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Leaving aside the sillier postings, something does strike me odd about this website and its creator. If the man is a digital artist, then therefore he presumably does have a basic understanding of copyright laws in the US. Yet there is too obvious a reliance on WB materials (or “WB-like” if you prefer). Let’s face it, he could have posted his fan-fic without anything that remotely resembled anything trade marked or copyrighted by WB. He’s a smart man, but that’s like waving the famous red cape in front of the color blind bull: he must expect, even want, them to react.

So, creative and all that…but what’s his motive?

Anyway, I applaude his creativity…

And, we’ll just need to see what further information comes out. Not enough information available.

Budb: I’m not sure if he’s trying to get WB’s attention as much as the attention of the fan community. By making it look official, every fan is going to know about this story and it will end up being very widely read. I jnow I’ll be checking it out.

Or maybe he just did it because he knew how cool his kids would think it. :)

Either way there definitely needs to be a big disclaimer on the main page, not behind a password lock.

Kelly, perhaps…but we can agree he’s gotten WB’s attention too?

Just a mild curiosity as to the “why”...regardless, nice to see talent like that, isn’t it?

Budb: Oh of course I agree he has. People thought it was official and inquired to WB about it, and I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t think that may happen.

“I am a little worried that people will be angry when they find out it’s not Rowling.”

Of course they were going to find out it’s not Rowling. Duhhhhh.

Does anyone have the second password? I keep trying to type it in, but it isn’t working.

Hey, do he really need need a disclaimer when everyone know he is not JK, and the JK is the owner of HP ? nope.

If some people where stupid enough not to see this, bah…

Emelie: While I never doubted it was fake, many people wondered if it was a project being put forth by Warner Brothers. The thing is masterfully designed and could easily pass as official. It definitely needs a disclaimer. The one on the front page makes it clear who HP belongs to, but it doesn’t explain that the owners of the site are not those people.

Well he has put up a copyright notice naming JK WB and associated publishers… all and all I think the site is adorable so far

Hint: Each password will help you find the next one.. and the second unlocks a beautiful disclaimer ^_

Really, this guy surely never intented to create a hoax or pretend he is Rowling. When I looked at the site for the first time – before all this rubbish started – it looked like a very well designed fanfic site to me. And still does. I’m looking forward to reading it. If WB decided to really take action in this case they’d start being ridiculous.

Wake up, people, this is just fanfic!!! I can’t imagine that anyone above the age of 14 might have believed the site was made by Rowling. Because she clearly stated she WOULDN’T write anything about the Potter universe in the next years besides the Lexicon thing.

Leave that poor guy alone.

The Scotsman is a piece of garbage.

The site’s “report” is absolutely unfounded! Their lead is about Jo “threatening legal action” when we heard nothing of the sort coming out of her mouth. And there’s NO proof anywhere to be seen in the “news”. Only examples of other sues made by Rowling, which is like apples and oranges, really, because those were completely well-reasoned. They’re trying to make Jo look like an ever-sueing control freak, which fans know is not true.

I really wish Rowling would mention this in the Rubbish Bin. This is not the first time The Scotsman made unsubstantiated (sp?) remarks about her…

Luiz: Not to mention that it says in the website’s Disclaimer that they’ll take it down if they are asked to. Even if WB (as this would be their quandary) did want it off, they likely wouldn’t threaten legal action unless the request was ignored, as we know from past situations. So unless this guy has gained a McLarge Uberfan ego, I don’t think anyone will be threatening legal action even if WB does ask him to take down or change the site.

You’re absolutely right. I’m not worshipping everything the woman does (sometimes I find myself scratching my head a bit at her interview comments, especially), but one thing I DO love about Jo is how open she is with the fans. She doesn’t discourage their endevours unless it’s something blatantly illegal like the Lexicon issue recently. She doesn’t just allow fanfic, she seems to encourage it. She doesn’t try to clamp down on fansites (rather she’s awarded them), symposiums, or even Wizard Rock. To see people acting like she’s “Sue-happy” just bugs. I think some of the more Rita Skeeter-ish members of the media have taken up this idea. She’s a celebrity, and people like unsavory gossip. The books are over, so what’s there left to talk about? Possible lawsuits.

Stef: Everyone doesn’t know JKR absolutely plans no more Potter books. Not every book fan reads and watches her interviews. I think we all assume that most fans know the things us internet savvy fans do. That’s untrue. Most of the millions of HP readers out there aren’t us. They don’t keep up on all the news and they don’t do anything in fandom. They just read the books. So if a friend linked them to the site, they could easily believe it’s real.

I absolutely LOVE it!! I’m a bit dissapointed it’s not from Jo, but I think it’s a great website! Fun, fun!!

If J.K. were to press charges against this man who HAS stated that the story IS a fanfic, J.K. would have to press charges against me, some of my best friends, and millions of other Harry Potter fans who have taken up the hobby of fanfiction. So, logically speaking, she would turn a large majority of her fan base against her. If she doesn’t want people to write Harry Potter fanfiction anymore, she could send out a request for all of the fanfiction sights to take Harry Potter off of their list. Many other authors (Anne Rice, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes included) have done so.

@budb – what no chocolate? I think the issue here is trademark not copyright. I’m not a lawyer but I slept in a Holiday Inn, so…I think the big issue with trademark is to sufficiently alter them. You can resemble the original trademark – you can’t copy it exactly. I don’t know how much difference is required to avoid infringing but this one is clearly not the WB.

Mornin’, wondering! Too early for chocolate, tho I try to have some on hand in case postings get a bit too excited….the dark cholcolates seem to help the most when things get heated. Always appreciate your calm and common sense!

Wish all the discussions about legal matters would be more sensible, and we’d stop hearing the strident stuff. By now, I’m sure the WB folks have gone over the site with a comb, and whatever comes out of it we’ll know about in due time.

Grey drizzly busy day here….

Umm. Err. JK will not prohibit fanfic. She has no ill will towards the idea of it (although perhaps she does some of the more hateful shipper ficcers, in which case I wouldn’t blame her), and commented jokingly on it less than a month ago. There is absolutely zero evidence that JK doesn’t want fanfic anymore, and tons to the contrary. If this site is asked to be removed, it will be an issue through WB. It will not be because it’s fanfic. As it stands there’s no evidence outside the unsourced statement from this article that anything will happen. :\

Kelly, you appear to have been online all night!!!! Put the keyboard back! Turn off the puter!!! Give your eyes a rest ;-)))

I find it hard to believe Jo would take legal action. The man isn’t trying to make money. No different then someone who posts a fanfic story on a forum or fan fiction site. The only difference is this guy has made a very nice website to host his story. And has even gone a step futher and made some illustrations. He even says at the bottom “Harry Potter, James Potter and all associated logos and content are copyright J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and associated publishers”