Good for you, Leaky. I know this must have been hard, but you made the right decision. I find it a bit distressing that Steve can imply that Jo is an evil copyright-grabbing monster trying to stop creativity. Isn’t it just the opposite? Didn’t she come on PotterCast? Doesn’t she browse the fan sites regularly? Wasn’t it she who didn’t freak out when Sue Upton came squeeeing over to her that night at Carnegie Hall? I think it’s pretty safe to say that Jo really likes the fandom. I don’t think she’s trying to stifle creativity, I think she’s trying to promote it. She encourages writing and creative thinking, and she even laughs about the most over-the-top fan fiction. After these and other recent comments coming from Steve, I just can’t imagine him as the defender of the fandom from the creativity-stifler that is Jo. I think it’s Jo who’s the defender of the fandom.

I think some people are missing the point – claiming that if this lawsuit wins, it opens a huge floodgate to creators being able to control any and all fan created material.

That just is not true.

This present case holds if, and only if, it can be proved that the Lexicon is simply a rehashing of JKR’s material and if it has been done to make money.

There is no issue of “Ah ha! But although JK Rowling WONT shut anyone down, she COULD”. She’d only be able to do that for other people who reproduce her work for profit.

I think I’m gonna’ cry. This is all so horribly sad, and it was excruciating to read that interview. For him to spark worry in fans in order to sway opinions on the case was just awful. To Melissa and everyone at Leaky, thanks so much for everything. Really. You guys are amazing. While other Potter sites have deviated from their roots (and it was extremely difficult to watch), Leaky has always stayed true. I feel you’ve made the right decision. Yay Leaky, for being the GryffinPuff of Potter sites, always bravely fighting for the right cause. I love you guys so freakin’ much!

I think y’all made the the right decision and in a dignified way. thanks for upholding great standards in all that you do with this website. Thanks for being honest and forthright as well.

“I like how it’s okay to put the lexicon online, and how Leaky was more than willing to pay and host the website, and affiliate itself with the Lexicon, and how it was all okay to do until J.K. had something to say about it. Now everyone is bailing on the Lexicon. Despicable! Don’t want bad press, eh?”—Jeff

Jeff, things happen. This is a working relationship, and when you have fundamental disagreements with a partner, even if they are a friend, sometimes it is better to seperate ties with them. They have very seperate views for what is best for the fandom, and it would seem odd for both sites to be listed under the same banner. I’m sure, like most fans, the Leaky Staff went over all of the information provided and made their own opinion on this case. I doubt they blindly accepted the situation in favor of JKR, especially since Steve was a friend (and may still be a friend). Melissa, out of anyone here, has probably spent the most time sifting through legal documents on this case. So I am confident that they did not rush to this decision.

I think y’all made the the right decision and in a dignified way. thanks for upholding great standards in all that you do with this website. Thanks for being honest and forthright as well.

To my thinking, Steve has been being missadviced to say such things. I admire his work and all, but the sad part is that this whole ordeal started linking Leaky and of course, since Leaky has such a great relationship with Jo, you can’t risk that. I am really sorry about this, but if there is nothing else you guys can do, parting ways will be. I never thought I’d see the day in which serious Harry Potter websites would severe their association for bigger reasons than shipping. It is really sad.

I disagree with Steve, and it is JK Rowling’s complete right not to allow them to release the encyclopedia. I will only buy Rowling’s scottish book

What a tough call to make and I proud of all of you. Like most people who have commented I feel it was the correct decision. Best wishes always.

I disagree with Steve, and it is JK Rowling’s complete right not to allow them to release the encyclopedia. I will only buy Rowling’s scottish book

Everyone at Leaky as obviously been very conscientious in their attempts to be fair and represent such a large portion of the fan community. Well done Leaky!

Some of the opinions on copyright are a bit frustrating to me. I don’t know if it is generally understood that it is extremely difficult to make your living in the arts. It is not something that is promoted by our “business” culture. Copyright laws protect writers, musicians and artists of all kinds so that they may bring their work to the public and be able to make a living at it.

Yes, Jo has profited by this more than most artists. She is now wealthy from her efforts and her art, but that doesn’t mean that it is all about money for her. As a writer, your stories are like your children. You feel the same sort of fierce protection for them. For someone to take advantage of your work (the point being the SVA has added nothing new in his proposed book), then you must protect them as Molly protected Ginny in the final battle. It’s the same motivation!

So while everyone is looking at profits and greed in this particular case, remember that there are those of us who have a lot of trouble earning our living from our art, and if it were not for copyright laws, we would have no chance at all. Everything we created would be up for grabs by the public at large, and then how would we pay our rent or put food on the table? The issues here are not just about the moneyed, but about all artists and their right to earn a living from the material they create.

It is a sad situation to be sure, and my empathy goes out to everyone involved.

I agree with you and think you have done the right thing.

“If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this Cornelius Steve,” said Dumbledore, “we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I Leaky shall act as they see fit.”

It’s a sad day.

Alan, the issues of how much control someone can have over fandom is somewhat of an open issue, in most cases the fans backed down and so to the best of my knowledge it hasn’t gotten a precedence set yet. Fans back down for lack of resources, or just a desire not to fight the creators of something they create.

As I understand the issues (I am not a lawyer, though I’ve read on these issues) the profit making element is legally irrelevant, it’s no more legal to violate copyrights or trademarks for free than it is for “I’m gonna be rich”. Creators have more incentive to go after those who are infringing for profit, but you just need to see the headlines about the RIAA to see it’s not necessary. When discussing the books in the Leaky Lounge, I regularly check the Lexicon if I’m unsure of a connection. That seems to be to be adding something new.

I will make this prediction…if the judge rules against RDR, the reasoning stated won’t be crafted in such as way that fanfiction and fanart will be protected. It may not specifically state that they are allowed, but the best we can hope for in such a decision is for our status as a legal grey area to remain.

Jeff,

They didn’t bail out on him. Leaky was a neutral provider of information on this case. If Steve had not given that interview and said what he said, Leaky would have waited until the verdict before giving their opinion.

When have you known Leaky to be greedy? Have you not been around for the countless charity drives? Please make your points without insults. By the way, Jo didn’t try to stay in the public eye. She’s always been there. She doesn’t need extra publicity. All she has to do is be seen writing at a cafe and the press would go crazy. No to mention that the cafe owner would turn in a nice profit and all those “eye witness” would get paid to talk about what they saw her doing, what she was wearing, and anything else they can think off.

The Lexicon would have no problem going on if it wasn't going to sold.  Even if they printed a version of the whole site and then gave it away for "free" I doubt Jo would have had a problem.  It's the fact that a lot of the site has copious quotes from the HP series and it's being sold that's the problem.  Even with all the quotes on site, Jo doesn't care.  So no, I don't think this is going to affect HP sites.  I cannot say the same for other authors, but for us HP fans, I think we'll be fine.

What I don’t understand is why Steve, being the talented writer that he is, did not just limit the book to essays and articles he and his staff have written. He could have done that and no one would have had a problem. I think the problem is also that the book is almost exactly like Jo’s “Scottish Book”. Change the format and some of the content and publish it that way. Then everyone should be happy.

Leaky, ignore the negative comments, as they are very few.