ark wins. As long as he puts the word "Unofficial" in the title of his book things should be fine. There have been "Unofficial Buffy , Star Trek and Star Wars guides over the years that have sat next to Officially licensed ones on the shelves of bookstores FOR YEARS!!! Fans will buy his book and then turn around and plunk down twice the money for the "Official" book months later.
As far as I'm concerned, over the last 8 years Ms. Rowling has become "drunk with power". She's has now proven she's a one trick pony. The last four Harry Potter books are not well written. I think that her editors for the last four books have actually stopped doing their jobs (other than looking for grammatical errors). I gave up reading the series after the sixth book because she took over 250 pages before ANYTHING happened in that one. I think creative control is a good thing, but she's a control NAZI with these books. I still can't believe they gave her such control over the first movie (which SUCKED). Did Anne Rice get any such treatment with "Interview with a Vampire"? NO! She protested, they made the movie anyway, and after she saw it she gave her blessing. Other writers (far more TALENTED writers) that have started franchises with their work have had to learn to let go. LET GO J.K.! For all of our sakes, let go.
my 12 year old daughter read every single one of her books.. she started reading when they first came out. never once did she come to me and ask me to explain anything in the book. The Judge in the case says…
"During one part of the case, he explained how he read half of the first book of Rowling's Harry Potter series to his grandchildren once, and even he was a bit confused.
He added, "I found it extremely complex," and suggested there is a worth in having a book like Vander Ark's that explains the often misunderstood or unknown names and words in the novels."
where on earth are the judges getting THEIR education, when they need someone to explain Harry Potter to them???
What kind of a judge is confused by a children's book? CHILDREN understand this book!!
Added to which, there is no "worth" (as he puts in) in creating a guidebook knockoff. It's creating a Cliff Notes generation. If a person is confused by a book, IF they see value if fully understanding the work, THEN THEY SHOULD RE-READ it! How cna they ever come to thier own udnerstanding if someone baby steps them along the way?
AND, even if there is "worth" in having a Cliff Notes-esque explanation of the so-called super-confusing chidlren's material, Mr. Judge, then THAT is what forums, discussion boards, and websites are for! Engage in DISCUSSION, do not just simply swallow up someone else's interpretation. This "worth" already exists for FREE, and Rowling endorsed it! A book is a rehash of her work made simply for profit!!!
What this Judge is calling for is not only the support of copyright infringement, but also strives to DUMB DOWN AMERICA by teaching that it is okay to not do one's own work- for writing AND reading!!
He should be slapped. Bad Judge!!
Perez, I'm not surpirsed to see you side with Van Der Ark, considering you made a name for yourself by thieving photographs from scumbag paps without due compensation. Rowling could in fact LOVE the book that this guy's made, but there's two truths here. 1-He cock blocked her chances of putting the book out herself, one that she said would be done as a benefit for charities. 2-The subject matter is her creative intellectual property. She has a right to enforce her IP rights as she sees fit. Doesn't matter if Van Der Ark was a fan or not…the publisher shouldn't have paid to produce it without getting clearance from the owners of the trademarks and copyrights. Van Der Ark could have done it as a piece of Fan work and released it on-line, and taken donations to cover its distribution costs and worked out a donation scheme with a charity. Bet'cha JKR wouldn't have taken his butt to court if he'd done that.
Well, according to the Fair Use Doctrine, he is allowed to freely reproduce pieces of her work if they are used for non-profit purposes– he is obviously trying to profit. Then again, I see it in his point of view and I think his book does would not devalue her copyrighted works in any way, shape or form. Hopefully a fair compromise will come out of this so that both can somehow benefit?
He should be stopped. He's just stealing JK Rowlings work.
And the judge was confused at the 1st book? Did this guy actually go to law school? Or any other school for that matter? I read that book what I was about 7, and I wasnt 1 bit confused.
Re: UkChickadee – I agree. If VanArk really was doing it because he is such a fan and not for $$, imagine the opportunity to collaborate with JK on an encyclopedia … all funds going to charity of course!
Hmm, I think I might be frightened to have a judge presiding over my case that is too stupid to comprehend Harry Potter!
don't buy the book & it will be labeled a disaster by copy cat. wait until she writes the REAL encyclopedia. besides, this copy cat version is bound to be full of inaccuracies- she already corrected one of his mistakes.
haha, this judge sounds like an IDIOT!! Harry Potter is a children's book, and he was confused! lolll at him. I'd be seriously worried if an educated man entrusted with mkaing judgements of people's lives couldn'e follow a simple plotline like Harry Potter and the Philsopher's stone…
It's her creation and some douche bag that runs a website should not be able to profit from her work.
i WANT that purse!
What is this authors problem? There is nothing wrong with another author writing a book about the Harry Potter works except for the fact JK Rowling is still alive!
For instance: There's more books written by other authors and philosophers on the subject of JRR Tolkien's work, including his Lord of the Rings series, than Tolkien ever wrote himself.
People who become immersed in the literature often love reading sub books about meanings and philosophies regarding the mythological worlds withing the literature they enjoy.
This woman is retarded, and I suspect she is either greedy or doesn't understand how fans of mythological literature operate.
Harry Potter fans will love this guy's book-I say let him publish it!
JK Rowling is rich already! She came from nowhere. Can't she survive without one million less? Greed is a capital sin
complex??? what on earth is complex about harry potter? the books are fab, don't get me wrong, but there sure isn't anything complex about them. tolkien is complex, yes. dostojevski is the master of complex, but harry potter?
what he hell is so complex about Harry Potter?
haha.
some old dumbass. he should try barnes and noble and realize that there are many books that analyze the series, they just dont include direct quotes.
Hahaha, the JUDGE found a Harry Potter book EXTREMELY COMPLEX!!! Good luck, JK!!
I agree with the judge. A book like that would have worth but shouldn't it be up to JK? She's the author. That's years of her hard work and someone's riding on the wave. If anyone should write it, it's her.
And for those of you who say "but she already has loads of money"… the proceeds from her work that is not an actual Harry Potter novel goes to charity and in any case, I don't belive this case is about money.
jk rowling and the rest of you are idiots. ip law protects books such as these. they're considered research or scholarship-type books, and if the author herself (or any of you) had ever been in a library, she and you would see that MANY authors (tolkein, borges, etc) and TV shows (star trek, lost, etc) have books written by fans. they're all protected under fair use laws!!!!
NO means NO! If you don't get the permission from the creator of the copyrighted material to release an encyclopedia about that very material then you shouldn't even attempt to do it. For once I hope that Warner Bros. and Rowling's publisher will ruin RDS publishing and that deluded "fan" who thought he could cash in from his own Harry Potter obsession.
These are her characters and creations, and I don't believe that anyone has a right to take that and exploit it for their own gain.
And, uh, judge…not that complex. Sure, don't start on book 4 and expect to understand it all right away, but I think Rowling does a good job explaining things throughout the novels.
It isn't about MONEY- it is about the right to own what you have written. Any idiot can go online and find out what those references are in Harry Potter (though, if you ARE confused, you might reasses your own intelligence because they are very easy to read!). Rowling has a RIGHT to her own intellectual (and trademarked) property regardless of HOW much money she has. It is outright theft to allow someone to take her words and ideas and then make them into a book. How can we allow people to steal intellectual property without being punished?? This is awful that it even had to go to trial. Literary critiques are one thing- but stealing and publishing is another. And you KNOW that Perez because you graduated from NYU, right?
The judge found Harry Potter complex?
That's what we really should be concerned about.
The judge was confused reading Potter to his kids.
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dear GAWD the world is doomed
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IDIOT JUDGE - JK owns her material. FUKKIN GET IT???????
This is ridiculous. They should qunech her creative flow like this. Sob. Even if the book does get published, its not like anyone will buy it after this.
The judge must be a fucking idiot. Honestly, if hes too dense to not understand the start of harry potter he shouldn't be a judge.
Re: elisa –
this is not about money
what do you not get about this
its about the fact that that material is HERS and no one has the right to take that away from her.
I think JK bitch is a disgrace and has let all her fans down. I understand the copyright issue, but she's in it for the money now. She is seeing $$$ signs and needs a slap on the face. She should be homeless again. I dont feel bad for her and think less of her now.
After giving this issue much thought and deliberating with myself for days on end, I've come to the conclusion that if I were to choose I side, I'd pick Vander Ark's. It dissapoints me to hear JKR saying that no one would read that book. I would, and so would MANY other avid HP fans. I have to admit that I think less of my idol now than I did before. He can make an unoffical encyclopedia, his site thrives and so many would love to read his book! JKR can make the official one, can't they make a compromise. Everyone knows hers would outsell his in a second, even if they had identical content.
I hope Rowling Rots in Hell and realizes that she has disapointed her fans, her image, and most of all those who have creative ideas. What is an encylopedia anyways? It's a bunch of already published ideas put in a book as a reference so people can understand it is NOT stealing ideas, it is all about understanding. Rowling needs to open her eyes and realize that it's not all about her anymore, it's about a super fan who wants to help other people and JK wants all the glory. Well listen up missy, that Judge, he's no idiot, infact he is right on target.
Look at her smerk! She thinks she's on top of the world. She has forgotten everything she was given. Shame…just a shame. That's all I can say. It hurts too much.
I may be young and experienced but I ejaculate in my pants whenever I see JK's lovely visage. And that gorgfeous ass - to die for. Bill and love top look at her picture while we blow each other.
I hope this Vander guy wins… but then it doesn't sell very well… that would be great. Her encyclopedia will be about a billion times better, anyway, so I see no point to buying a cheap knock-off version.
The only reason she doesnt want it to come out is because she won't profit from the book at all because she didn't write it, personally if it came out i wouldnt buy it id wait until J.K personally wrote one I mean who knows more about Harry Potter than the person who invented him?
I don't get why the guy is even publishing this book, honestly. If the material is already on his website, they why did there even need to BE a book? Maybe he just wants to publish it to cash in before JK's book because fans won't buy a knock-off when they can have the real thing.
I wouldn't bother buying his book anyway because JK had stated she is writing her own version. As a fan of her work, I'd rather have the "official" version and I'd wait until she published hers. As a loyal fan, I also probably wouldn't purchase a book that offends her for even being published. She's clearly acting disillusioned that a huge fan of her work seems to be trying to rip her off.
ive been on the lexicon mad times and seriously, id so SO SO SO much rather have JK write the encyclopedia, it'd be waaay better cuz its all from her head, he cant explain shit he dosent know like shit shes gonna put in that wasnt in the books and shit
and besides, why would i buy a printed version of the lexicon when i can go to the site, let her write one last book for the freakin fans
Stop being a greedy ass bitch lady!! You have made millions and millions and milllions. the people who wrote the thing ran fan websites for you, you selfish biotch! Give some other people the light for 5 seconds…they're a little more in need than you.
SELFISH! GREEDY! Sharing is caring….BIIIOOOTTCCHH.
People need to stop leaving comments who don't know anything about the subject. JKR is NOT against books that offer commentary/literary criticism of her books- she is against this one because this dude purely wants to print ONLY her writings for his own profit. If you know anything about JKR, she does not care about making more money AT ALL. She is in the process of completing her own Encyclopedia purely for charity (which she has actually done twice before). And Harry Potter is very personal to her for many reasons….try looking up things about this truly genuine woman before bashing her for superficial reasons.