i just can’t understand why a great fan like sva would do this. it all started with jo. it’s her world that we all love. he should show some respect. come on it’s jo!
Morally, it does not matter if you are stealing from a rich person or a poor person. To say that it is ok for the Lexicon to steal from, or infringe upon the copyright or ownership of the WB and J.K. Rowling because they are wealthy already is misguided at best.
Jo is working to protect Harry, HER work, HER creation. Ultimately, it WILL take away from any encyclopedia, etc. she may chose to create… either in terms of money, or creativity. Why should the Lexicon benefit from basically selecting a decent font and printing what amounts to Jo’s work? Why should he profit from “the sweat of her brow?”
Jo has been AMAZINGLY generous in what she has allowed fans to produce online for free… really ahead of many authors in recognizing the fans on the internet. Why on earth should she be punished for that?
Let me tell you… if the Lexicon wins, in the future NO author will be willing to allow the fans such free rein as Jo has in the past. In the future, if you wish to enjoy similar sights as The Leaky Cauldron, you’ll be rooting for WB and Jo.
I’m sure others with closer connections to this saga would describe it more colourfully, but how intriguing is this case! The to-ing and fro-ing of opinion on behalf of SVA and whether the information on the site is copyrighted to him or Jo, and then the seemingly underhand and unprofessional behaviour of his publishers. It’s like a bad episode of Inspector Rex or something, did they honestly think no-one would notice or care?
And I think the statement from Jo about the quality of Steve’s book (which, if the posted exhibits are what were to be published, indicate a very tedious read – there’s even a section on earmuffs for goodness sake) should be a clear indication of how unhappy she is about this.
All of my arguments have been stated previously and with more conviction and weight but I want to add my voice to those who have praised Melissa for her cool head and professional journalism. I have a fiery temper and would probably not be able to type with such objectivity considering what is being disclosed, so well done and keep up the excellent work!
Oh, gawd! Guys how can you take SVA’s defence???? He is motivated only by money and nothing else.. And I don’t get those who say that “there are a lot of lexicons around about thousands of subjects and nobody pays attention to them just because they’re companion books or they are just reference books” WHAT THE HECK! We are talking about Harry Potter, for goodness’ sake… Hundreds of thousands of people will be interested in a book like that, and publishing it without the author’s permission is just simply UNFAIR. And it’s just low and mean to think of publishing it if you know that JK herself is going to do it, and FOR CHARITY! Have you ever heard about The Silmarillion? It’s half tale half Lexicon, and I know a lot of LOTR fans who bought it just for the compendium… So… Anyway, as usual I completely agree with MattyJM and with a lot of other people like Minnie and others who explained their (and JO’s) reasons in a brilliant way…Thank you, and thanks a lot Melissa!
Dudley, you mention something that struck me too. All legal questions aside, the PDFs of definitions Melissa linked us to are BORING. Things that are charming and humerous in context in the books are definitely a “tedious read” as dictionary entries. It’s like someone having to explain a joke – never works. It’s too bad, too,because Steve came across as very humerous and creative in the podcasts. Too bad that doesn’t come across in his work.
Dudley, you mention something that struck me too. All legal questions aside, the PDFs of definitions Melissa linked us to are BORING. Things that are charming and humerous in context in the books are definitely a “tedious read” as dictionary entries. It’s like someone having to explain a joke – never works. It’s too bad, too,because Steve came across as very humorous and creative in the podcasts. Too bad that doesn’t come across in his work.
By the way… if he wins (and I hope he won’t) I won’t buy his book: why should I give my money to HIM when I can give it TO CHARITY (and with Jo’s approval)?
And Linden swallow I think you’re right: The Scottish Book will probably be better and funnier… but the point is that it should be the only compendium book existing…
And for those who said that WB is not concerned in this matter: WB is the real owner of the HP brand, while JK is the author and has the intellectual and publishing rights on the HP material… so I think that WB is definitely concerned in this matter…
Uff!, it gets nastier by the hour, doesn’t it?
Reading all the points of the document (Melissa: your pacience and courage to tackle the whole thing’s reading puts Hermione to shame) it’s becopming clearer and clearer that JKR is right. As for SVA’s good or bad intentions, I cannot tell, however, it seems to me RDR has indeed given a damn about copyright, JKR or SVA. And nevertheless it will be SVA, and not RDR, who’ll come the worst out of it.
Rose I completely agree with you. There is no way I’d purchase this book, or anything else Lexicon Steve puts out.
As someone who did spend a great deal of time reading over the site, I’m just disgusted that someone would go to these lengths to take things from Jo, and then to take money from his friends who pay for his site. How many free hand outs does this guy feel he’s entitled too.
I know that RDR books seems sleazy too, but Steve had to agree to let them do what they’ve done.
I’ve read this on other sites and it’s been mentioned here, but I’ll never click on The Lexicon (website) again.
As for SVA’s intentions, his reply to the fans suggesting to publish the website proves that he KNEW doing so would be wrong. Nevertheless, he agreed to publish it later. This negates any possible claim that it’s all RDR’s fault and SVA is just an innocent victim. He’s not.
(In fact, it seems to me that he had counted on getting a job working on JKR’s lexicon, and when he realized it wouldn’t happen, he agreed to publish his own lexicon. This seems to me a pretty desperate and spiteful decision on SVA’s part.)
In my opinion, J.K Rowling is becoming too greedy. Profits from her books will enrich her even further until she dies, she’s also getting money form the movies, and they’re planning to build a theme park, which will also generate her more money. Let some poor guy publish his book; he is obviously a very dedicate person. And J.K Rowling, stop asking for more money, you’re bathing in it right now.
Apparently some people still read with their eyes closed.
JKR wants to publish her own lexicon (most probably with additional information and suchlike) FOR CHARITY. SVA and RDR want to publish the book for BIG PROFIT (as it would certainly be very popular). SVA and RDR are the greedy ones here, not JKR. She just wants SVA and RDR to stop trying to profit from her intellectual property.
I have been, on this article alone, 2 hours now. Reading both the first part, and the second, and as many comments as I could stand. After having read, only the Request For injunction, (parts one and two) how anyone could read anything other than RDR’s and SVA’s unfortunate choices were wrong, on so many levels.. Unfortunate choices. To Carlos: Ms Rowling does not want the money. It has, really, nothing to do with that. Yes, she will gain profit from the items you mentioned: Movies, theme park…but, she does put most, if not all, of her profits and effort into CHARITY. RDR and SVA are ONLY interested in profits. Yes, JKR will “make money”...but it’s HER WORK! As stated, in the Request, (paraphrased) there is no added comment to the work. It is not SVA’s work. It is Ms Rowling’s work, “repackaged” for sale. The “Scottish Book” is for CHARITY. I agree, whole heartedly, with barano (and many others here) The “key words” here, are “FOR BIG PROFIT”! I also agree that, if someone were to buy a gift, for a “Harry Potter Fan”, they might buy this volume, and give it. Thinking that it really IS what it claims to be. Thus, giving more profits, to RDR and SVA. Not to Charity, as is Ms Rowling’s intention. I’m sorry, folks. I am tired and very angry about this. It is a shame and a pitty. Pure rubbish, from start to finish. Thank you, as many have stated, previously, Melissa and TLC, for providing us with “up to date” information. Keeping the fandom informed, with FACTS, is very important. You are wonderful to do this. Please keep us up to date on this. Thanks, so much, for your time and effort!
Bloody Hell (imagine Rupert’s voice). That what’s going through my head over and over when I read this. I can’t believe there’s a Part 2 after all the other points in the other post.
I agree the whole thing is sad but the guy is in the wrong and is coming across very badly which is making people feeling sorry for him. SVA name is going to be dragged through the mud and he has no one else to blame but himself.
I have this feeling that RDR might pull out. Why would they want to go through all this in court. If I was a writer and they represented me I would be really worried. They could screw me over one day.
And I wish people would stop saying that Jo is money hungry. It’s not the point and we all know that she isn’t like that so please just stop.