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OCTOBER 25, 2005 at 8:03 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Canadian Press via Yahoo! News
Last month we told you
all about a Canadian folk group, The Wyrd Sisters, who were suing Warner Brothers and the group who will be playing the band during the Yule Ball scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It would now seem that they have secured a November 4th court day to apply for an injunction barring distribution of the film in Canada.
The lawsuit against Warner Bros., Jarvis Cocker from Pulp and Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway of Radiohead alleges that the group in the film appears under their groups name but according to Warner Bros. there is no mention of the group’s name in the movie.
According to Warner Bros. spokesperson, Scott Rowe:
There is absolutely no name . . . for the band that is playing. They are never identified by name. We have (also) submitted sworn affidavits to the court, stating that the name Wyrd Sisters is not being used either in the film or on its soundtrack.
Warner Bros. even flew to Canada to show a copy of the movie to prove that the name Wyrd Sisters was not mentioned.
As soon as we hear more on this matter we will let you know, especially for our Canadian Harry Potter fans.
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226-250
Muggle
Points: 51
VictorKrumisHot! says:
OH! my lord! that is absolutly bonkers i cannot believe that they would sue them for that i just hope that it doesnt effect the united stated!!! :-)
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 9:40 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 51
VictorKrumisHot! says:
I hope that this thread does not contienue to Order of the Pheonix because i am looking forward to that movie in a couple of years or a year and a half.
yeah i know what you mean i cannot wait till OTp comes out:) and i really hooe that this doesnt continue i just am really happy 'bout GOF YAHOOO!!!!!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 9:44 AM EST
Mrs. Rob Pattinson
Points: 3851
Tonks&Lupin4ever says:
The Wyrd Sisters are so ridiculous! Does it seriously matter! I wish I had been their lawyers though, they got to see the movie early!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 9:47 AM EST
Cryptologist
Points: 3010
Veronica Smethley says:
Hey come on! They can't do this when the movie is just 22 days away! Really silly to discover this now, what were they doing earlier?!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:03 AM EST
Witch
Points: 605
Sahara says:
Ohh this could be bad can you imagine all the Canadian Harry Potter fans I included sitting quietly while some court tells us that this film will be banned from Canada. Nooooooo Wayyyyyy it will be mayhem total pandemonium. Good thing I just live about an hour away from the States!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1737
HermyG13 says:
They got to see the movie because of their complanit?! Not fair!! I can't believe they think they copied them!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:13 AM EST
Witch
Points: 541
ProfMM says:
I"m curious which group was named first - the Canadian group or JKR's. Also, I'm wondering how the law works in Canada. Usually, in the US people apply for an international copyright - wouldn't that apply everywhere?
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:23 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1726
Hermionebrain says:
Poor people in Canada! Don't worry; you'll see the movie somehow!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:26 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1659
Dobbygirl says:
I don't see this lawsuit going very far. Personally, I think it's just a way for some nobody band to gain publicity.
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:30 AM EST
Gutter Girl Fabulous
Points: 8707
SamhainWitch7 says:
What idiots. They have no idea what they're up against. I really hope that judge LAUGHS IN THEIR FACES and throws the case out of court. Because if that happens, those retards won't get any money when the WB had offered like 50 grand for permission to use the name. They probably got it from the Harry Potter books anyway. Losers!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:32 AM EST
Squib
Points: 171
FreeDobby says:
This is ridiculous. Ha. Wyrd Sisters...Weird Sisters. Do they think they have a chance of prevailing?
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:34 AM EST
Squib
Points: 163
mowna says:
Oh my god!! some people are pethatic!! it's just a name!!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:39 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1812
Scilia Snape says:
These people are crazy. Don't they realize it's a fictional band created 15 years ago. If anything it would probably boost their album sales.
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 10:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1789
Veela~Girl says:
I can't believe these Wyrd-os are continuing with this ridiculous claim! Don't they realize that they are getting a horrible reputation form all this? I guess they are the types that believe any publicity is good publicity.
Being Canadian myself I am angered by what they are trying to do but nevertheless am confident that they won't have the power to stop GoF coming to Canada with their futile complaints.
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 11:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
That is so ridiculous. As many of us here said before, it is not even the same name! And the only thing they want is MONEY. WB is going to pay so that the movie can be released in Canada, too. Sick, really!
I wouldn't pay anything and let the whole thing come to court. Would be bad for the Canadians, but I don't want to see a single cent paid to this group!!!!!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 11:11 AM EST
Hermione's Twin
Points: 5063
*Miss Hermione Granger* says:
Oh NO!! Not this again.cant they just give up already.I mean I hope WB will win as it is not the WYRD sisters and whats the point.THey get more famous from it wont they??For all the canadians,I hope you get to see the movie as I would cry If I coundt.I mean,this has gone too far and its ridiculus....
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:04 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1004
heart_hArrY says:
oh my GOD I LIVE IN CANADA! I cannot go on if i don't get to see that movie! ok coming from a true canadian, nobody has ever heard of the "wyrd sisters" so quite frankly no one will really give a dang. I mean there name isn't even metioned in the movie, and even before they were offered money. MY god, this sucks. But honestly i'm not that worried since warner brothers is obvioulsy GOING to win. cause if they don't it would be bad publicity for the movie aND themselves (also the wierd sisters to of course). OK and IF BY CHANCE, they win, since I live in TORONTO, then i could always drive to the states to see it, but that would be ridcoulous.
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:11 PM EST
Student
Points: 258
white_tiger2200 says:
As I said before, I think it's ridiculous that they're even attempting this... and their name isn't even spelt the same so whatever. Anyway, I don't believe they'll succeed and I shall see you, GOF, just the same on November 18th! COME QUICKLY!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:20 PM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
Heeeh (deep sigh)
It is of different spelling anyway. Why they can't just drop it off?
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:21 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 3
Kyd says:
Again, here's a little break down that might be of some interest:
- In 1988, the author Terry Pratchett releases a book in his Discworld series titled The Wyrd Sisters (the title, of course, being a play on Macbeth). See the Wikipedia article on Discworld or else the Amazon website.
- In 1991, the band known as the Wyrd Sisters forms.
- In 2005, the Wyrd Sisters group sues Warner Brothers, among others, for "infringing" their name in GoF.
What, exactly, is wrong with this picture? And, moreover, who thinks it would be an — ahem — wonderful example of karmic irony if Mr. Pratchett gave these hypocrites a little taste of their own medicine?
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 804
PadfootsGirl says:
They need to get over themselves. I can't believe that they are so unpopular that they have to use HP to bring some attention to themselves. Their music must suck...
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:32 PM EST
Queen of Posts, H.W.C.
Points: 6780
dingbat1 says:
Kyd-hahaha, Great Point!
I am never amazed at the sheer idiocy of people owning names. If anyone should be being sued it should be JKRowling for using their name, which is even more stupid. There are groupds with the same name and differant spellings and plays on the words. This group is riding their publicity all the way because it looks better to be suing a huge film company for forty million dollars than it does to sue a childrens author.
I have visited their site the last time this came up, and while I understand their annoyance with Warner Brother's, they really do need to take a look at the bigger picture. They are not the friggin' rolling stones . . .they are not the Beatles, they are a small time group in which very few worldwide have known. Their fame is completely overshadowed by the fame of boy wonder and his trusty wizard sidekicks. If they were smart they would have went to Access Hollywood and Inside edition for their fifteen minutes, this doen't make me want to listen to them at all!! What did Jarvis ever do to them?? Brats!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:52 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 508
Emma's Main Man says:
I think that the entire thing is junk. The Wyrd Sisters need to stop being so dumb and self-involved and just enjoy the books and movies. Just because they weren't asked to play the part of a Band that has a similar name in a fictional book, doesn't mean that they have to get all huffy and make a big fuss about it. I have family that likes HP living in Canada and if they ban it up there, there are going to be some major problems.
Romulus Black
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 12:55 PM EST
Profesora de la Paz
Points: 2824
Sassafras says:
Oh, pah-leeze! How pathetic is that? A pretty much unknown (well to me at least) group that has a name similar to fictional one that JKR created for the Yule Ball group and beyond (recall that Tonks has a t-shirt with them on it). I wonder what the history of the Canadian group is? How long have they been around? Regardless, even if it had been a while...JKR and certainly not that paragon of copyright following WB would dare infringe on their rights.
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 1:35 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2175
Andromeda Meliflua says:
Well, thank Merlin I don't live in Canada! Doesn't stop me wanting to Crucio their asses off though...
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 1:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1805
Swimangel57 says:
Hmmm..I still think this whole thing is a bit ridiculous. Its is not spelled the same way for one thing and why haven't they tried to sue JKR?? because they know they would lose!!!!
Posted Oct 26, 2005 at 2:00 PM EST
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