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FEBRUARY 5, 2005 at 7:21 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Sunday Herald
Representatives of JK Rowling and Warner Bros. are investigating possible copyright infringement centering around images HPANA posted last week from an issue of the U.S. Army's official Preventive Maintenance Monthly. The cartoon magazine, distributed to 80,000 army personnel, featured a multi-page parody of "Harry Potter" in the publication's May 2004 issue.
A spokesman for Rowling has confirmed
that they were looking into the matter and that the U.S. Army never approached them or Warner Bros. prior to its release.
According to Ken Crunk, based at Redstone arsenal in Alabama:
"The drawings were done by a contracted artist for us. They do not look like any of the characters from Harry Potter. We are very careful when we do these things not to copy images because that would be illegal. We use them to encourage soldiers to read the mag."
A U.S. Army spokesman added:
"Each issue of the magazine is reviewed by the aviation and missile command legal office. After reviewing this particular issue the legal office concluded that there was nothing done that was impermissible and that the illustrations were clearly in the scope of parody and that, therefore, there was no need to seek permission from JK Rowling."
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Head Girl
Points: 412
*Pigwidgeon* says:
He he he. Well there in trouble BIG trouble, besides you should never tamper with a classic
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 11:47 AM EST
Wizengamot Member
Points: 3231
Jencameby says:
I hope they just let it go. Nothing looked like the characters or actors to me. I thought it was funny. I don't think anyone meant to infringe on anyones rights. I hope they don't get in trouble over this.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:15 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 77
JPGGOD says:
They live in the magical world beacuse in that world anyone do not know anything about copyright! what a beautiful world?
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 77
JPGGOD says:
Bad aRMy...very BAD ArmY...copyright is good very good we are all don't copy anything... copy is bad and army is bad
and we are all good!!!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 77
JPGGOD says:
First IRAQ and Now Copyright... this is not army this a bad and ugly Monster... If copy is good then neuclear Bomb is good... if army can copy then we can have neuclear Bomb
in our houses and this isn't danger!!!!!!!!!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 654
Millennia says:
What's done is done. It seems to me that if they go after this, they may as well go after all of the fan fiction. Let's hope they learned their lesson and get permission next time...if there is a next time.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 790
The Flying Ford Anglia says:
I don't see what the big deal is. It was an innocent parody. I hope no one gets sued.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:38 PM EST
Squib
Points: 157
Crazy-eye says:
..well..I hope US army will pay for that..
they think that they can do anything....?....
mmm no, the cartoons are funny, but there's something called copyright..!!!!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:48 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1812
Scilia Snape says:
If WB or JK Rowling pursue a law suit over this I would probably stop reading Harry Potter altogether. When I read this article it made me sick. There are thousands of paradies out there and they single out the armed forces. The same armed forces that protect us. Harry Palmer and the Sorcerer's Bone? If this were to go any further I may throw away all my HP books, DVD's, and paint over the HP murals in the nursery. This is just disgusting.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 12:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1812
Scilia Snape says:
The Harry Palmer is from an awful t-shirt I saw in tha mall. Why are they not being punished?
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:01 PM EST
Minister of Fun & Frivolity
Points: 2957
ScretWitch says:
Goodness...it's not like the Army sold the "magazine" (which is more of an informational pamphlet)in mass quantities to the public. The PM pamphlet is distributed to the soldiers as a way to make sure that they are maintaining thier equipment correctly...the cartoons just get the point across! (Some just don't like to read the boring manuals.)
It's more like what the people on "Saturday Night Live" or "Mad TV" do...spoofs!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:01 PM EST
Legilimens
Points: 3013
Extendable Ears says:
Hmmm...interesting. I guess I can see WB and Jo Rowling's point. Although, doens't Mad magazine and other similar publications do similar parodies? Well, if they believe there's a legal infringement then I suppose they'll move forward.
So, was this seen by someone from Warner Bros. on HPANA? Hmmm.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:26 PM EST
Prof. of Muggle Studies
Points: 4236
Elishka says:
Oh, I hope JKR and Warner Bros wins this one!!! You just can't appropriate images and names like that without permission. I'm sure they will settle this out of court with an apology or something, but I'm really glad the legal eagles got on top of it.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 583
bella eiram says:
I hope nothing bad comes of this. They weren't making any money off of the spoofs so I don't think there should be anything bad that happens.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:44 PM EST
Brightest Witch
Points: 3111
hermione_rox. says:
I have to say the mag WAS funny, but then again I still think they should have asked permission just incase theydid slip up and put something wrong in there.
I would not like to be in their shoes right now!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:52 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 464
b34n13 g1rl says:
WHOA!! why would they do that? i love harry potter and J>K> they shouldn't do that. never ever ever.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 1:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1383
Lily's Eyes says:
Whoaaa.... It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. I just thought it was kind of cool. It never occurred to me that they hadn't ask for permission to use the characters!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:11 PM EST
Prime Hunter
Points: 4334
Orbster says:
Well HPANA is pretty good at finding all kinds of news..so I would expect even JKR to want to come here everyday!!..but hey I didn't like the Parody it was stupid...hope they get in trouble.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:16 PM EST
Squib
Points: 148
abyscalkapostrophe_x says:
I don't understand why people just can't wait until it actaully comes out! That is so pathetic..honestly people. Everyone else has to wait, why shouldn't you?
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:18 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1180
Audra Laudarque says:
abyscalkapostrophe_x, did you even read the PM? It was not about the sixth book, the parody was about making sure to keep all of your tools/weapons clean so that when the time comes when you need to use your weapons, they will be ready and not mess up.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:23 PM EST
Points: 83
Nightshade says:
Oh come on JKs people, give them a break ...as long as nothing is copied, it's legal. Even if it does have a Copy Right on it.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:55 PM EST
Student
Points: 238
The Greg says:
It was a funny comic, JK shouldn't be too upset, it could even help her by 'advertising' the series.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:05 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
It really better not be copywrite. The army is in trouble, I wonder what will happen if it is copywrite.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:06 PM EST
Lady of the Rings
Points: 4116
Padfoot4387 says:
Hmm, this is rather interesting. Copyright infringement? The army? Well... I certainly hope that they haven't done anything illegal, and the fact that it is just a parody will hopefully get them off.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 803
ShiningShina says:
So many parodies are being made with Harry Potter-related things that I doubt anything will come of this. Especially since this is the army.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:40 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2682
hplovergurl says:
That will be interesting to hear how it turns out. I hope they didn't copywrite it, because that would cause a lot of problems...
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:55 PM EST
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