In The News
JKR/WB vs. RDR Books Trial: "Fan Feud", from The New Yorker
NewsTim Wu in an article for The New Yorker looks at the events leading up to the trial, speaks to Steve Vander Ark, and compares J.K. Rowling to the mythical Athena:
“Once upon a time, a talented weaver named Arachne declared herself superior in skill to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who also invented weaving. Whether Arachne was actually better we’ll never know, for Athena, in a jealous rage, destroyed her rival’s tapestry and turned her into a spider. Last summer, at a “Harry Potter” convention in Toronto, a fan named Steve Vander Ark made a similar mistake when he dared to compare himself to Joanne (J. K.) Rowling.”
Wu describes what led Vander Ark to create the Lexicon website, and notes that Vander Ark has suffered “cruel fates” as a result of the lawsuit:
“In the late nineties, while working as a children’s librarian in Byron Center, Michigan (pop. 3,777), he discovered the “Potter” series. He began to take notes and, by his own estimate, has read each of the books forty or fifty times. “Something about these detailed imaginative worlds just captivated me,” he said during a court recess.
In 2000, Vander Ark, who considers himself a Ravenclaw, turned his obsessive notes into a Web site, The Harry Potter Lexicon. Soon, he was a celebrity in the “Potter” community. But when he decided to turn his Web site into a book Rowling sued his publisher, effectively exiling him from the wizard community.”
Wu also notes Leaky webmistress Melissa Anelli’s presence in the court room:
Anelli is writing her own “Potter” book, with Rowling’s blessing, and during a break in the trial Rowling sought her out and gave her a warm embrace, a moment that might have been as difficult for Vander Ark as any part of the legal proceedings.
“Melissa has done more to hurt me than Rowling,” Vander Ark said during a recess. “I can’t blame her for liking her status.” After all, he said, Rowling “is God and Melissa is her prophet.” He went on, “I am an outcast now. But I still consider myself a ‘Harry Potter’ fan.”
*
Editor’s Note: In the above-mentioned article, Mr. Wu attributed several statements made during a recent PotterCast (number 148) to Melissa Anelli (“He is vilified now”, “He has ruined his good standing.”). These remarks were instead made by Leaky Editor Sue Upton, who was commenting on the impact the decision to publish the book has made upon Vander Ark’s reputation.
rate this article
Interested in News?
Sign up for free Email Alerts
Stupid stupid stupid. Is he saying Steve might have more skill than Jo? I think not.
I appreciate Leaky’s balance reporting on this controversy.
of course he has turn the vast majority of hp fandom against him and i think SVA is bitter because melssia’s book has gotten the okay while his has not and i think 1st post?
Melissa has done way more than Steve did. Anyone could have copied the content of the book.
I hate it how he started on Melissa…she didn’t deserve it…her status??! This is insane!
Okay… so Steve has talent at cutting and pasting other people’s work, then has a right to profit from it whilst stating he is the author? Hmm if I ever submitted something at uni that I cut and pasted from somewhere else, I’m definitely sure I’d get pulled up for plagiarism.
I really wonder how most of these journalists can even attempt to pass judgement on who they think has the rights, considering few (if any) have read either of the books.
Melissa didn’t write an unauthorized lexicon. She is writing a book that she actually had to work on; she didn’t copy the contents of Rowling’s book.
How dare he start with Melissa just because he’s upset that he screwed himself over. Melissa did nothing wrong! This is a low blow on Steve’s part and I truly think he deserves to be the outcast in the Harry Potter community that he has become because of his actions. His actions have deeply hurt the community. The worst part is, his actions are all selfish. He isn’t writing this book for the HP fans; he’s writing for money, pure and simple. Otherwise he would have either been satisfied with the online lexicon as a representation of his work and dedication or he would have sold his books and donated the profits to charity as JKR has done.
Oh, my goodness. SVA is really trying to paint himself as a tragic hero. SVA needs to take responsibility for his actions; in fact, he should’ve taken responsibility for his actions MONTHS AGO.
And wow, reading all these articles makes me realize how much misinformation is swirling around about this lawsuit. Don’t any of these magazine or newspaper reporters bother to do any fact-checking before writing their articles?
Okay… so Steve has talent at cutting and pasting other people’s work, then has a right to profit from it whilst stating he is the author? Hmm if I ever submitted something at uni that I cut and pasted from somewhere else, I’m definitely sure I’d get pulled up for plagiarism.
I really wonder how most of these journalists can even attempt to pass judgement on who they think has the rights, considering few (if any) have read either of the books.
SVA’s comments about Melissa remind me of the scene in OOTP, when Draco loses the Quidditch match to Harry, and resorts to bitterly mocking Harry and the Weasleys to cover up his humiliation. “Talk about sour grapes”, indeed, Angelina.
SVA’s comments about Melissa remind me of the scene in OOTP, when Draco loses the Quidditch match to Harry, and resorts to bitterly mocking Harry and the Weasleys to cover up his humiliation. “Talk about sour grapes”, indeed, Angelina.
SVA’s comments about Melissa remind me of the scene in OOTP, when Draco loses the Quidditch match to Harry, and resorts to bitterly mocking Harry and the Weasleys to cover up his humiliation. “Talk about sour grapes”, indeed, Angelina.
SVA’s comments about Melissa remind me of the scene in OOTP, when Draco loses the Quidditch match to Harry, and resorts to bitterly mocking Harry and the Weasleys to cover up his humiliation. “Talk about sour grapes”, indeed, Angelina.
‘“Melissa has done more to hurt me than Rowling,” Vander Ark said during a recess. “I can’t blame her for liking her status.” After all, he said, Rowling “is God and Melissa is her prophet.” He went on, “I am an outcast now. But I still consider myself a ‘Harry Potter’ fan.”’ .... How dare he.
Honestly, how dare he.
I don’t even know what to say anymore.
You have to be fair and remember that we all probably frequented his site in its hey-day. Don’t kick him while he’s down – the lawsuit probably hit him as a total surprise and he’s got his reasons for defending it. He put a lot of work into what he did. An atlas maker didn’t create the world, but he can still describe it and catalogue everything in it. Don’t get me wrong, I think Rowling’s going to win, but don’t turn Steve into a villain just because in this one thing he’s in a disagreement with your favorite author.
Um. Oops? Sorry for the triple post. No idea how that happened O_O
Oh, no, Mommy loves Melissa better than me! Come off it, she can comfort Jo if she wants to. I’m looking forward to Melissa’s book. I will never read Steve’s.
I think his random attack on Melissa was just his last resort. I was hoping that after this somehow someway he cud feel welcomed back into the fandom again, but this shows that it’ll never happen.
We are all with you Melissa how dare he do this to you are the best and I’m glad that Jo as given you her blessing keep on with your book we support you in anything you do we all love you and steve is not a real friend or fan when is says such horrible things….. WE ARE ALL WITH YOU…...
Leaky Poll
Who should win the JKR/WB vs RDR lawsuit?
- JKR and WB: The HPL takes too much and adds too little6325 (78%)
- RDR: Lexicons are fair use1322 (16%)
- I'll answer in the comments364 (4%)
Yet again, a journalist not getting his facts straight