Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is set to testify in court today against a publisher who’s trying to put out an encyclopedia based on the Potter universe.
Up until now, Rowling has allowed and welcomed the numerous fan-based outlets that her books have inspired. She’s even done interviews with some of the sites.
However, a small publisher in Muskegon, Michigan, RDR Books, has announced it planned last fall to publish a printed version of the fan sites, primarily information from the popular fan site called ├óΓé¼┼ôThe Harry Potter Lexicon.”
Rowling and even Warner Brothers have stepped in to object. Stating that unlike the online fan sites, the new book is basically seeking to make money from Rowling’s work.
The book is being written by the fan website’s founder, Steven Vander Ark and three other writers.
Last October, Rowling and WB sued RDR Books for copyright infringement and caused the company to temporarily suspend any publication.
The case will determine if anyone aside from Rowling has the right to publish books that rely mainly on her work as the main source material. It will also determine if the online fan site used in the book adds enough material to transform the content of her books.
Rowling argues that the proposed book has thrown off her plans to write her own style of encyclopedia, in which she planned to donate the proceeds to charity. She’s now arguing that the new book could prevent fans from buying hers.
The publisher for RDR Books, Roger Rapoport, said “We don’t think we’re a threat to J. K. Rowling.” He believes both books could exist at the same time.
He also argues that the book “provides a significant amount of original analysis and commentary concerning everything from insights into the personality of key characters, relationships among them, the meaning of various historical and literary allusions, as well as internal inconsistencies and mistakes in the novels.”
Let’s see what happens.
Whose side are U on here?????
[Image via WENN.]
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