The Chicago Tribune speaks to Roger Rapoport of RDR Books, the publishing company that is involved in a legal battle against JK Rowling and Warner Brothers over the rights to publish a book version of the HP Lexicon website.
Not a Potter fan, Mr. Rapoport was unfamiliar with the Lexicon website until he saw a newspaper profile on Vander Ark in July 2007.
“I couldn’t understand why this book hadn’t been published yet,” he said.
Rapoport is reportedly unworried about the outcome of the trial, having been told by his attorneys that “no court has ever ruled that the writer of a fictional work is the only person who can write about that book.”
According to the article, Rapoport’s has received free legal help from Stanford University Law School’s Fair Use Project. Donations to his Right to Write Foundation (formed, according to its mission statement, as “an educational repository and clearinghouse for the 21st century freedom of expression and “fair use” issues writers and publishers encounter when moving between the worlds of print, internet, film, the fine arts and new media”) have further offset costs.
Rapoport was asked about JKR’s statement from the stand of “I never ever once wanted to stop Mr. Vander Ark from doing his own guide, never ever. Do your book, but, please, change it so it does not take as much of my work.”
””That opportunity was never presented to us,” he said, his eyes flashing with anger. “The only thing they said [in the lawyer letters and pretrial discussions] was: ‘Will you stop the book?’”
Tribune article author Patrick Reardon also speaks to Steve Vander Ark, creator of the Lexicon site and main author of the Lexicon book.
“During a telephone interview from London, where he moved earlier this year to write other Potter-related books, Vander Ark said he was “devastated” when Rowling’s lawsuit was filed against RDR books, even though he wasn’t named as a defendant. “We certainly had no intention of doing something which would hurt her feelings,” Vander Ark said.”
The article reports that Vander Ark has received “nasty emails” since the lawsuit became public.
“It was disheartening how quickly people were more than happy to turn on me,” Vander Ark said.
Why would anyone even buy this book even if it does get published. Isn’t it just The Lexicon on paper?
This book may get published but it will not make him the money he is hoping for. I have a really good idea for Steve. Why doesn’t he donate all profits to Harry Potter Alliance.
The only true encyclopedia (The Scottish Book) has not been written yet.
“It was disheartening how quickly people were more than happy to turn on me,”
Hmm…Well truly speaking he is right. Many people did actually jumped upon rudely criticizing him without even knowing the full details or anything about copyright or other fair use etc. Anyway I am unable to guess at all who will win this case. I’m with the Judge here , and think it better if both the parties reach to a settlement even when I know this is not going to happen.now.
I guess Steve has only been important for the American fans. Until this Lexicon-trial he was just the guy who made the internet-lexicon (I didn´t even know his name) for me. He was not important for me, I could happily be a fan without Steve.
But I don´t like neither sides in this case. Jo is too arrogant and Steve is a whiner.
It just KILLS me that I’m supporting Warner Brothers in this. I’ve got too many friends, former bandmates and acquaintances who’ve been screwed over by WB & other big record/media labels. I’d HATE to see this crummy case go on to give WB more power generally, but, here I’m on the side of Jo/WB because they’re right.
I wonder what would’ve happened had Jo brought the suit on her own?
I wouldn’t say that people who did not know the full details of they case immediatly presumed to Hate SVA. If anything I would say it is the exact opposite. The problem as I see it is that the only people I see that are on JKR’s side are the people who actually are following the details of the case.
I was TOTALLY ready to believe that SVA was the innocent victim of a bad deal with RDR until he made public statements saying he was defending creativity and JKR wants to shut down the fans, which is a flat out lie. Now since the start of the trial, he’s been playing the innocent victim again. Which one is it? Make up your mind dude. He’s trying to have it both ways, to play both sides, and thinks we are too stupid to see what he is doing. It’s nauseating.
I totally agree with matea. Yeah how can he say that he don’t want to hurt jo’s feelings when he really want to publish that lexicon which obviously hurt her feelings. And I already said in the other posts even if taht is published I would never buy it and I think no one that is on Jo’s side should buy that book to express our feelings. I fully support Jo!!!GO JO!!!
“no court has ever ruled that the writer of a fictional work is the only person who can write about that book.”
This makes no sense. JKR wrote the book, and the content of SVA’s books are merely her words reprinted in encyclopedia format. SVA should not get money out of this if he adds no content to the book other than what JKR wrote.
Ridiclous. An article I wrote in defense of JKR: http://lily-phoenix731.livejournal.com/14563.html
At this point RDR and the Stanford Fair Use Project really do not care if SVA sells one copy of this book. They are hoping to win this case and set a precedent for the future for other books that may be published. Personally I would be willing to picket any book store that attempted to sell the Lexicon book to advise people not to buy something that is so worthless.
I think that SVA was naieve to expect backlash against him when he is suing an author that is revered by millions. I am very worried because it appears to me that several sources an saying that RDR will win. I really hope JKR will win because it is her own material but the odds are not looking good. SVA deserves to be banished from the Harry Potter fandom.
When I first learned about the Lexicon book, I was on SVA’s side. I had never heard of SVA before, but I felt that he had a right to publish his critical text. HOWEVER, as I studied the details of the lawsuit, learned about RDR’s unscrupulous actions, and read the disingenuous statements that SVA made in interviews, I changed my point of view and began to support Jo’s side of the argument.
And I supported Jo even more once I learned that SVA’s book is NOT a critical text but a plagiaristic rearrangement of the material that Jo has put her heart and soul into for nearly 20 years.
It doesn’t matter how big a Harry Potter fan SVA is; it doesn’t matter how much hard work he put into the book; it doesn’t matter how much he truly believes that he is doing all this for the fans. What it basically comes down to is that SVA has stolen Jo’s work and is trying to pass it off as his own.
Because of all that, I am truly disgusted by SVA’s actions, and I completely support Jo Rowling in her justified efforts to protect her material.
Parselmouth Lion thank you for what you have said you said what I have been saying for so long in this blog if steve didn’t want to hurt Jo he should have stop the book and not go on.
Regardless of whether RDR wins or not…the only people who would go out of their way to buy a HP encyclopedia would be the hardcore fans…and seeing as nearly all the hardcore fans are against RDR/SVA….expect the book to have dismal sales. I for one have no intention of buying that book and my Potter loving friends certainly won’t.
So rest easy friends…things have a way of working out in the end. Do not be tempted to buy it…and tell all your friends and family not to buy it. Thats the best we can do as fans.
I suddenly have a Tori Amos song running through my head:
“Lies, lies, lies, everywhere
Said the father to the son
Your peppermint breath’s gonna choke him to death, daddy
Watch your little black sheep run
He got the knives, knives, knives in his back every
Time he opens up
He says “You gotta be strong if you wanna be a man,” mister
I don’t know how you can have
Sweet dreams
Sweet dreams”
Why would anyone even buy this book even if it does get published. Isn’t it just The Lexicon on paper?
This book may get published but it will not make him the money he is hoping for. I have a really good idea for Steve. Why doesn’t he donate all profits to Harry Potter Alliance.
The only true encyclopedia (The Scottish Book) has not been written yet.