An update comes today regarding the ongoing JKR/WB vs. RDR Books trial. Publisher RDR Books voluntarily withdrew its appeal in the RDR Books vs. WB/JKR
case concerning the publication of an unauthorized Harry Potter encyclopedia. The
publisher is working on releasing a version of the book in question
that complies with the judge's ruling, which indicated that the
original book copied heavily from the Harry Potter books. There was no settlement in the case.
The Christopher Little Agency released the following statement today:
"We are delighted that this matter is finally and favourably resolved
and that J.K. Rowling's rights -- and indeed the rights of all authors
of creative works -- have been protected. We are also pleased to hear
that rather than continue to litigate, RDR have themselves decided to
publish a different book prepared with reference to Judge Patterson's
decision."
Complete trial coverage from Leaky can be found via this link.
When RDR said they would appeal, I really thought it was just for publicity’s sake. I didn’t expect them to go thru with it. In the end, it was a "no win" for them.
I sure am glad that is over! Even if they (RDR) does publish a different book, I am still not going to buy it. I will wait patiently for Jo’s Scottish Book comes out!
Would anyone bother to buy anything that SVDA ever writes? If he had consulted with JKR in the first place and abided by her wishes he would still be regarded as one of the heros of the Potter universe. Appealing would just be shooting himself in the other foot.
Well, finally…someone is showing some common sense! I applaud SVDA/RDR for not putting themselves through another embarassing episode, and not dragging JKR through more pointless litigation. I wish them the best, in their endeavor. However, I’m afraid they may have "soured" many fans, on buying their volume. It’s sad, really. I, myself, will wait for JKR’s Scottish Book. I think it will be more comprehensive. I have seen many, many "All About Harry Potter" books, and have never given them a second glance [except, of course, our own Melissa’s new book..but it’s about the "world of Harry Potter Fandom" isn’t it…..] I would much rather read something, direct from the Author about their work, than someone’s opinion of who/what/when/how/why. Or a plagiarized version thereof…..
Posted by Confederate Lady on December 04, 2008, 05:13 PM
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Another reason to be happy today!!! All I can say is: FINALLY!….few…
My thanks to the Leaky staff for thier balanced fair coverage during this complex and dificult story. Well done to you all, you kept your heads, under extreme preassure, when others were losing theirs. Thank you.
Yeah!!! Happy day for JKR and all her fans. I for one won’t by RDR’s book when it is published. JKR is the only person who knows the characters she created and is the only one qualified to give us insight on everything Potter. I will be waiting for JK’s book.
Yay! This is awesome news for the fandom! I feel like it can finally be laid to rest, and the whole touchy issue with Steve Vander Ark and his role in this can also be put aside. I just want everybody to be friends again. Still don’t know why RDR didn’t decide to re-write the book when Scholastic/Warner Bros. first stated their issue with the book, but that doesn’t matter. It’s all going to be over now and we can go back to loving all HP- related books and people.
I bet the new version they come out with gets sued as well. I can’t see how they could even still call it "The Lexicon" with the amount of re-writing that needs to be done. I bet they make minimal changes and then try to ram it through again.
first! wow, now all the bashers can go to sleep