So, the issue is that Jo and Wb says it’s copyright, and Steve and his publishers say it isn’t, is that it?
If you’re a true Harry Potter fan and you try to publish something on the books and Jo says that it’s copyright, how can you argue against her?
Wow, I think Steve’s publishers messed up big-time.
Oh, c’mon, is JKR within her rights? Obviously. See, LegalBeagle’s post.
That’s not the point. The point is why can’t he still put out his book? He’s just compiling the material for reference, not creating new stories to sell.
I’d be flippin’ honored if someone wanted to put together reference works based on a world I created.
Sounds like she needs to take a lesson from the Serenity/Firefly crowd and let fans have a little freedom.
Will she win? Of course. But that doesn’t change the fact that it still stinks.
Not: The suit was dropped. That is old news. They were allowed to keep the castle.
Posted by Kelly on November 01, 2007 @ 04:16 PM
The point is she sued. I remember reading that the judge told the group not to use it without permission again, and not award jo an award. Good for him.
“the most complete and amazing reference to the magical world of Harry Potter”
How does that give “the false and misleading impression that the book is an official Harry Potter book”?
I think this is an idiot suit, and I also think (and have thought for years) that copyright law needs some major revisions. Creative Commons (and the like) FTW!
Ashes, of course it is illegal to take someone else’s work without permission and then present it in a re-organised form for sale. You cannot simply ‘compile’ someone’s intellectual property in this way. If it contains mostly original comment and analysis that would be different, as it would be if permission had been granted but….it seems it doesn’t and it definitely hasn’t.
This is another example of someone trying to cash in. Harry Potter belongs to JK and WB. Period. Or should I say “full stop.”
Just because you compiled someone’s work, no matter how good a job or how hard you worked doesn’t mean you can publish it. You did all those on your own volition because you enjoyed it as a fan. Why should you profit it from it?
I still think that Steve is in some sort of financial trouble. No way you would risk all your hard work and good will he created with JK unless he really needs money.
wow. just wow, redwall. come on. it’s like someone taking all the pics from your flickr or imageshack or whatever, putting them in a book in different order, and selling them as “A book of Redwall’s photography.” You might be honored but your copyright is also violated and if they make a success of that book, they’ll be denying you tons of money. Whether or not JKR has tons of money already is irrelevant; it’s her creation. period.
I think the fact that the Lexicon website did so well got to Steves head. He should have had more respect and common sense than to do this. What was he thinking??? That JK and WB wouldnt say anything when theres SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many excerpts and quotes from the books, movies, and interviews that are typed word for word??? Common Steve just give it up.
And to Corey, Yes he made the Lexicon and without JK and the Harry Potter books and movies he wouldnt have made anything. So technically he’s selling what JK made and is rightfully hers. Common Sense Buddy…..
Man, what an interesting couple of weeks, Dumbledore came out, Lexicon and its pubs are being sued, J.K.Rowling actually hasn’t taken a break from writing, she wrote another book, but mostly just for close friends, family and top potter people and finally, Hagrid’s Hut is being built…AGAIN. My head is spinning.
This is mess.
I mostly blame Steve’s publishers, not Steve. They clearly goofed up here. I don’t think Steve is trying to make commercial profit off of this book. But from the looks of it, his publishers are.
I would like to hear from him, get his perspective.
I really hope this can be resolved quickly. And I am still hoping to get a print version of the Lexicon. (I’ve been hoping for a long time)
I would be shocked if JKR wasn’t planning to use the Lexicon to write her encyclopedia.