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| SFReader Forums > Writing > Juicy Rumors and Other News > J.K. Rowling: how big a violin? | Forum Quick Jump
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Jared Evers
Neophyte
      
Date Joined Feb 2008
Total Posts : 144
| Posted 4/15/2008 4:47 PM (GMT -4) |   | The guy says he had substantial concerns about the idea. If he's such a huge fan, I would think that all that should've been needed was for Rowling to say, "Please don't publish this."
As for drama queens, there seems to be an equal amount of drama on both sides. | | Back to Top | | |
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TL Morganfield
Neophyte
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 174
| Posted 4/15/2008 5:14 PM (GMT -4) | | I'd have more sympathy if a.) she hadn't come out earlier in her career and praised the work this guy was doing and endorsed it, and b.) if the work in question struck me more as fan-fiction rather than "scholarly" in nature (he isn't rewriting her universe after all. He's providing a guide to it, documented from Rowling's work like any English student would do in their college lit classes.). I personally think that Rowling's realizes that she screwed herself over by openly admitting that she consulted his "encyclopedia" while working on her later books and that kind of endorsement placed more credibility in the information he'd collected than in her own. Will she next try to sue folks trying to publish critical essays in lit journals about her work because "their misinterpretation of what I intended with my work is draining my will to write!"
www.tlmorganfield.com
The Feathered Serpent's Nest (Blog)
One World stories:
"Night Bird Soaring" in GUD, issue #3 (forthcoming)
"What Makes Us Strong" in Atomjack, November 2007
"The Last Arabian Prince" in Atomjack, November 2006
"Dedication" in Dragons, Knights & Angels, also available in Distant Passages 2.
Sixth Sun Rising stories:
"Ancient Artifacts" in Tales of Moreauvia (forthcoming)
"Love, Blood and Octi" in Paradox, October 2007
"The Divine Conquest of Mexico" in Sorcerous Signals, August 2007
Non-series fiction:
"My Sweet Andromache" in Nanobison, (forthcoming)
"So Weeps the Thunderbird" in Lilith Unbound, (forthcoming | | Back to Top | | |
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TL Morganfield
Neophyte
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 174
| Posted 4/15/2008 5:47 PM (GMT -4) | | Since it's non-fiction about fiction, I think if she did win this it would set a precedent to call into question the legality of things like Cliff Notes and other such references, as well as literary criticism of copyrighted work. I personally don't think she'll win this and that the Lexicon will be deemed a scholarly work and therefore protected. But it's really quite sad to see her acting like this. She's only the richest woman in Britain and she's acting like she'll have to eat out of garbage cans if this reference book goes through (instead of doing the smart thing and just writing her own chocked full of stuff that never appeared in the books and releasing it as an "authorized" version and laughing all the way to bank--or better yet donating those proceeds to charities to make herself look wonderful and giving).
www.tlmorganfield.com
The Feathered Serpent's Nest (Blog)
One World stories:
"Night Bird Soaring" in GUD, issue #3 (forthcoming)
"What Makes Us Strong" in Atomjack, November 2007
"The Last Arabian Prince" in Atomjack, November 2006
"Dedication" in Dragons, Knights & Angels, also available in Distant Passages 2.
Sixth Sun Rising stories:
"Ancient Artifacts" in Tales of Moreauvia (forthcoming)
"Love, Blood and Octi" in Paradox, October 2007
"The Divine Conquest of Mexico" in Sorcerous Signals, August 2007
Non-series fiction:
"My Sweet Andromache" in Nanobison, (forthcoming)
"So Weeps the Thunderbird" in Lilith Unbound, (forthcoming | | Back to Top | | |
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erazmus
Master
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 4475
| Posted 4/15/2008 5:48 PM (GMT -4) | | | | |
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erazmus
Master
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 4475
| Posted 4/15/2008 6:00 PM (GMT -4) | | | | |
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Steven the Git
Neophyte
Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 190
| Posted 4/15/2008 7:52 PM (GMT -4) | | It does seem the law is on her side and this bloke, and the publishers, have been naughty, if maybe naive.
However to answer the question, I have no sympathy for her, and I don't think this would harm her or her world. I still think it is copyright and wrong, but I don't see how bad it would be. Certainly not draining her.
I maybe a bit of a cynic, but I do think this is more about clearing the way for her own cashing in, than setting the literary world to rights.
Again, if she is right to sue then she is right to sue, but I won't be cheering her on or feeling sorry for her. I've come across a number of writers who've had as tough or tougher lives than her, and still are, and she doesn't seem to do anything to help other writers or the fantasy world (in fact have heard her disparage it and Terry Pratchett seemed far from impressed with her in certain interviews).
As for giving money to charity, anything given to charity can be claimed back when paying tax, so not sure how selfless it would be.
Looking at the link, WB are in on it too. CNN even have to make their association clear at the bottom (Time Warner owning CNN and WB) Oh, and I think the Queen is still the richest over here. I know people say Rowling, but the Queen owns loads of land, besides the other assets. She's still queen of the block. 
“Hello, I am William Burton, Head of Recruitment and Integration for the Agency for Peaceful Regulation and Definitive Cooperation of Extraordinary Existence.”
spinetinglers.co.uk Bakemono will not stop! | | Back to Top | | |
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TL Morganfield
Neophyte
Date Joined Oct 2005
Total Posts : 174
| Posted 4/15/2008 9:13 PM (GMT -4) | | Well, my wife (who has a law degree, works in a law firm, and has seriously researched intellectual property law) just informed me that the lexicon author probably doesn't stand a chance if Rowling is not on board. So Rowling is apparently justified in her suit.
I stand corrected as well. But I still think she's handled this all wrong.
It was one thing when this was posted online for free.
But if we're talking copyright infringement, monetary gain isn't a criteria. He was in violation the moment he posted it on the web, which is why Rowling's claims of infringement now that she wants to write her own encyclopedia doesn't sit well with me. She knew for years that it was posted there and in fact endorsed it (and consulted it for her own work, so it could be said that she benefited monetarily from his work), but never did anything about it until there was potential money involved. If the interest was truly about her intellectual property, she would have had her lawyers nip that website in bud right away (along with all the other Potter websites of a similar ilk). Suffice it to say that neither party has clean hands in this and while Rowling has the law on her side, it will undoubtedly tarnish her image with a segment of her fan population.
www.tlmorganfield.com
The Feathered Serpent's Nest (Blog)
One World stories:
"Night Bird Soaring" in GUD, issue #3 (forthcoming)
"What Makes Us Strong" in Atomjack, November 2007
"The Last Arabian Prince" in Atomjack, November 2006
"Dedication" in Dragons, Knights & Angels, also available in Distant Passages 2.
Sixth Sun Rising stories:
"Ancient Artifacts" in Tales of Moreauvia (forthcoming)
"Love, Blood and Octi" in Paradox, October 2007
"The Divine Conquest of Mexico" in Sorcerous Signals, August 2007
Non-series fiction:
"My Sweet Andromache" in Nanobison, (forthcoming)
"So Weeps the Thunderbird" in Lilith Unbound, (forthcoming | | Back to Top | | |
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SherylNantus
Stablehand
Date Joined Apr 2008
Total Posts : 9
| Posted 4/16/2008 8:50 AM (GMT -4) | | *looks up*
actually, I'd be more miffed if I were one of the contributors to the webpage - as stated in court by the owner (author?) there's no plans to PAY those people who helped write the entries for this encyclopedia unless it "is successful" - in other words, this fellow's going to not only take a huge hunk of Rowling's work and try to sell it under his wing but also the work of fellow writers who contributed their work for free with the understanding that it'd be accessible to everyone.
it's one thing to put up info for free, another to start charging for it.
supposedly this fellow also approached MANY other publishers before finding this small house willing to risk the legal system. Big red flag there, IMO.
I figure she's going to win. But I could be wrong... | | Back to Top | | |
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HTKuehl
Kaylee is watching you
Date Joined Jun 2007
Total Posts : 537
| Posted 4/16/2008 9:44 AM (GMT -4) | | I'm tired, so this may come out rather chopy. I tend to side with Rowling on this. Knowing that she had plans to come out with an encyclopedia to begin with, Vander Ark should have proposed merging the two ideas into one rather than try to beat her to the punch. I do believe that it's a voilation of her copyright and trademark. And as CNN points out, if Vander Ark wins this, it could mean that authors will have to surpress the creative output of their fans. (Think Anne McCaffrey if you wish).
Besides, Vander Ark obviously thought it was wrong to begin with:
From CNN:
He said he initially declined proposals to convert the Web site into an encyclopedia, in part because he believed until last August that in book form, it would represent a copyright violation. After Rowling released the final chapter in the Harry Potter series that same month, Vander Ark was contacted by an RDR Books employee, who told him that publication of the lexicon would not violate copyright law, he said. Still, to protect himself, Vander Ark said he insisted that RDR Books include a clause in his contract that the publisher would defend and pay | |
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