The BBC is reporting that Warner Bros. has filed suit against a film company in India for infringing on intellectual property rights in titling an upcoming movie: “Hari Puttar – A Comedy Of Terrors.” A spokesperson confirmed that a lawsuit was filed against Mirchi Movies and is expected to be heard before the Bombay High Court. According to the article, WB felt the title was ‘too similar to that of its world famous young wizard.’ Deborah Lincoln, a spokesperson for WB, is quoted as saying: “We have recently commenced proceedings against parties involved in the production and distribution of a movie entitled Hari Puttar.” Munish Purii, from Mirchi Movies, is also quoted in the article, relating that “We registered the Hari Puttar title in 2005 and it’s unfortunate that Warner has chosen to file a case so close to our film’s release.” The report goes on to note in regards to the title of the film, ‘Hari is a popular Indian name while Puttar means son in Punjabi.’ “Hari Puttar – A Comedy Of Terrors” is slated for release in India on September 12.
This is sad. It’s like WB is saying, “We own every bit of Harry Potter, so you can’t so much as say the name Harry Potter unless you pay royalties”. This studio has become so controlling and secretive in just about every aspect since the first two movies.
NO! Leave Baliwood alone, they make better movies than you from what I hear. Fun musicals and such, I’ve wanted to watch some of Baliwood’s stuff for a long time. Besides, you are just making an ass of yourself by doing this. Quit while you are above George Bush in popularity polls.
Posted by Genevieve Bellamont on August 27, 2008, 04:39 AM
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wow, WB is really starting to make themselves look bad… they’re really starting to come across as a bunch of money-hungry micro-managing nazis. :(
Ha ha ha! “Quit while you are above George Bush in popularity polls”!!!!! Haa haa haa! I like that! I agree. Stop before you look like even bigger idiots to us Harry Potter fans.
WB’s is right up there on that “S-list” in my book…
Oh look out WB’s!!!! My “inner eye” says that the Indian “Hari Putter” might “steal” your rightfully earned money! GOSH!
Go back to keeping your share holders happy because that seems to be the most important thing to you.
Also, Batman may have been GREAT and it made you a lot of cash, but I’d be willing to bet that it was Heath Ledger (may God rest his soul) and US (the fans) that made you that money. Keep that in mind. You’re a PR nightmare right now. Be quiet right now, ya bunch of crack pots. GOOD GRIEF!!
Maybe I’m out of line right now, but I’m aggrivated by all of this continuing nonsense.
This is ridiculous! WB is just making themselves look even more bad than they already do right now. I hope they lose this case and that Hari Puttar makes tons of money.
Well, in India, if anyone wants to spoof Harry Potter, he will change Harry Potter to ‘Hari Puttar’ since it is very funny…
A large number of people in India relate Hari Puttar to Harry Potter even both are different things.
Hari is a common name in India. Hari literally means ‘god’ (every name in India have a specific meaning).
And Puttar is a Punjabi word (Punjabi is a language spoken in Northern India, specially in Punjab region). The word ‘puttar’ means son.
So, literally Hari Puttar means son of god, but it is a name of boy.
Hari Puttar is a comedy film. People here in India think that this movie is a spoof of Harry Potter, so WB has taken this step. But this movie has no connection with Harry Potter at all.
Oh how pathetic!!! It’s a Hindi movie that has nothing to do with Harry Potter. WB seem to get the lawyers out firing whenever they don’t like something. And really, it’s just bad PR for them and good PR for the movie.
What next? Anyone who uses the name Harry should be sued? If your character is a young child that has magical powers, we’ll see you in court? And don’t even think about using an old, kind and wise wizard!!!
A new low for the WB, just when you thought they couldn’t get any lower. Pathetic WB, completely pathetic…
Though I haven’t heard of this movie before, Hindi and Urdu-speakers usually make fun of HP by calling him Hari Puttar, haha. My mom calls me that when I talk about it too much, lol.
I can see where WB found an offense, but I’m sure there’s no more reference to the actual Harry Potter than I would suspect a “Scary Movie” sequel would contain.
Man, you gotta love WB. They may make stupid decisions, but they’re always good for a laugh.
Hey… wait a second…
Do you think that they did this so that we would start laughing at them and feel so sorry for them that we forget all about the release date being bumped back to July?
CONSPIRACY THEORIES ARE AWESOME!
(and entirely true and based on factual evidence and not wild conjecture that appeared at 12:30 in the morning)
Bollywood unashamedly rips off every hollywood film (practically remaking them with song and dance routines inserted) and I always wondered how they got away with it! And now they have a film that is sued by WB only because the title has a similar sound to Harry Potter. I find that so ironic! I have seen a few Bollywood films, some are really fun. I think Hari Puttar is a deliberate Harry Potter reference in spoof mode but do they really need license permission? What about all these spoof films in Hollywood (like Epic Movie etc), did they need license permission too? Any lawyers amongst you Leaky readers can shed a light here? :)
Maybe there is a bigger picture that is hidden from the media reports. Remember the RDR case. As Leaky readers, we recall how RDR refused WB cease and desist demands then blatantly lied how they were not given any time or chance to discuss. The media papers didnt report that, did they? They report on how Jo and WB bulldoze over a small poor book publisher. So with that, I think there is more to this story. Has to be because otherwise, this sounds terribly stupid on WB’s part.
Mrs. Weasley was marching across the yard, scattering chickens, and for a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked like a saber-toothed tiger.
This is sad. It’s like WB is saying, “We own every bit of Harry Potter, so you can’t so much as say the name Harry Potter unless you pay royalties”. This studio has become so controlling and secretive in just about every aspect since the first two movies.