Yes Anne, I’m sure that is what is being referred to. What I want to know is, how do we go from Steve working in a school library without a degree in library sciences (and eventually leaving his position) to Steve being fired because he didn’t have the right credentials? As far as I know, this was never ever stated or confirmed – either in court or anywhere else. This is pure conjecture. People seem to just be jumping to this conclusion and Melissa asked that they stop doing it.

I appreciate all the comments I’ve read here, and have used TLC for my main news source on the case. I would like to make a suggestion to all the people posting on TLC that it might be advantageous for some people to also post in the comments accompanying the radio broadcast. There are a mere handful of comments there, and some input from the well-informed TLC people could bring insight to the people listening to the interview on BBC’s sight. That is, if anyone doesn’t mind a quick anonymous, or not so anonymous, sign-in to comment.

That said, I didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry at the “spin” SVA was trying to dish out during that interview. I’m glad to read he didn’t fool most of the people here.

I can’t believe this. He such an idiot. I HATE HIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!! Why the hell he didn’t confess that he is doing this for money??? Uh I hate him. Ashley McC sorry for this but I think that JKR is right to want her money because HP is her book and no one could change that. She wrote it for a long long time and now some idiot like this one just make money in her hard work????? Oh I don’t thinks so. I say that no one should buy that book if it came out!!!!!

Whoops…that should read, ”...listening to the interview on BBC’s site” No edit button. sigh

Other encyclopedias & guides for HP have been published after literary/legal review by the copyright/trademark holders (Jo & WB). It’s not a process unique to Jo and HP, but is publishing business standard. It takes time and involves a lot of back-and-forth.

What RDR Publishing wanted to do is way outside normal publishing practices and that’s why we’ve got this lawsuit. In an attempt to rush the book into stores by November, RDR tried to condense a 6-8 month process into two months. He wanted to skip the normal copyright vetting practice.

Just by chance, in October Jo’s lawyer saw RDR’s sale listing of the book and asked to see a copy for vetting. RDR actively refused to comply. With the book listed for November sale, Jo & WB had no choice but to sue to hold up publishing.

missing end of sentence —

Jo & WB had no choice but to sue to hold up publishing….

while they tried to get a copy of the book to review.

There are some real quirks to this case (because of Jo’s success; the website, etc.) but I think most of what has happened here is something that happens every day in business.

Someone tries to cut corners and is caught.

I’m on Jo’s side. I’m an English instructor, and if a student turned in an essay that was 91% of someone else’s work (and especially if that work were not properly cited), I would certainly give that student an ‘F’.

I do feel badly for SVA, though I’m sure that nobody forced him to sign the contract with RDR. SVA has completely burned his bridges with Jo and WB. And if the Lexicon wins the lawsuit, and Jo decides not to publish the Scottish Book, SVA will have a very large portion of the HP community turn against him.

Also, I wonder why RDR even still wants to publish the Lexicon? Borders and Barnes & Noble have decided not to sell the Lexicon, and I’m guessing that other places won’t sell it, either, since the bookstores won’t want to appear as though they’re siding with RDR and against Jo/WB. I’m sure that the Lexicon will make some money, but it’s completely become more trouble than it’s worth!

I can’t believe SVA’s statement about the money making. JKR didn’t write her books just for money—that wasn’t her idea at all. This series is her life. That it made her lots of money isn’t the issue. The issue is that he stole from her work…And about those other people making money off of Harry Potter? Sure, because they asked permission and got a license from WB to do it…they didn’t steal it!

OMG!! What an idiot! I cannot believe how self-serving he is. He sounds just too stupid to be real. As if Jo didn’t ask him to make changes and he didn’t. And as if he is the champion of Harry Potter (fighting to keep it on the bookshelves) And the crap about everyone is going to make a buck off Harry Potter Give me a break!

Jo I SOOOOO hope you win this!!!

Cathie- If information was corrected since I read that (in the court comments, I think??), then I apologize profusely. I can’ t read all of the comments here because of those wacky time wasters that hang around my house (kids, for example!). I’m sorry if things have changed regarding that info. I recall it was stated that he was “let go” because of confusion regarding his degree (he didn’t have one, for example- heh… sounds funnier in my head!)

Sorry for the confusion

this interview kind of confirms the feeling I had about the whole thing in the very beginning. A lot of people that are well known in the Fandom, for example Mugglenet, Wrockers and Melissa, are writing books/songs about HP and make money of it. Which is alright the way they do it: add more original ideas and thoughts than they take from the books. Hearing Steve complain about that I think he really was annoyed that everybody else was making a bit of money from their input in the fandom and he wasnt… just a feeling.

All the rest about him wanting to change the book so that it’d be fine with Jo…who does he think he’s kidding? They didnt even want to show the manuscript to WB and Jo’s lawyers. How on earth could there have been any way that there were suggestions from Steve to change it? This is ridiculous…but then again, we should be used to Steve changing his opinion and statements about this trial every other day by now.

I am Dave, hear me ROAR!!! I am from England, and so I am GOD!! Enough blasphemy, let’s get down to the real business. JK Rowling = great and wonderful.. SVA = can right a whole encyclopedia with the power of his mind! Must be a witch.. let’s burn him at the stake. And for the moderators, I’m only joking… a stake is so primitive. Let’s use a barbeque instead. =) Well, SVK has some valid points.. let’s see how it goes and celebrate/comisserate together when we get the results!!

I don’t believe a single word SVA says. You just have to look at his testimony last week, when he placed all blame on RDR. That was such a contradiction to what he had been spouting for months before the court case.

Just a quick note to those who were discussing the job issue. I realize Melissa has asked us not to speculate, but I just wanted to point out the line from a previous Leaky article that is the cause for confusion. Or at least it confused me. In the article about SVA’s testimony, Kristin wrote: “During questioning, it was established that SVA does not have a degree in Library Science, and that he was asked for his resignation from his job as a librarian in October.” I personally read this sentence (and I’m guessing others have as well) as meaning the two facts are directly related, and if I hadn’t read these comments under this article, I would have remained under that impression. It’s a pretty understandable misinterpretation of the text.

i’m behind Jo 1000%. this guy is being so selfish. can you all imagine how we would feel if he won and Jo said “i will no longer publish an encyclopedia.” ? we would be devestated because we would have no direct concrete source about EVERYTHING that has happened in the series and the events that take place afterwords. (for example, the jobs everyone persues, who everyone marries, and the futures of the new generation). we would NEVER know what she means to have happen. if this guy can’t see that then he really cannot consider himself a fan. he is a selfish idiot and i wish this case would be resolved in Jo’s favor as soon as possible. if this results in Jo not publishing an encyclopedia, i personally will do anything in my power to make sure he knows how he devestated the entire harry potter fandom.