JK Rowling bashes Lexicon

03-01-2008, 04:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Quote:

NEW YORK - As the creator of the Harry Potter books sees it, her kindness to fans might come back to haunt her.

In papers filed for a lawsuit in Manhattan, J.K. Rowling says she feels betrayed by a fan, Steven Vander Ark, for his role in trying to publish an unauthorized reference work, "Harry Potter Lexicon."

Ark is editor of a Web site containing a fan-created collection of essays and encyclopedic material on the Potter universe, including lists of spells and potions found in the books, a catalog of magical creatures and a who's who in the wizarding world.

Rowling said she was especially irked that the site's owner and the lexicon's would-be publisher, RDR Books, continued to insist that her acceptance of free, fan-based Web sites justified the efforts.

"I am deeply troubled by the portrayal of my efforts to protect and preserve the copyrights I have been granted in the Harry Potter books," she wrote in court papers filed Wednesday in a lawsuit she brought against the small Muskegon, Mich., publisher.

She said she intends to publish her own definitive Harry Potter encyclopedia.

"If RDR's position is accepted, it will undoubtedly have a significant, negative impact on the freedoms enjoyed by genuine fans on the Internet," she said. "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."

She added: "I find it devastating to contemplate the possibility of such a severe alteration of author-fan relations."

RDR Books attorney Lizbeth Hasse said Thursday that Rowling is seeking a monopoly over the work, which is not part of copyright law.

"It's a very legitimate literary activity," she said of the lexicon. "Like a reference book or a guide to literature, it's a long-recognized genre. ... We are not replacing the novel or taking away the market."

Rowling brought the lawsuit last Halloween along with film company Warner Bros., which owns the intellectual property related to the Potter books and movies. The lexicon's publication, previously scheduled for Nov. 28, 2007, has been blocked by the lawsuit.

RDR Books publisher Roger Rapoport has said the lexicon would not compete with any official encyclopedia written by Rowling.

On its Web site, RDR Books said it was "determined to publish this book for the benefit of Harry Potter fans everywhere."

It said it "believes Ms. Rowling, who has championed the 'Lexicon' for years, will love reading the book just as much as she does the Web site on which it is based."

In the past, Rowling had singled out the Web site and its editor for praise.[/b]

Linkage

Any thoughts?

03-01-2008, 04:28 PM

I'm a little confused. So she's sueing a company that pretty much praised her work? One that she read and visited as well.

03-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Is anyone else starting to think that Rowling did most of the harry potter series for the sake of money rather than loving to write once she realized how much of a cash cow it could be when the series exploded seven years ago?

Because I'm a big fan of a lot of writers who do books for teens, and most of them, many who've gotten awards for their books, make their books for the sake of the kids and because they love what they do, not because they know they'll make money off of it.

Perhaps this is why Rowling started on a killing spree with her characters around book 4?

03-01-2008, 05:50 PM

Yeah, that's pretty much the general concensus. At this rate people won't even be able to write fanfics anymore - and if that's not enough to anger a fanbase, I don't know what is (beyond the said character slaughters)

03-01-2008, 06:12 PM

That would backlash so bad. The fans are the one's who buy this stuff. The authors would make no money. Well pirates would buy it to share.

03-01-2008, 08:07 PM

lol True. But sadly yes, it really does seem like it's esculating to that point.. As for me I'm not even a HP fan, but for those who are - why spoil their fun? You'd think she'd made enough money off of the franchise as it is...

03-01-2008, 08:25 PM

Well, the sad thing is, the entire state of Michigan is being involved in this lawsuit, even unintentionally, because that is where the Lexicon is based off of.

And in a way, I can understand where she is coming from - I mean think about it, if I were to write a series of books and then planned to do a sequel-type thing, I wouldn't want my fans to beat me to the punch. The fact is, Steve VanderArk knew that JKR was planning on writing the encyclepedia to the series and so he thought he'd try to beat her to it and get the money off of it. Fan fiction is one thing, but when an author flat out states she is going to write something and a fan beats her to it, thats another thing.

BUT, on the other hand, I can also see where you guys are coming from as well. I hated the fourth book, the fifth book, while okay, was basically torture for me to get through which was worse when she killed my favorite character and the last book wasn't as good as I'd anticipated. I do think that after the fourth book, that she was only in it for the money. I mean, a single mother who starts out writing on a napkin who is now the richest woman in Britan? Yeah, I'd say definitely out for the money.

So I can kind of see both sides here.

03-01-2008, 08:37 PM

4th year was my favorite...

I don't see where the hate for that is comin' in from. I never got into HP drama though. Just read the books and stop bitchin'.

03-01-2008, 08:44 PM

And thats honestly what I say about it Shinji, lol. I just hate that my state is being dragged into this whole thing because of one idiot not thinking before he acted.

03-01-2008, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Blazing Tiger Guest My Mood:	I'm a little confused. So she's sueing a company that pretty much praised her work? One that she read and visited as well.

03-01-2008, 04:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheMysticWolf Guest My Mood:	Is anyone else starting to think that Rowling did most of the harry potter series for the sake of money rather than loving to write once she realized how much of a cash cow it could be when the series exploded seven years ago? Because I'm a big fan of a lot of writers who do books for teens, and most of them, many who've gotten awards for their books, make their books for the sake of the kids and because they love what they do, not because they know they'll make money off of it. Perhaps this is why Rowling started on a killing spree with her characters around book 4?

03-01-2008, 05:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Madigan Guest My Mood:	Yeah, that's pretty much the general concensus. At this rate people won't even be able to write fanfics anymore - and if that's not enough to anger a fanbase, I don't know what is (beyond the said character slaughters)

03-01-2008, 06:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Blazing Tiger Guest My Mood:	That would backlash so bad. The fans are the one's who buy this stuff. The authors would make no money. Well pirates would buy it to share.

03-01-2008, 08:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Madigan Guest My Mood:	lol True. But sadly yes, it really does seem like it's esculating to that point.. As for me I'm not even a HP fan, but for those who are - why spoil their fun? You'd think she'd made enough money off of the franchise as it is...

03-01-2008, 08:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
allie351 Guest My Mood:	Well, the sad thing is, the entire state of Michigan is being involved in this lawsuit, even unintentionally, because that is where the Lexicon is based off of. And in a way, I can understand where she is coming from - I mean think about it, if I were to write a series of books and then planned to do a sequel-type thing, I wouldn't want my fans to beat me to the punch. The fact is, Steve VanderArk knew that JKR was planning on writing the encyclepedia to the series and so he thought he'd try to beat her to it and get the money off of it. Fan fiction is one thing, but when an author flat out states she is going to write something and a fan beats her to it, thats another thing. BUT, on the other hand, I can also see where you guys are coming from as well. I hated the fourth book, the fifth book, while okay, was basically torture for me to get through which was worse when she killed my favorite character and the last book wasn't as good as I'd anticipated. I do think that after the fourth book, that she was only in it for the money. I mean, a single mother who starts out writing on a napkin who is now the richest woman in Britan? Yeah, I'd say definitely out for the money. So I can kind of see both sides here.

03-01-2008, 08:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shinji Kido Guest My Mood:	4th year was my favorite... I don't see where the hate for that is comin' in from. I never got into HP drama though. Just read the books and stop bitchin'.

03-01-2008, 08:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
allie351 Guest My Mood:	And thats honestly what I say about it Shinji, lol. I just hate that my state is being dragged into this whole thing because of one idiot not thinking before he acted.

Register Now for FREE!
Our records show you have not yet registered to our forums. To sign up for your FREE account INSTANTLY fill out the form below! Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail: I agree to forum rules