Many of you have written to us regarding the Web site for James Potter and the Hall of Elder’s Crossing, which looks remarkably similar to an official Harry Potter Web site that might be put out by Warner Bros. As earlier reported, the site heralds a fanfic written by George Lippert, a 37-year-old Web designer from St. Louis, MO, who wrote the book-length fic for his wife and children and plans to release a chapter a day in December.
Some papers, including The Scotsman, have reported that J.K. Rowling’s representatives are threatening legal action against Mr. Lippert. This is entirely false, and some papers have retracted that information publicly.
Mr. Lippert contacted TLC to tell us the following (which has been backed up by the Christopher Little Agency, the entity that would pursue a legal action if there was one to be had):
“Information regarding any ‘legal action’ on the part of Ms. Rowling is quite false. I sought contact with Ms. Rowling via her agent, offering her an advance copy of the story for her perusal. This was accepted (at least by her agent), and presumably they are currently perusing JPHEC at this moment to assure they have no problems with the content. Additionally, they have assured me that as long as I have no intentions of publishing the book for profit, that it is appropriate for children [no pornography], and that I do not intend to attribute it to Ms. Rowling, they have no problem whatsoever with my free release of the book.“
Again, the Christopher Little Agency also told TLC of the phone call, its contents, the requested provisions regarding the work, and the request to share the fanfiction with J.K. Rowling (though whether it has indeed gone to J.K. Rowling herself is unconfirmed).
Mr. Lippert has said that he’s quite surprised by all the attention to his work and didn’t intend for the story to become so egregious.
For those that seem to have missed the sometimes painful discussions of late about copyright, trademarks, and intellectual property rights, please take the time to look at the last (oh, let’s say..) two weeks of announcements, and then read the comments. You’ll find detailed explanations about the legal issues involved, including from several attorneys who are not connected with the case.
I’m sure you’ll find the effort worthwhile, and that most of your questions will be answered. I look forward to reading your postings after you have caught up with the rest of us.
Laughing Man: Jo and her representatives do have the right to approve or take down fanfic set in Jo’s world using her characters should she choose to. However, I suspect the author is just being proactive in this case, as after the publicity this site generated, it was clearly going to be noticed by Jo’s people, so he might as well make sure that they approve (or at least don’t disapprove) of what he intends before he starts rather than wait for Jo’s lawyers to contact him.
It seems that Remus, who is obviously on the cover of the book behind James, is standing in the moonlight and he isn’t changing into a werewolf…..WHAT”S WITH THAT!!!!???
Posted by demetry Carrington on November 21, 2007, 09:35 PM
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Someone else who somehow thinks they are entitled to make a buck off J.K.R.’s intellectual property (and it will—the moment advertisements start appearing). This, of course, is exactly the problem that comes about when copyrights are flagrantly violated. Everyone wants to get in on it. But the sad thing is that most of the imitators are also terrible writers.
demetry: I think it’s supposed to be James Harry’s son. I have a hard time believing the guy is surprised by the attention. The whole way the site is done seems on purpose to produce hype. And sure, I’m hyped.
If it’s just fanfict then I’m fine with it! I was just worried that he was trying to make profit, but this clears everythign up – what a media frenzy over fanfiction! WOW! Hehe. That’s publicity eh?
No, roonwit, I’m sorry, JKR and her reps do NOT have the right to approve Fanfic people write for fun.
People have the right to write and post fanfics for fun without having someone ‘approve’ it.
You, honestly, think that JKR’s camp should have the right to approve stories, pictures, wizard rock, etc.?
You can’t be serious. People should have the right to write and create for fun without having the fiction police ‘approve’ it.
Posted by the laughing man on November 22, 2007, 12:54 AM
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laughing man: Whether they “should” is different than if they have the right to. If Jo wanted to approve every fanfic, I think that she probably would have the legal right…HOWEVER…does she really want to spend her life like that? Probably not. And is she fine with people expressing themselves creatively in her world so long as it’s a) not pornographic, and b) not for profit? Yeah, she is. So, she doesn’t ask that people do that. Most authors do not. But some authors deny the right to ANY and all fanfic or fan sites. Prince, Anne Rice. But Jo has been quite clear on this over the years – those two stipulations agreed? OK, great. Have fun. That’s just how it’s been and how we all hope it will continue to be.
laughing man is just trying to pull everyone’s chain, please don’t let him.
the hype behind the site started with no one knowing what the site contained. in the context of other problems with copyright etc, many of us did wonder what was going on. the situation has been clarified as far as JKR is concerned, so, unless WB suddenly has an issue the matter is closed.
And, you may have missed this the first time around, let me post this again just for you, laughing….
For those that seem to have missed the sometimes painful discussions of late about copyright, trademarks, and intellectual property rights, please take the time to look at the last (oh, let’s say..) two weeks of announcements, and then read the comments. You’ll find detailed explanations about the legal issues involved, including from several attorneys who are not connected with the case.
I’m sure you’ll find the effort worthwhile, and that most of your questions will be answered. I look forward to reading your postings after you have caught up with the rest of us.
Please don’t drag us down those discussions again, we’ve been there, and unless you have something new to add its just old tosh we don’t need to revisit
Where can I find the cover of the book? Everyone’s talking about it, but I cant find it!
Posted by holey_saint_george on November 22, 2007, 02:52 AM
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This is really good news. And for those of you who said that he did the website so professional looking to get all the press and attention, I think you are very wrong in your accusations. The man is a graphic artist, I think if his site didn’t look professional it would make him look bad. He obviously just takes his work very seriously, he doesn’t want money, so what difference does it make that hes getting all the publicity?
Ok, so I have now looked all over the internet (including ask peeves and lexicon) and still cannot find the picture of the cover for this book. Please can anyone help me? Am I being completely oblivious or something?
Posted by holey_saint_george on November 22, 2007, 03:08 AM
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How could there be a cover, its completely online. There is no print version to have a cover.
...the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle... Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever
The Laughing Man: He doesn’t have to – he offered too :)