JK Rowling/Warner Bros vs. RDR Books and the HP Lexicon

I'm sure everyone has heard by now that JK Rowling and Warner Brothers are in court, going against the HP Lexicon and RDR Books decision to publish a book version of the lexicon.

Leaky has a report from the first day of the trial.

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2008/4/15/first-day-of-jkr-wb-vs-rdr-books-trial

What are everyones thoughts on this? If RDR Books wins it could mean a drastic change to the online fandom as we know it

JK Rowling has said "If RDR's position is accepted, it will undoubtedly have a significant, negative impact on the freedoms enjoyed by genuine fans on the Internet. Authors everywhere will be forced to protect their creations much more rigorously, which could mean denying well-meaning fans permission to pursue legitimate creative activities."

I personally cannot see why Steve Vander Ark and RDR Books are pursuing this. In my mind, they are clearly in the wrong - and if Vander Ark is as big of a fan of JKR as he says he is, why is he doing this, no doubt causing her stress and worry.

Wow. I didnt even know this.

I wouldn't have bought the book even if there hadn't been this fuss.

Why would you buy what is, in essence, a book version of the HP Lexicon that is up online?

I think Steve Vander Ark is being absolutely pathetic, jeapordising the state of the fandom as we know and love it for his own personal gain.

I told my mom if they win, i dont care hom much she wants to, dont buy it, because thats just wrong for her readers to go back adn read something others are taking credit for.

but...but...but..... this is enraging! O.O" .. I have no words, it's just sad to see at what lengths people can go just to make easy money .... >.<"

And Amy - I agree with you, I wouldn't buy it, either, there's no point in it.

But I mean - the chances are all on her side, ... right? I mean, no-one in their right mind would let RDR win.... right? :/ .. except if RDR and that guy play really dirty. :|

I don't really understand on what grounds RDR and Vander Ark are arguing, but I would think that JKR would win. I mean, having read the Leaky report it does sound like the lexicon book has whole chunks verbatim from JKR's books, which is intellectual theft.

I'm sure it will all work out...

And anyway, even if RDR and the lexicon win the case, how many of Jo's fans do you think will actually buy the book?? Everyone will be supporting JKR and would boycott it - according to the report bookstores that had committed to buy (eg. Borders, Barnes and Noble) have pulled out of the deal and it's likely others would follow if they did win.

But...but...how could he? He's a fan - and he's abusing the unwritten Book of Rules for Fans. How dare he?

I know! The more I read of this case the more it convinces me that the man's an idiot.

Unfortunately, since evidence in the trial's third day included emails sent by Melissa's Leaky, she decided not to write a report of the day in court.

I'm not entirely sure what the latest situation is...all the legal mumbo jumbo in the articles about the case confuses me :D

I don't know about JKR winning, the judge does not seem to know the scope of what he is dealing with:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/04/17/2008-04-17_judge_in_harry_potter_trial_called_books.html

I'm confused that this man of learning - and you have to be to be a court judge, right? - is 'confused' by the first Harry Potter book. The first is undoubtedly a lot more simply written than the rest in the series.

I really hope JKR wins this.

I know, seriously, if he took a week or two to actually read all 7 books I'm sure that he could manage to do so with out the help of a lexicon. I want JKR to win, but at the same time, lots of authors have had their works lexiconed- Stephen King, Anne Rice, JRR Tolkien. I think if Jo had already published her own lexicon this would not be in the courts. I don't know why this guy, a supposed fan, feels the need to beat her to the punch. As stated in the past Jo has supported and/or put up with all the online sites without complaint. I think she's entilted to choose when the Harry Potter lexicon will be published, but this judge seems a bit clueless....

The difference here is that JKR hadn't given permission for the lexicon book, and Vander Ark lifts whole chunks out of her books - and the two charity books - verbatim. Which IMO doesn't constitute fair use, which is what RDR is claiming.

There are other fan-written HP books, like Mugglenet's, but that was more of a critical look at the series and didn't lift from the source text.

I'm still baffled why he decided to do it in the first place - to make money, sure - but who would buy a book with condensed entries when the whole thing was up on the internet for free?

JK Rowling has won the case against RDR and the Lexicon.

Here's an article about it.