Dear Melissa and staff, at Leaky: I want to thank you, all, for your hard work and dedication to remaining as unbiased as possible. It was [is] a hard thing to do. Severing yourself, from the Floo Network, was a very hard decision too. I applaud your efforts and will continue to remain a loyal fan of Harry Potter and recommending The Leaky Cauldron to all my Fan Friends [who aren’t already here, with “the crowd”] I love TLC and all the work you do. As has been stated, by many here, the only one who is truly losing out is SVA. This is a sad event. Please, stay as you are, Leaky. You’re tough, fair minded and helpful…sign me: A Devoted Harry Potter/Leaky Cauldron Fan.

Leaky, never fear! You have our support!

I came to the Harry Potter fandom late in it’s life and found it to be THE most open community around! I don’t think any fan believes that a win for J.K. Rowling is going to mean restrictions/control over what fans do to contribute to the fandom…AT ALL! I think it’s foolish for Steve to state such a thing and a convient argument considering his position in this case.

I feel for you guys. It’s not alway easy to make these types of decisions. The Leaky staff all belong to Gryffindor….yes even you Sue!

GadgetDon, if what you say is true then creators can already block material that they dislike (a la Paramount pictures, for example). In which case, this lawsuit adds nothing new. They will not be granted any new powers that they don’t already have.

If what you claim is not true, and creators cannot block such material, then I’m not sure why you’re mentioning all these worst case scenarios. As I see it, the case is targetting the lexicon due to specific allegations: 1) It’s profit making 2) It’s rehashing JKR’s own work, and adding nothing new

For any future case to be able to use this lawsuit as precedence, they would have to prove these same conditions hold. I don’t feel those conditions are unfair (and do feel that all future work should meeting those criterial should be blocked) because it’s reselling someone else’s work as your own.

Now, if the lawsuit was attacking the lexicon because of its use of the characters, books or trademarks in something original (fan created work) I’d be fully agreeing with you. But as it stands, such work will not be able to use this court case as precedence, because the circumstances will be different.

In response to the comments about this:

RDR Books loses, copyright holders will be given broad new control over fan activity, control which will allow them to shut down sites, stop authors from writing about their works, etc.

He’s not saying that JKR will actually pull the plug on fan activity, but he’s saying that now, without question, she could. As could the countless other authors who’s work we enjoying creating fic and art based on.

This is a completely important trial, with a completely important and valid arguement.

Don’t forget that. It’s not all about Jo vs. Steve.

It’s the right move, TLC, and one I’m sure you’ve been mulling behind-the-scenes since this case appeared. The business / legal aspects of the decision make it an easy one and the appropriate one—the friendships and invested emotions are what make it so unpleasant.

Firstly huge HUGS to every single person who works here at Leaky and makes this site a wonderful place for fans.

Secondly, I don’t think there is a single person here who judges you all harshly for wanting to know more information before you break up with a friend. Exactly how Dumbledore felt as he was realizing the true nature of Grindelwald I’m afraid.

Thirdly, I know it’s been said a hundred times throughout this but I know I’m glad that you came to this decision and ultimately I am sure Jo would be happy to hear you have come out and stated publicly that you’re on her side.

I know that every single one of us will be here to support you and this site since we all know it is by far the most comprehensive site for Potter fans. You provide us with an easy one stop for updates and news, friendship and academia, pictures and videos. And in return I hope we all can give you the loyalty you deserve and that you have shown to us, especially in this hard time.

I am glad to finally hear an oppinion from leaky on the subject. It’s sad, but I also flet I knew somehow it woud come to this. I support Leaky all the way.

Leaky Staff,

I can only imagine that this must feel like breaking up with a significant other. You know it’s the right thing, but you still love them and miss them. All I can say is that with time, things change and may even heal, and perhaps the relationship may become stronger even if it is a different sort of relationship.

Although I love the Lexicon website and have enjoyed Steve in Pottercast, I have to admit that this is the right course of action. I am glad that the staff waited this long to distance themselves and waited for specific proof that TLC and the Lexicon were going in different directions before taking such a step. To have done so before would have seem like you were leaving a man out to drown and brought up questions of loyalty. By waiting you until now, you have extended your hand and waited for him to grab it. You’ve done your part, now it’s up to him to decide to sink or swim.

Sorry, for all the analogies, don’t know what’s gotten in to me.

I support you guys 100% because your staff has always done the right thing for the fans and I have never had reason to mistrust any decisions you have made about this site.

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?

This case is about more than just the Lexicon and Rowling. It’s about the ultra restrictive copyright laws. So I can’t even say Harry Potter in a book without risking a lawsuit. And when Rowling files suit she will say it’s all for charity, and everyone will fall all over themselves to condemn the author of the infringing book.

I’m not saying I know Steve’s intentions. They may be entirely greedy, and Rowling’s may be purely innocent, but some of Rowling’s stunts lately, after the final book, lead me to think she just wants to remain in the public eye.

I love Harry Potter! I am grateful Rowling wrote these amazing books. I may have never read a Dickens or Tolstoy story if it wasn’t for Rowling. But, I am disgusted by all parties in this suit. It should have never happened. Steve should have responded to Rowling’s original request for the Lexicon book. Rowling should better understand the position she holds. She may have invented the world of Harry Potter, but it is bigger than just her now. And Leaky shouldn’t have made a decision until after the case was settled.

I can understand the Lexicon and Rowling. Both sides might be greedy, or both sides might have honorable intentions. Nevertheless, Leaky making a decision before all the facts are out is despicable!

GadgetDon, I think you make some good points. However, you mentioned creators who want to limit their fandom (Paramount, Lucas), but what about authors or creators who are more accepting of fan work. We all know Jo has been supportive of the websites and fan fiction, etc., and there are other authors out their who feel the way she does about their fandom. The problem with this case is that it’s a free fan website that Jo supported that is being published into a book for profit. If RDR wins, will future creators and authors, who would normally be more open to their fandom, be forced to supress their online fandom in fear of losing their copyright? I think that is the main issue here.

As for seperating all ties with Steve, I think it is really sad as well. However, we don’t know what is going on in the background. Perhaps there is more to the story than we know, and their friendship is irreversibily damaged. I hope not.

Well,if Jo doesn’t want the publication of HP lexicon,we should as real HP fans support her!!!I completly with her! and I can’t wait for the Scottish book!

correction:I’m completly with her. :D

This is a very sad, but very brave decision. Well done for so carefully stepping into the arena of commentary. I know it’s a hard thing to do when this site is normally so impartial.

I think it’s the right decision.

Those of us who truly understand what’s on the line here, not only for HP fandom, but for all fandoms, are standing behind your decision, Leaky. Thank you for doing the right thing, even if it wasn’t easy to do.

And I don’t see how anyone who is that disrespectful of an author’s wishes over creative material she OWNS could possibly call themselves a fan. Jo is very generous to the fandom, there are authors who don’t allow what HP fandom can do, especially in regards to fanfiction. We’re allowed to play in her world, but we shouldn’t forget that it belongs to her. I’m sure many of us who do creative works understand her feelings about this. By abusing the privileges we have, we may lose them altogether.