The J.K. Rowling Court Case

Barnard17 · 04-15-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I don't think it's that much of a difference though.
Taking it at a really basic level, if you are writing a synopsis of something that happened in a book , you're going to include what happened in the book. If I write an entry in a reference book about a story where the Kraaags invade the planet Zoooooop in 2456 , then obviously I have to say what happened in the book.
I'm more bothered about how television stations , film studios , record companies & major book publishers are going to react to this if it turns out she wins. I just think the whole thing sets a dangerous precedent for writing reference material about these subjects.

It's a case in America, against an American company regarding American Copyright laws. If she wins this case it won't make jack **** difference to Doctor Who because that's based in Britain and obeys British copyright laws. Plus I don't think the BBC (paid for by license payers) would have much incentive to stamp out fan material. It's non comparative. Star Wars won't be affected much because Lucas rubs himself off over every bit of fan material that pops up, the market is drenched in non-canon material, whereas it won't make a difference to the Star Trek franchise because anything relating to it that isn't paying heavy royalties gets shot down automatically anyway.

This court case won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things because it won't affect the mindset of the original creators. If they wanted to sue over things, they'd already be sueing.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-15-2008, 04:28 PM

Most of the small publishers I buy from are based in the U.S.

Barnard17 · 04-15-2008, 04:40 PM

Point still stands. It won't affect the opinions of the copyright holders and if the Beeb were to want to make such a case you can't ignore the fact they wouldn't get away with using license fees on that sort of a court case.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-15-2008, 05:02 PM

I'm not just talking about Doctor Who though , that's just an example of what i'm most familiar with.

I've seen postings from authors & small time publishers who don't seem to share your optimism. They seem to think that because it's such a high profile case that it will lead to more court cases , with companies who would otherwise turn a blind eye to it or allow them grudgingly would start coming down hard on these sort of things.

Seltzer · 04-15-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adidasss

Does anyone here actually know anything more about the book? We're basically just talking out of our asses. If it really is just her own material rearranged a bit I'd say she has a right to sue. Why should others make money off her own ideas?
A critical analysis of the books is an entirely different matter.

I don't know about the book, but I have visited the HP Lexicon site before. It's basically like the HP books have been rehashed and the 'factual' information has been organised into lists. There are some interesting user-contributed essays on there though.

For anyone who wants to have a look, here it is.

mr dave · 04-15-2008, 07:32 PM

i think she's more concerned that he's using his own interpretations of her original ideas which might conflict with her own thoughts. that or she's just greedy.

i figure she's just greedy. she's using the court to try to sway her fanbase to vilify what sounds like one of her biggest fans by claiming she's been unable to continue writing the final book since this whole thing started. at least that's one of the claims i saw in another article about the trial. there's also her claim that she's working on her own encyclopedia about her world but that it wouldn't be ready for another 2-3 years.... hmmm that wouldn't be the time necessary to compile all the scrap material she has lying around her house into an book after she finishes the last one... nah... unpossible...

GREED

i really hope all the dude has to do is add proper footnotes

~~Gates_of_Iscariot~~ · 04-15-2008, 09:31 PM

i need the Ayn rand lexicon.
oh JK rowling is a horrible writer.
Quote " The 7th hp book is so long...like 800 pages."
me
" ommmmmmmgmgmgmgggggggg... its 18pt font and double spaced"

04-15-2008, 04:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Most of the small publishers I buy from are based in the U.S. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

04-15-2008, 05:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I'm not just talking about Doctor Who though , that's just an example of what i'm most familiar with. I've seen postings from authors & small time publishers who don't seem to share your optimism. They seem to think that because it's such a high profile case that it will lead to more court cases , with companies who would otherwise turn a blind eye to it or allow them grudgingly would start coming down hard on these sort of things. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

04-15-2008, 04:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
Barnard17 My home? Discabled, Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 204	Point still stands. It won't affect the opinions of the copyright holders and if the Beeb were to want to make such a case you can't ignore the fact they wouldn't get away with using license fees on that sort of a court case.

04-15-2008, 09:31 PM	#17 (permalink)
~~Gates_of_Iscariot~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: new hampshire Posts: 191	i need the Ayn rand lexicon. oh JK rowling is a horrible writer. Quote " The 7th hp book is so long...like 800 pages." me " ommmmmmmgmgmgmgggggggg... its 18pt font and double spaced"