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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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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
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
I was thinking about how they illegally copied it when i saw the article whenever it was. The characters were too close to actual characters. I hope they dont make a big deal out of it though.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 3:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 606
PolarisPrewett says:
Harry potter and his friends are practically public domain, its really nothing worse than fanart in my opinion. Same premise anyway- the army didnt' make any money off it
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 4:14 PM EST
Witch
Points: 676
Lily Davis says:
To me, they do look like the characters from HP. :S
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 4:27 PM EST
Vader's Veela
Points: 3858
seekerfan says:
Oh, give me a break. How can you call it a parody and deny that it resembles any of JKR's characters in the same breath! It wouldn't be an effective parody or even be amusing if it didn't resemble the original characters. There would be no point to it. The US Army's legal team really dropped the ball. I see their point of wanting to entertain the soldiers and educate them at the same time. They should have contacted JKR to begin with. Yeesh!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 4:27 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
It's a parody...therefore, most likely not a copyright violation at all. One doesn't have to ask for permission to do parody, after all. As for the characters' appearances, well, they're obvious caricatures. And in the end, not for profit, although that wouldn't have mattered much for parody.
It would have been a whole different kettle of fish to use the actual characters or setting, by name or by using actual photographs or artwork.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 4:55 PM EST
Dan Radcliffe's Muse
Points: 4400
Ramsay's Kitchen Maid says:
I think JKR & WB have every right to sue for copyright infringement.
What the Army did was certainly NOT "parody" ---the Army was not using the Harry Potter material as a means for social commentary, satire, or criticism in the way SNL does.
Instead, the Army was using (stealing) the success, appeal, and fame of Harry Potter for their own purposes without her permission .
JKR worked --and still does work-- unbelievably hard to create these characters and such artistic expression is protected by law for that very reason!!
The fact that the Army used the Harry Potter characters in a funny way or that the magazine was free does NOT make it OK.
Put yourselves in JKR's shoes---wouldn't you be pissed off if someone distorted something YOU dreamed up and worked very hard to create without asking you --and then tried to say they didn't or that it was OK not to ask?
I know I would.
GO GET 'EM JKR!
ChaosKitty
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:00 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 414
R. Skeeter says:
Oh poor JK. I think she needs to get over herself. This whole thing is beyond STUPID. I will never defend that she is oh so busy with a new baby and all to update or answer questions again. What a waste of time, it's not like she has been hurt by this. I think that all her fame and fortune have gone to her head. How much more self centered can she posibly be. I mean my gosh this is something going out to people that are putting there lives on the line(wheather or not she agrees with the war)every day.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 982
~Kathy~Evans~ says:
Wow they must be sweating right now... I don't think they did it with any bad intentions so...I think (and hope) they don't get into more trouble.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:18 PM EST
Dan Radcliffe's Slave
Points: 9375
Rados says:
Hahahaha, that has to be bad. What if someone gets amd at HPANA because of this whole mess????
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 670
Gryffindor_chick says:
Oh my goodness. this si so silly! they did absolutely nothing to hurt her or anything of the sort. I think that (& i hate to say this about such a genius as JK) all the fame has gotten to her a bit. there was no harm doen about printing a comic strip about Harry Potter, especially when they changed the names & everything trying to avoid this.
-Kristen
Gryffindor_chick
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 580
KarateKid says:
I saw those pics and they did have a lot to do wiht Harry Potter - hope JK wins the case!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:52 PM EST
Student
Points: 235
Celedora says:
I'm not sure whether or not it's actually illegal, but if it is I hope they get what's coming to them. I think it's safe to say that I'm not the biggest fan of the US military.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 5:56 PM EST
Duchess of Dork
Points: 6749
Mama.Lala says:
Ok, just hope U.S. military didn't do anything wrong. Kind of funny, though. They're being investigated by WB and Rowling. But, we'll just see. Hope everything works out and there is no bad feelings on either side.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 6:10 PM EST
Squib
Points: 133
GrednForge says:
It was only in spirit of parody. Think of all the Harry Potter parodies there have ever been. I don't see anything particularly wrong with this one.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 6:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 563
*unspeakable* says:
Although it was funny, Copywriting is illegal and they should have though about things more thoroughly before they published the cartoon. I really don't know how serious things are going to get, but it's really hard to tell because the names and stuff were all very similar but then again, they were all different in some way or another. Well anyways, if they are being sued, then I hope Jo wins of course!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 7:52 PM EST
Squib
Points: 179
scurvy-kidd-theruff says:
Well, the parody was funny, but I suppose that's what they get for not asking permission. I mean, I thought that it would be required for them to ask JKR if they wanted to make a parody of her stuff... I guess I wouldn't know much about all that legal stuff.
But I thought Professor Snappy was a little off... I think they should've called him Professor Slimey or something! heehee, but I shouldn't be mean... I like Snape!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 7:55 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
Ouch! That sucks for the US Army. They are incredible people, too. Let's hope that not too much damage is done. :(
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 7:56 PM EST
Princess of the Heliopaths
Points: 5276
Ginny Weasly says:
i read the mag and i didn't think that it was a copywrite ...i thought that it was kinda funny. Oh well I hope it all works out!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 618
Prof Crouch/Moody says:
When did a parody become copyright infringement? This is crazy. Jo should be flattered that they wanted to do a parody of her work for training.
Personally, I thought it was funny.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 734
SiriuslyWarped says:
I don't know, usually parodies are not considered copyright infringement because names and etc. are changed, but clearly they were spoofing HP, but not sure if there is anything legal that can be done against the Army since they used their own artist and the characters are not exactly the same. Oh well, I think it's more than Rowling needs to be worrying about right now honestly.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:30 PM EST
Student
Points: 204
CuTiEpIe_LiA says:
That is kind of stupid. The comic was funny there's no need to get so worked up.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:30 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1217
mahaliah says:
Wow! I can't say anything else. Wow!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:37 PM EST
Squib
Points: 148
abyscalkapostrophe_x says:
Audra Laudarque,I'm sorry. I guess I only skimmed it.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:43 PM EST
Star-Crossed Lover
Points: 2928
RogueRenegade says:
That is a bunch of crap!
It was all in good fun and
If JK is gonna get her pants in a bunch
over this then she doesn't seem like
the person I thought she was. If you
look at it it doesn't copy any Harry Potter
things it is just funny.
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:46 PM EST
Mage of Celestial Melody
Points: 3324
Telos says:
uh that is pretty weird....hopefully they work it out. I don't think the US army would want to get in trouble for a stupid thing like that
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:47 PM EST
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