Source: http://www.pegr.com/blog/?p=45
J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter sued her ‘fan’, Steven Vander Ark for violating her copyright when he planned to publish a Potter encyclopedia. She claimed that it could damage her reputation as a writer.
The year before she had sued Michigan – based RDR Books to stop publication because of copyright infringement. She claimed that the materials used were directly stolen from her books and that it amounts to plagiarism and theft of her 17 years of hard work.
Source: http://alfocus.ala.org/tags/steve-vander-ark
RDR Books argued that the Lexicon falls under the category of “reference” book and is allowed by law. Vander Ark launched his web site, “Harry Potter Lexicon Web Site” in the year 2000. The web site attracts about 1.5 million hits per month from people all over the world.
In my opinion, she should allow him to continue with the Lexicon encyclopedia. It allows him an avenue to discuss and showcase her work. In view of his web site that attracts about 1.5 million page views a month, he is quite popular. As he is a fan of hers, he would most probably give positive feed back to viewers and even the author herself.
She could gain from his opinion on her style of writing as she like everyone else has room for improvement.
In the United States, copyright laws Section 10 2(a) , for example, would make it challenging for people like Steven Vander Ark because he did not get permission from J.K. Rowling herself but than again, his layer calls his work as a reference book.
His web site, on the other hand, could be seen as free advertising for Harry Potter books and exchange of knowledge among his and her fans. It is a means of gathering all the fans together for feedback.
On J.K. Rowlings’ side, she has every reason to feel someone has stolen all her hard work and make a profit out of it. Than again perhaps she and Vander Ark could come together and reap benefit of a joint venture.
Reference:
‘CBS News’ 2008, “Harry Potter” Author Wins Copyright Claim, viewed 18 November 2009, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/entertainment/main4426302.shtml
‘Copyright Law – Chapter 1’ n.d., Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#102
Greg 2009, Midwinter 2009: Steve Vander Ark Interview, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://alfocus.ala.org/tags/steve-vander-ark
‘The Penn Group’ 2008, J.K. Rowling and the Lawsuit of Frivolity: Harry Potter Author Makes Fan Cry in Quest for Cash, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://www.pegr.com/blog/?p=45
J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter sued her ‘fan’, Steven Vander Ark for violating her copyright when he planned to publish a Potter encyclopedia. She claimed that it could damage her reputation as a writer.
The year before she had sued Michigan – based RDR Books to stop publication because of copyright infringement. She claimed that the materials used were directly stolen from her books and that it amounts to plagiarism and theft of her 17 years of hard work.
Source: http://alfocus.ala.org/tags/steve-vander-ark
RDR Books argued that the Lexicon falls under the category of “reference” book and is allowed by law. Vander Ark launched his web site, “Harry Potter Lexicon Web Site” in the year 2000. The web site attracts about 1.5 million hits per month from people all over the world.
In my opinion, she should allow him to continue with the Lexicon encyclopedia. It allows him an avenue to discuss and showcase her work. In view of his web site that attracts about 1.5 million page views a month, he is quite popular. As he is a fan of hers, he would most probably give positive feed back to viewers and even the author herself.
She could gain from his opinion on her style of writing as she like everyone else has room for improvement.
In the United States, copyright laws Section 10 2(a) , for example, would make it challenging for people like Steven Vander Ark because he did not get permission from J.K. Rowling herself but than again, his layer calls his work as a reference book.
His web site, on the other hand, could be seen as free advertising for Harry Potter books and exchange of knowledge among his and her fans. It is a means of gathering all the fans together for feedback.
On J.K. Rowlings’ side, she has every reason to feel someone has stolen all her hard work and make a profit out of it. Than again perhaps she and Vander Ark could come together and reap benefit of a joint venture.
Reference:
‘CBS News’ 2008, “Harry Potter” Author Wins Copyright Claim, viewed 18 November 2009, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/entertainment/main4426302.shtml
‘Copyright Law – Chapter 1’ n.d., Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#102
Greg 2009, Midwinter 2009: Steve Vander Ark Interview, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://alfocus.ala.org/tags/steve-vander-ark
‘The Penn Group’ 2008, J.K. Rowling and the Lawsuit of Frivolity: Harry Potter Author Makes Fan Cry in Quest for Cash, viewed 18 November 2009,
http://www.pegr.com/blog/?p=45
No comments:
Post a Comment