JK Rowling has sold more than 300 million copies of her wildly popular books.
Harry Potter Lexicon is also a well known fansite which has been rallied by scholars and philanthropists. JK Rowling says that her copyrights would be violated if the publisher is allowed to publish the encyclopedia.
By: Katie Cook
Apr 13, 2008, 5:55 PM EDT
JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, will testify in a New York court on Monday to stop a fan from publishing an encyclopedia about her seven hugely popular books. Rowling, who has sold 300 million copies of her wildly popular Harry Potter books, says that her copyrights would be violated if Steven Vander Ark's publisher is allowed to publish the encyclopedia. Steven Vander Ark, 50, wants to publish his book entitled "Harry Potter Lexicon" though RDR Books. However, he is not named as a defendant. The case has implications for anyone who comments on a book, song or other creative work on Facebook or YouTube, lawyers say. It also will help define how much control authors have over their characters. "This is an example of an author trying to control every commentary about her works," said David Hammer, one of RDR Books attorneys. "If it's successful, scholarship and even playful commentary on literature that's under copyright will be awfully difficult."
Rowling published her seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series 8 months ago. More than 300 million copies of the books have been sold. Harry Potter Lexicon is also a well known Potter fansite which has been rallied by scholars and philanthropists. Rowling and Warner Bros., producers of the hit Potter films, contend that a Lexicon book would violate Rowling's copyrights on the Potter world. She and Warner Bros. sued RDR Books to stop the Lexicon book's printing. The suit is scheduled for trial Monday in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Source: NewsOXY.com Harry Potter Lexicon Publisher Fights Rowling
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