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OCTOBER 23, 2003 at 2:37 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: ic NorthWales via Wizard News
If you happened to visit Jeff Ditchfield's website recently, you may have seen an image of your favorite boy wizard lighting up the wacky tobbacy. But that was before Warner Bros entered the picture
.
Mr Ditchfield, who was arrested recently within hours of opening his Beggar's Belief cafe in Rhyl, thought it would be amusing to publish a doctored picture of Harry Potter - dubbed Harry Pothead - smoking a spliff on his website.
Warner Brothers were not amused and threatened legal action for using the picture without permission.
The film company was alerted about the picture by 66-year-old Bernard Hargreaves, of Maud Street, who is a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator in West Rhyl. The pair have clashed previously over Mr Ditchfield's plans to open the cafe in the resort.
Mr Hargreaves said: "He is my arch-enemy. I don't like what he stands for or the way he pushes his views."
While checking the cafe's website, Mr Hargreaves was surprised to see a picture of Harry Potter. "Harry Potter is a very popular figure and I was concerned that children could easily come across the picture, especially as it was on the worldwide web," he said.
Mr Ditchfield did attempt a compromise with Warner Bros, but to no avail.
"Warner's solicitors threatened legal action. I told them that I had a picture of Bugs Bunny I could use instead but they weren't happy with that either."
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Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
That was one of my friends pics on msn, better tell them to change it...
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 12:26 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
That is really stupid. And it reminds me of the Barry Trotter books. I read the first one, and it was horrible, and now there's another one - "Barry Trotter and the Unneccesary Sequal" out. WB should really think about suing the author of those books.
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 2:38 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 434
Tippytoes says:
Bad bad drugs. Harry really popular and kids would get influence. It's good that the WB intervened.
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 2:38 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
I dunno... I think it's kinda funny... especially the part about using the Bug's image instead...
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 5:49 PM EST
Points: 616
Minister of Magic says:
One of my friends has Harry Pothead in his MSN Messenger Disoplay Picture. And it is actually funny. BUT, you know there are those BIG companies interested in "killing" everyone who intereferes with their TradeMarks, so if they have an excuse they'll do it. And worst of all the nosry child of he told the Copyright Theft agency, that should hurt. And well, if you disagree with me don't falme me pleases. Is just that in the country I live unfurtunately this things aren't considered "bad for children".
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 6:12 PM EST
Points: 616
Minister of Magic says:
Anyways I belive in free speech, and I think that this Pothead thing is just a Joke, and Harry Potter doesn't look cool in that picture, eh looks degrading/abasing. It would be different if there was a Pothead picture inviting people to use drugs. THis is just so exaggerated (in my country's level). The thing is that he pic is funny, I have seen it in the internet. And don't falme me please.. By the way, have you seen how popular HPANA has becomo, more than 1000 visitors at the time (or they just added a 1 to the counter). Anyways, this si my favorite potter site
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 6:25 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1645
morgana witch says:
That's awful that someone would do that. It reminds me of the person who made harrypottor.com or whatever it was called. But harrypottor was much worse!
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 6:28 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
I think that people who do things like that are stupidx. They know its kid related, so why would they even do that. I'll tell you why.....BECAUSE THEY ARE IDIOTS!
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 6:31 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
Thats really bad he should be areested and they should take some leagle action and get this guy to pay big bucks.
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 7:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 606
~*~Marauderette~*~ says:
How can someone be so bored with their life to go and do a picture like that of Harry Potter? It good that the WB stopped him so soon. I wonder what the picture looked like though?
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 9:49 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
Gemmy says:
That's disgusting! How can people be that appallingly sickening! What is a young child came across such a picture, it could chnage their views on Harry POtter and corrupt them! I am glad that WB stepped in and put a stop to it before any real harm is done! Hepas of children use Harry POtter as a role model - what are they supposed to think if they find a picture of him smoking pot?
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 11:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 733
PotterHoney says:
Hm, idiot, yes...that guy should have realized something like that would have happened. I'm not really all that fond of the Harry Pothead spoof...:/
Posted Oct 24, 2003 at 11:40 PM EST
Student
Points: 295
Astarte says:
I don't see why everyone is making a big deal out of this...there are things like this all over the internet...can you say slash fanfic? If they busted this guy then they need to bust everyone else.
Posted Oct 25, 2003 at 2:51 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
I'm with Professor Lupin, they should take legal action.
Posted Oct 26, 2003 at 1:21 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1506
Paint Horse says:
While I do agree with freedom of speech, a cartoon is not speech. It becomes press. These little differences are part of the reason we have courts. It is for them to decide if harm is done. I applaud WB for protecting their rights, to HP. Judgement is not mine. I also think that using HP is an excuse for a limited imagination.
Posted Oct 26, 2003 at 2:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 979
Butterbeer says:
Im sorry to anyone who thinks that that is funny, but it truly isnt. its just plain immature.
Posted Oct 26, 2003 at 8:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
I don't like something that is purely good as Harry being smudged by cartoonists. Harry is a good role model and people should leave him alone. But that is idle thinking, I fear. Everytime something is really famous it will be used and misused by some brainless gits!
Posted Oct 27, 2003 at 3:39 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
I can't STAND when people alter photos for their own purposes!!! I am glad somebody saw this and action was taken. And if it happened to ME, I'd probably try to sue. UGH. I don't take drugs, don't support them, and would NEVER want kids to see me "doing them" (obviously fake, but would THEY know that???), ESPECIALLY if I were a roll model like Harry Potter.....
Posted Oct 27, 2003 at 2:31 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1217
shadowlife says:
That was just not to cool.
Posted Nov 20, 2003 at 4:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 283
LunaDea says:
That's awful! Some Harry Potter fans are quite little, and if they see their hero smoking, they would probably think it was alright to follow his lead. Some people have a cruel sense of humor (if it can be called that).
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 10:42 AM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
Yes well I think the harry pothead thing is stupid and funny, but yes I don't think it should promote drugs because harry potter is popular!
Posted Feb 28, 2004 at 3:11 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
Why would someone do that to an innocent fictional character? Some people ARE nutters, it is indeed true! :( The nerve of some people ...
Posted Jul 27, 2004 at 1:49 AM EST
Witch
Points: 595
master_HP_Mugwump says:
I can't believe he would do that! I hope Warner brothers sues him. People shouldn't be allowed to get away with stuff like this.
Posted Nov 3, 2005 at 10:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1444
RIP_Sirus_and_Dumbledore says:
Who would do such a thing? The idiots... I wouldn't want to see that...
Posted Feb 23, 2006 at 5:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 670
Gryffindor_chick says:
Hmm.. I think one of my friends little brothers did something like that, and he's like 8, not a grown adult. Just goes to show how immature some people can be.
Posted Feb 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM EST
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