@Loader Lady

You could do a direct download and then just copy and paste the mp3 into a playlist in iTunes. I’ve done it before when I was having problems.

I’m hoping “Alt Plan B” works and one of my friends comes through.

From everything I’ve read, I don’t think SVA has the slightest expectation to win this case, nor does he really care. He’s indemnified himself, after all. No, I think his real motive here is to expand his celebrity status within the Harry Potter fandom, with a view to creating an even larger market for his non-infringing books down the road. How despicable.

@Loader Lady

Hmmm…no idea how to fix that. Hope you figure it out!

@Danny

That’s certainly the way it seems.

Ok, I just lost my whole message somehow… let’s see

@ Mrs W, Pam, destertwind, Morton,

Thank you for your thoughts. I agree that JK probably did not want or need a partner, and the situation was delicate, and it was rude of Steve to try to force himself on her on the merits of his Lexicon. JK made it sound like the Lexicon was very useful, but it was probably not as unique to her as it may have seemed to us fans who didn’t have access to her editors’ lists. It’s just that she had access to it on the internet, which probably made it convenient several times. Otherwise, to write the Scottish book, she does have her editors to help with organizing. To me, the timing of SVA’s publication does seem to fit too well with his being blown off (as he makes it sound) by the Christopher Little Agency (and implicitly by Jo). But to every reaction there is an action (going backwards). Who knows how he approached them. Or maybe just the fact of what he wanted was bothersome. In fact, it really is for the author to approach him, if she wants, not for him to approach the author, if you stop and think about it, about such a collaboration. This is no small request! And maybe Jo wanted to give that job to her editor. And from that exchange of emails between Steve and Jo’s editor, if Jo saw it, we can see that Steve doesn’t come off looking too well. I could see why Jo would decide to keep her editor alone for the encyclopedia, especially if she had found something of the story from the editor herself, before it became public. Oh, my imagination is really getting twisted. But I can just see it… So in the end, things become clearer if we ignore all these side issues and just look at the law… maybe. Somehow I get the feeling, although SVA insists RDR approached him, i.e. that he was passive, i.e. that he did not actively seek revenge, that he changed his stance on copyright and accepted the invitation when he realized he wasn’t going to get anywhere sticking by Jo’s side (anywhere profitable). I hope I’m not overdoing it.

@ Danny

SVA made a comment when questioned by mollywobbles23, The High Inquisitor :), on the Lexicon that he was not named in the lawsuit. Only RDR is named with SVA as one of their witnesses. He made quite a lengthy deposition with the earlier filings. He certainly didn’t come across as terribly worried at the outcome.

@ Morton, MORTON…..MORTONNNNNNNN

You up??? I’m not qualified as a fandom expert….but am contacting JKR’s people to see if they would like to hire me as a light-hearted courtroom commentator…..what do you think???? Looking for a volunteer to do the sketches…..anybody?

lol “High Inquisitor.” Well, my mom used to say I should be a lawyer. I told her I’m a horrible liar.

@Cathy, mollywobbles23

Exactly. He’s not worried, why should he be? He has everything to win, no matter which way the judge rules, and nothing to lose. Even if RDR/SVA lose their battle in court, they will have won the proverbial war. Look at all the publicity this case has generated already! And just think of all the media coverage to come when JK Rowling arrives in New York City for the trial. It’s going to be a circus, with SVA the ringmaster. Quoting from Mugglenet: ”’We asked for her and they said they would provide her,’ said lawyer David Hammer. ‘I would say it would be very unlikely that she would not appear,’ he added.” Poor Jo! She deserves to be with her family, taking a well-deserved break after 17 years of hard work. Instead, she’s going to be trotted out like SVA’s dancing bear, all to aggrandize his ill-gotten celebrity! It makes me so mad.

You know Morton, I was thinking about that aspect ever since Daniela posted that comment about what Jo must have thought when Steve offered his services to write the Scottish Book. I guess what you said makes perfect sense (as usual!). The thing is, at the end of the day, there is SO MUCH MORE about the books and the characters and the world in itself that we don’t know about, even after seven books. And there is other stuff we just know partly about, in bits and pieces. And that’s where the author comes in because she knows exactly what there is in that world, the background of the characters, the past and the present. We, as fans can only speculate, but even the biggest fan cannot really guess, like, say, Florean Fortscue’s role in the books – I’m referring to the sub-plot that Jo said she later discarded in the books, the she mentioned in her Pottercast interview.

And the Lexicon, as a site, just gives a listing of…well…Jo’s creations. And it isn’t like she doesn’t know at all what’s there in the site, because she wrote that stuff. It’s just that it’s slipped out of her mind now. It can happen to anyone, especially writers. And no, LOL, it has nothing to with being old Morton! Since I write stuff myself, I forget stuff that even I wrote a wekk or so back if a lot of mega-hectic stuff comes my way through the week, and I’m in high school! And considering Jo who has a lot going on, it’s natural that she can’t remember each and every little detail she wrote. She could’ve got a book, or gone home and checked up regarding that litle detail no matter where she was. It’s just that it’s more CONVINIENT for her to check it up on the Lexicon. But just because Steve listed her works in an ordered manner, doesn’t mean he has the right to demand a partnership with Jo involving work on the Scottish Book. He can offer, and Jo can refuse. She has herself said she likes working alone, and most authors do. It isn’t a big deal. Most probably that rejection that Jo gave to this partnership drove Steve to write the Lexicon book, which subsequently lead to this whole legal mess. Gosh, complicated! I can’t believe these high egos sometimes, it’s just so self-destructive isn’t it?

@ Danny

Exactly! I feel terrible for Jo right now. She needs some peace and quiet with her family and instead, she’s running to courtrooms just because a so-called “fan” though he could go against her wishes. it’s despicable what Steve is doing! No matter which way this case turns, he’s lost so much respect withing the fandom now. He has nothing to gain from this, but he’s a lost so much, and I don’t think he can ever get back what he’s lost. Sorry if I’m sounding sounding a little hyper here, but it just makes me really sad for Jo. It’s not like she ever asked for any publicity! Why can’t people just leave her alone in peace!

@ Daniela: With due respect, but who is JK Rowling – the Queen Mum, or an angel flying high above the clouds? Why should another author who is writing about her NOT simply ask her to join in the project, esp if it is a lexicon? It seems the most normal thing to do.

Though: I started worrying when all the canon-thing began. How horrible for any authoress / author, wanting to move forward with their creativity, to be reduced to the role of interpreting their own work constantly – and authoritatively. Speaking ex cathedra, like the pope in matters of dogma and doubt. Or like a Supreme Court. I imagine hell like that.

@ Danny: The outcome is not as certain as you may think. When studying law you learn that you should listen to both parties of a conflict – audietur et altera pars. Van der Ark found specialists to represent him before court, and here are some of their arguments (and comprehensive comments about the trial, I hope the link will not be censored):

http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/case/rowling-v-rdr-books

As others commented, this case is about Fair Use; it will have repercussions on almost everybody writing or publishing, not just only in the Internet, though publishing in the internet is the main issue (in theory you can infringe copyright when posting into an open forum).

P.S. And – well, Hi to everybody, I am afraid I am just another one of the oldies > 55 here.

p.f. why would anyone censor your link? The case law has been discussed endlessly here and on the Forum. The law will only change if SVA/RDR win, which is why Stanford supports it. They want to change the law and limit copyright further, or, some would argue, extend the boundaries of copyright theft further. RDR’s lawyers have admitted they are infringing JKR’s copyright, which is why they are basing their case on Fair Use. Unfortunately for them their book does not meet any of the parameters set for Fair Use. Only if the trial judge decides to set a precedent and extend Fair Use to areas it has not covered before can RDR/SVA hope to win. It is possible but highly unlikely. The main reason it is unlikely is that it will turn copyright law on its head, which is why Stanford are interested. That is one of their acknowledged aims. Also, the book, see Justia.com, is nothing like the Lexicon site despite the initial testimony/descriptions given by Rapaport to potential distributors. Yet another hurdle for RDR and Stanford to overcome.

@ p.f

I don’t think any one meant to portray JKR as the “Queen Mum” or anything like it. I took the comments to mean that just because SVA was the webmaster of the Lexicon this in no way automatically entitled him to ask/demand a job.

It would be as if I sat down and watched all of Steven Spielberg’s movies, learned everything about his works, started my own website with all this information, and then contacted the man himself asking to help direct his next movie. I think everyone would think I was crazy. Just because I organized/compiled information, it does not qualify me or entitle me to be a part of the process of creation. SVA may have done a lot work, no one denies it, but to go from “I’m a huge HP fan” to wanting JKR to hire him is a big leap.

I have never seen JKR as someone who should be relegated to higher status other than a great author and charismatic, philanthropic person. Therefore, it is not that he asked for a job or that he had no right to ask for a job, it is that he thought he deserved the job.

Moving on. . . . .

@Cathy, Mollywobbles23, Danny

I completely agree about his declaration. He is just a witness to elaborate on the book and nothing more. He really isn’t a part of the case. It’s not his responsibility any of this is happening. Well, at least that’s how his declaration sounded to me. His reply to Mollywobbles23 clearly comes across as someone who has bigger and better plans ahead and this case is a thing of the past.

@ Morton, Prenz

Thank you for that perspective. It’s nice to hear from the writers/artists in the fandom.

Indulge me in a bit of speculation into the future. I would like to know if your views have changed as to what you would allow fans to do with your works, even if the law is not changed?

I’ve seen so much talent in the fandom. I have my desktop background, telephone and mp3 wallpapers set as compilations of pictures I copied from the Leaky galleries. Every time anyone sees this they remark and I brag about how it was HP fans who did such marvelous works. I’m extremely proud that we have such great artists among us.

this has no effect on wand makers i’ve been making wands for years and have them in several stores in my state but i dont call them harry potter wands thats thievery of her copy rights then.I somehow doubt j.k. wants to shut down wizard rock as she dosnt hold any rights to the words wizard or rock or wands for that matter(lol) the statement that it effects us all is misleading,it only effects you if your taking her words and using them in a way she has’nt authorized and that is why we have copyrights

@ p.f.

Now that a number of us “oldies” have been outed.(and while not divulging my age I will mention that I am a grandparent)....I am so incredibily impressed that JKR’s work has touched such a huge demographic of people. Remember with the first two books adults being caught reading the books hidden in a bigger book.. or buying the adult cover books, .how things have changed. Wonderful to see such intelligent people of all ages having this emotional discussion regardless of their point of view with such respect and admiration. Harry Potter fans rock!