Reuters is reporting legal representatives for Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling have filed a court petition against a group in India for recreating the Hogwarts Castle as part of a religious festival honoring the Hindu Goddess Durga in the eastern city of Kolkata. The FD Block Puja Committee of Salt Lake has been constructing ‘a massive structure in the shape of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ which includes a ‘mock steam engine train’ made to resemble the Hogwarts Express as well as life-sized models of Harry Potter and other characters. J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros., who control the rights to the Harry Potter series in India, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking 2 million rupees (approximately 25,000 pounds) in compensation from the group that created the pandal, an elaborately crafted temporary structure.
While the legal representatives for the author have not yet commented further on the petition as the matter is to be presented before the court, Santanu Biswa, secretary of the FD Block Puja Committee of Salt Lake, is quoted in the article as saying:
“We had no clue that we had to seek permission from the author… Our lawyer in Delhi will appear before the court tomorrow to explain our stand.”
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“We did not have any commercial motive behind this. The immense popularity of Harry Potter prompted us to choose this as a theme to get more footfalls for our pandals… If they are still not satisfied, we will dismantle the pandal.”
The pandal, which is nearing completion, was said to have cost ‘around 1.2 million Indian rupees’ and be unveiled as part of the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, set to begin October 17th.
UPDATE: Further information on this story has now come from a BBC article, which cites a newly released statement from WB saying:
“Sadly, the organizers of this large-scale commercially sponsored event did not approach us for permission to go ahead. This event falls outside the guidelines set up by Warner Bros., JK Rowling and her publishers to help charitable and not-for-profit organizations to run small-scale themed events that protect fans and allow everyone to enjoy Harry Potter books, films and events in the spirit in which they were created.”
The article goes on to note court hearings on this case will begin this Friday in Delhi, India.
That’s a rather strange thing to happen. I bet the religous fanatics are going to say this is furhter proof of Harry Potter being “evil”.
On another note, I read a story that said a case in INdia once took 3 or 5 centureis, and just recently was completed…maybe it wasn’t true, but that would be lousy if Jo’s greatX3 grand children aren’t finsishing this case… not that I’m anti-India or anything…
Er, wait. Are they profiting off of this? Because loads of people (book writers, bands, etc etc…) are actually profiting quite massively off of Harry Potter and nothing is being done about it. But from the sounds of it this was not for profit at all, so I don’t see what the problem is…
If they are not using it to make money then I don’t see why they can not make a display. What difference is this then all the crafts etc.. people make for there own use and put out there that you see on website including this one. I mean this website and many others use her made up words, images and places for there names and it is allowed because you are not making money off of it. Now if they intended to sell tickets to see the castle and such then I say ok shut it down but if not why are they being targeted. Every website, crafter and such who use her words, images, and characters for no finical gain should then be targeted as well.
I really don’t agree with this, I made a lego sculpture in my backyard of Hogwarts, it was 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide, does that mean I need permission from the author. No, its all part of the fandom, and WB should accept that.
As for what Amy said…Are you saying that Wizard Rock bands shoud be stopped because they are making a small porfit, if any, from doing what they love?? Or are you just saying that since they did nothing about Wrock, why should they do anything about this??
Posted by Demetry Carrington on October 11, 2007, 07:22 PM
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Sorry, but I am with the religious group (with the info I’ve read, not know more): they say they didn’t know they need permission and remember this happen on India, where laws are quite different (look eBay’s case). I think 25.000 pounds are so far abussive.
I think that because I live in Valencia, where we celebrate “Fallas”. And every year there are cents of constructrions on the streets of the city and they often are about a specific subject. If they would make a falla of Harry Potter, I would see shaming that WB or JKR sues it. In fact I have seen in past fallas “statues” of Harry, or politics as Harry, and WB has never acted.
With popular parties you have to study it carefully. It is not like a fair where the “house of horror” is the Shrieking Shack, is not the same. The particular interests are quite differents.
If later I read something new about the case, it possible I change my mind. But for the moment I think they shouldn’t sue this group.
Posted by El Cronista de Salem on October 11, 2007, 07:23 PM
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They’re not profiting off this at all, it’s just like a non-commercial float in a Thanksgiving Day parade. WTF. JKR’s evil-giant-corporation-ness is getting out of hand.
Come on WB and Jo! Jo, I respect you and love the world you created but, that is WAY too far. Why not sue me for making a Dumbledore costume? I mean, really. Lets all just sue out the nose!
I am not Indian, but I happen to be from a neighboring country very familiar with the culture. I have no doubt that the logo and all was not something done for money, but just a way to attract people to come to that particular group’s celebration of the event. I agree with whoever said WB should respect the fandom. Also, though approximatley 1.2 million pounds may have been spent on creating this thing, WB is still asking for a LOT, and say they do end up paying this.. the amount of money they may have instead received form people coming to visit and pay, wont be nearly as much as before since they’ll have to take abort the idea, and 1.2 mil, is a a large sum for any nation or group or firm, and in a developing nation too.. i just don’t think it’s right, and even if they do end up following through and the Indians lose the case, at least they should not have to pay all that WB is asking for.
This doesn’t make any sense. Remember the boy who translated the Deathly Hallows into French and published it over the web? JK Rowling didn’t file a court petition over that, and the french translation would actually lose her money. If the Indian party didn’t make a profit off the Hogwarts model, why are they being sued?
She shouldn’t sue them. They were not aware that they needed permission and they’re not making money out of this, so why are they getting sued?! This world so corrupt, everyone sues everyone these days.
How very sad…....by the way,folks. Let’s not get carried away with the “their being targeted” thing. THAT is kind of unfair, to Jo.i agree, that it is a religeous(spl) event, and should be treated more fairly. I hope it is not one of the many “let’s get some publicity out of this” that a lot of PR folks do. Maybe, Jo is not even aware of this whole thing….....just sayin’
That’s a rather strange thing to happen. I bet the religous fanatics are going to say this is furhter proof of Harry Potter being “evil”. On another note, I read a story that said a case in INdia once took 3 or 5 centureis, and just recently was completed…maybe it wasn’t true, but that would be lousy if Jo’s greatX3 grand children aren’t finsishing this case… not that I’m anti-India or anything…