Steve’s publisher went about the whole thing wrongly. It seems JKR’s people have tried time and time again to have a dialog about this. But that camp didn’t seem willing. Well, now they get to reap the reward of not talking. I find it difficult to feel to badly considering the information presented in this article. Steve, you should have just talked to her.
I am thinking that Steve is going to get a load of crap for this. He did not make himself look too great. Jo’s doing an awful lot of suing lately though isn’t she?
Jo has got to be kidding. Who is giving her advice these days? They should be fired. What a public relations disaster. Suing the Lexicon – after she’s admitted she’s gone to the Lexicon to look up facts herself?
Has she been imperio cursed or something?
Very disappointed – this could have been handled so much better. Fire your PR firm, Jo – they are giving you terrible advice on how to handle these things. Or take a long break. zr
Hey Steve – create your own ideas and publish a book not poach someone else’s work. This includes the many contributors on the Lexicon that have written essays and articles. You could save face by contributing every penny to J.K.’s charity.
I’m with you Jo 100%. The Lexicon should be ashamed that they have to put Jo through all this. People are talking all this junk about her without knowing the full story. Jo’s going to write an ecyclopedia and that’s the only one I’ll read.
Seems to me JKR is entirely within her rights to protect all the wonderful work she’s done.
But this is very sad. I’d like to hear from Steve VanderArk.
I’m so confused as to what is going on.
Steve’s trying to publish a print version of the Lexicon and Jo and WB are saying it’s copyright infringement? Am I getting this right?
Someone help me out here.
ZoeRose,she not suing the lexicon site,that has nothing to do with this
“this could have been handled so much better”
what is she supposed to do when steve and the publishing company ignore her request for 2 months?
This is just weird and awkward and unexpected. I’m still reserving judgment until we get even more information. Many did previously agree, before all of this happened, that WB totally did use the Lexicon’s timeline, though. Just sayin’. Thanks Leaky for getting this stuff to us so quickly. :)
Oh yaeh, one more thing. Why is Leaky backing up the Lexicon for anyways? I always loved Leaky but maybe not so much anymore…What Jo did was right. It’s HER stories. HER characters and HER world. She was just kind enough to share it with us. And now Steve feels the need to take advantage of this? I’m ashamed, if anything.
Hmm so how was this a PR disaster? PR wise this was handled very well, a great amount of sympathy is on JK’s side and only Steve’s “fans” are siding with him on this one.
So she used Lexicon’s site, what does have to do with copyright infringement? Absolutely nothing. The Lexicon is a collection of HER work. What is once free for every fan of HP, Steve is now trying to profit from it. He has no legal or ethical leg to stand. None whatsoever.
Ouch. I really assumed that this was going to be an analytical companion book. I mean, why would an encyclopedia full of things HP fans already know be a good idea? ...The whole reason JRK was writing one of her own was to release NEW information.
This summary changes my view on the case..
Sounds like bad judgment on lexicon and the publishers part.(Though mostly the publishers because they have more to gain or loose) This very unfortunate.
I like Steve so I don’t think he intentionally did anything. Then again, I haven’t read much on this, but i mean still. you know? How sad.
Sorry about the “double post”.... @Susan…I don’t believe that JKR is “on a run to sue anyone who tries to celebrate anything having to do with her books”. As is now clear, she has a good reason, behind her suit. It was also attempted to stem this unfortunate event, even before all this “hoopla”. It could have VERY EASILY BEEN AVOIDED. I am pretty sure (my own opinion, BTW) that JK has quite a bit in mind, for her Encyclopedia, that is not “too mundane” for hardcore fans. How rediculus to even suggest such a thing! JMHO