Potter Heading Back To Court
Filed under: Legal Matters > Harry Potter
Earlier this month we mentioned how J.K. Rowling won a lawsuit against two Michigan men who were trying to publish a book based on their Harry Potter Lexicon website.
Unfortunately for them, the judge decided in Rowling's favor stating that it violated her copyright and added that she "had proven that Steven Vander Ark's Harry Potter Lexicon would cause her irreparable harm as a writer."
However, some things don't end that easily.
The two guys are at it again!
Now, their attorneys are expected to file a notice of appeal this week, preserving their right to continue the legal battle for the ability to publish the book.
The writers have offered to revise the book and remove any offending or copyrighted passages, but that's not good enough for Rowling and WB.
According to reports, after Steven Vander Ark founded his site, "he gained international fame as one of the most diligent students of the seven Potter novels. He spoke to adoring crowds of Potter fans at conventions around the globe. He was respected as an authority on the details of the Potter canon, including the genealogies of the many characters, the uses of hundreds of curses and the characteristics of dozens of magical creatures featured in the books. But since Rowling accused Vander Ark of stealing her creative work, legions of Potter fans have turned against him."
Vander Ark did say, "I've always been very much willing to work with [Rowling and WB] and try to see what can be done."
Let's see who wins this in the end.
Who do U think is in the right?
[Image via WENN.]
lesbo-lookin bitch
SNOOZEFEST!
Does she have enough $$$, what the big deal?
Can you say RICH?
…copyrighted "Passages"…my most eclectic album but why hang onto someone's coattails unless, of course, it is just for the money? "I Write The Songs" but apparently nothing original.
people do anything to make money these days, sickooos
That nerd needs to get over it. It's HER BOOK! If I was the author I'd be flattered at first, but how dare he try to make money off of something she totally created herself.
Who really cares?
"Weenie Vander Ark" has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
god she's such a bitch let somebody else make some $$$. I would never buy one of her books new if I was a HP fan, i would just buy used off Ebay or at the library
Jelly donut jelly + Caps lock key= Piggyb's comments!
Very inspirational person to all single mothers in the world. Love her much. Love her younger hot husband; money can buy happieness bitches.
Let him publish his book!
This dick vander ark, needs to get his own job…and a life…and a lover…and get some sun…he should get out more!
From what I've read about this…..to me, it sounds very much like Vander Ark is trying to ride her coat tails. HE did not write her books or have any input whatsoever. HE is not an actor in any of the movies nor did he have anything to do with them. It sounds like he wants publicity for himself for something he had no part of. Anyone can collect information & stick it on a website…….geez.
Don't be greedy, J.K.
This man has helped your franchise immeasurably.
Let it go.
She had no problems with them running their lexicon website. Now that they're releasing it as a book it is obvious that they're trying to make money from her work.
This is going to cost them, and deservedly so.
Vander Ark did say, "I've always been very much willing to work with [Rowling and WB] and try to see what can be done."
I bet his obsession with Harry Potter is equivalent to all those Star Trek weirdos. He probably lives in his parents basement and has wet dreams about his name being on the Harry Potter books.
I say Proust scholars beware!
He's trying to get paid for something that isn't his.
It probably has implications for all books written by fans. Less well-known authors would be glad of the attention. If someone wrote a companion or lexicon for other books presumably they could be sued on similar grounds, which would be a shame for some books because they benefit from guides. There has to be a fair-use compromise. I presume the Potter Lexicon website comes under fair-use, but the book doesn't.
There are unauthorized Discworld guides and Terry Pratchett hasn't sued the authors. So maybe each author takes it their own way.
nerd is just trying to keep the money coming in while living in a fantasy world. Let's see, did he write the 7 books? no, but he has become a world authority of fictional characters, made up curses and tracing family lines of people that don't exist. Sounds more like Steven needs to grow up and live in the 21st century. I just picture 2 nerds standing around making a scale model of the inside of the school and arguing on what would happen if too much newt was put in the sleeping spell.
JK Rowling is absolutely in the right!! If they want to publish this so bad, they should do it in collaboration WITH her. Not behind her back. They are not true HP fans!! Shame on them! This woman was penniless when her ex-husband left her and she turned her life around and created the HP empire. This is HER baby!
you know, JK came up with these stories all on her own, and to try to capilalize on someone else's imagination just because you're a "fan" of Harry Potter (ie: you're in it for the money) is just wrong. I mean they see how successful she's become with the HP phenom and they're just trying to get their own 15 minutes and a load of cash! fuck those tards, they're just wasting their cash on appeals…I hope she sues their asses for all their worth.
Her book, her words, her life
Vander Ark is trying to cash in on another person's work…plain and simple.
Get this….Vander Ark now claims to have discovered the location of Hogwarts school on Rannoch Moor in the Highlands!
This guy seems to be a few puppies short of a petshop, a few sandwiches short of a picnic, a few fries short of a happymeal, a few petals short of a full bloom, well…you get my drift. lol
Are you telling me that this fool knows fake genealogies and took the time to learn fake chants and curses? What the fuck.
hahahahahahahahahahahahhaha
Rowlings channeled her books from the Satanic hell.
this guy seriously needs to get a life
Harry Potter is her creation and he is clearly trying to get a piece of her action. It may not seem like a big deal, but he did nothing for the creative process of writing the books and she is entitled to tell him NO. But when he said he was an expert of Potter and spells??….. OMG What a geek! Create your own character, Dork.
i hope rowling wins… that guy just wants her money and he doesn't deserve it
what if all the fans with extremely much knowledge of it all would want to release a book…pft 
Is this guy serious?! This is Rowling's brainchild, her intellectual property. Give it up already and come up with your own ideas to make yourself money… good grief!
That loser should get a life and stop stealing other peoples' creative ideas to try and make a buck.
Now if he were to publish it for free on the internet with no profit involved then that would be worth considering. Like a fan site.
However, straight out theft of another persons' product, turning around and slightly repackaging it - totally unacceptable.
Re: GamerMom – Uhhhh, JK Rowling has her OWN encyclopedia in the works, and 100% of the profits are going to a charity. This is not the first time she's done this with Harry Potter related books. Would you call her selfish now? She even donates her OWN money to charity on top of that. OF COURSE she has enough money, but she's earned it all with hard work. She created a story for billions, and it's helped children and adults alike pick up a book and read for once. If only you were a fan, and you knew what it created, you'd be blown away.
How would you feel if someone tried to make money off of something you created and dedicated nearly two decades of your life to? Another encyclopedia could definitely take away from her own, probably not by much, but if JKR doesn't want someone else writing about something she has the copyrights to, then that's fine. The only reason he wants to release it is to make money off of something he didn't have a part in creating, it's awfully selfish and if he were a respectful human being he'd respect the fact that this is affecting her emotionally as well as it could affect the profit her own encyclopedia would make.
Re: GamerMom – You are either a complete idiot…or, you are so used to being abused and taken advantage of…that you have no clue as to what is right/wrong, acceptable/unacceptable.
You HONESTLY think that it's alright for someone taking credit for another persons YEARS of blood/sweat/tears?!?
You need help.
This is a load of BS!!! This guy needs to take the time to come up with his own shit instead of trying to use someone elses.
Ahrrrr! This cunt makes me so mad!!
He has NO fucking right to 'work with her' It's not HIS work at fucking all! All he's doing is theiving her creativity.
Further more those mofo's who think JK should let others STEAL their work and profit from it - go fuck yourself.
Rowling's a genius who did something with HER life and she'll be remembered and revered for ever for it - you you tight arse mofos just get on Perez and whinge your misfortune. Boo hoo, boo hoo, she has more money than me. The bitch donates so much time and money for charity, good for her!
Vander Ark did say, "I've always been very much willing to work with [Rowling and WB] and try to see what can be done."
who says he deserves to milk her for her creativity… he should write his own stories and save some money from these lawyers he must be paying out the ass for
I happen to think JK Rowling is in the right on this one and it has nothing to do with how much money she has and spreading the wealth or whatever else. A book (much less seven books) is an author's baby which they pour their heart and soul into and devote a LOT of time to. I completely understand why she would want to protect her work with all her might.
I also think that if Vander Ark has the kind of time and mindset to memorize all of these facts and also has the business sense (or thirst for success or money or fame) to try and publish a work out of it, he should just turn to his own creativity and write something original. He can give Rowling and her books credit for inspiring him, but in the end I really believe he should show some originality as well as respect for other people's work.
Just my opinion.
He should simply get money for his OWN work that he did. Rowling is just money hungry.
Try hard
wow this guy needs to get his own fucking job and stop trying to steal her work!! SHE wrote the fucking book, a story out of HER head not yours you cock, so how can you claim to be the expert on the spells and potions and the animals when its all HER imagination? what a twat. Ihope she sues him down to his last penny. Yes she is rich now, but she wasnt when she wrote it. She was just like everyone else, and now someone else is trying to get rich off her back! Its just like stealing! Cheeky fucker, man i'd be pissed as hell if it were me he were trying to steal from!