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JULY 1, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: National Post via Moreover
Winnipeg, Canada-based folk band Wyrd Sisters has been ordered
to pay Warner Bros. $140,000 in legal costs stemming from the group's 2005 lawsuit aimed at preventing the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because the movie contained a pretend band of similar name.
HPANA has learned through a confidential source involved with the case that Jarvis Cocker (the real-life musician who was the lead singer of Potter's "Weird Sisters") desired to release an entire album of songs with different collaborators, including Franz Ferdinand, Jack White and Iggy Pop. (The band Franz Ferdinand was once rumored to be the movie-version Weird Sisters.)
Cocker also planned music videos and singles, all of which had to be pulled due to the lawsuit. The whole debacle created so much tension that Cocker was escorted down the red carpet premiere in London to avoid reporters' questions on the subject.
(On a semi-related note, this great interview with Daniel Radcliffe may have been missed in the hooplah surrounding Goblet of Fire's release in November 2005. It's all about Dan's musical tastes and mentions both Cocker and Franz Ferdinand.)
UPDATE: The Wyrd Sisters are appealing this ruling and will continue on with their $40 million lawsuit against Warner Bros.
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Auror
Points: 2363
Nataly says:
That is a bit weird, isn't it?
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:31 PM EST
Student
Points: 297
Hermione_Harry_Luna says:
I didn't know there was really a band call The Wyrd Sisters...This story was stupid all for money!!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:32 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1675
lissir10 says:
I thought the name Weird Sisters sounded familiar. The band was only mentioned in the book though, maybe it would have been mentioned if the Wyrd Sisters didn't have anything to say about it! haha. Wow thats a lot of money to pay!!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:33 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1918
not*so*sweet*strawberry says:
bahaha! Happy Birthday Canada!!!
well, since I'm a Canadian, i don't like this guy... he didn't want HP to come out... SO I'M MAD AT YOU!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:37 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
Well I had no idea that there was a band called Wyrd Sisters, im guessing they pronounce it the same as the Weird Sisters. Obviously when you do something like that your bound to insult the original band.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:52 PM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12529
WickeDraco says:
First of all, I seriously thought he was Tobey from Spider Man when I saw him. Second, I don't get it. Who's being sued? Wyrd Sisters? Or Warner Bros?
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST
Goddess of the Moon
Points: 10740
dee_dee says:
well they deserved it... the name isn't even the same and JK (I am sure) used it before they did... they just wanted the attention and free self-promotion...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:55 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 319
EmmaWatsonSF says:
HA! Sucks for them, I say. ^.^ It's their fault they made such a big deal and had to freaking sue! I think it's awesome that they're going to have to pay that. Awesome!
I mean, Flitwick would have introduced the Weird Sisters as "The Weird Sisters" if it had not been for this law suit. Yeesh.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:55 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2469
Fat Lady Sings says:
The lawsuite makes the band members seem like a bunch of opportunists, and it has apparently backfired on them. I can't imagine a fledgling band being able to cough up 140K. Ouch for them. Too bad for us, too, because the Weird Sisters bit in the film would have been so much better without this headache.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 12:56 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
Teacher Herms says:
What's the point of sueing them if it's a fictional band?
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:00 PM EST
Witch
Points: 525
Draco'z Devil says:
That's really quite interesting. i never knew that there was a band with a name so close.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:02 PM EST
Kathe Mera Kalimera
Points: 7720
dominor says:
Thats a lot of money...I liked their song,i downloaded it accidently yesterday..Hope we will see them again one day..
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:03 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 303
Draco'sGirl2121 says:
I heard about this wyrd sisters band once before on a different site. I think that WB has every right to make them pay money for trying to banned the movie and for trying to get them to pay money. That is so stupid. I can't belive that people will go to the extrems that they do just to get publicity. This band really needs to rethink what they are doing before trying to get a lawsuit out of the WB. Besides Jo made the name up way before any of this happend and their name isn't even spelled that same so I don't see why the band would make such a huge fuss out of nothing. Anyroad, props to the WB for making them pay for their mistake.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:08 PM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3159
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
Hahaha. Serves them right for all their trouble. It's just the publicity! I can't stand it when people do all these publicity stunts...drives me stark raving mad.
*The MRS*
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:15 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
ILuvHarryDiggoryKrum says:
THATS QUITE WEIRD......i dont really listen to Cocker's music.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1720
hpforever138 says:
I'm glad they have to pay, they made such a big deal about this when their name wasn't even mentioned in the film. I mean they wanted to ban the movie from Canada, crazy stuff, crazy people.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2590
Roswelladdict says:
Sheese, some people.
I wonder when the band chose their name, before or after the books came out? If before then I can see the reason for all the hoopla, but if after then JKR should be suing them, for stealing her intellectual property.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:30 PM EST
Student
Points: 203
Lynn15 says:
Merlin,they realy annoy me! Maniacs and a bunch of retards,glad they had to pay...Did they realy think they could stop HP? ...
I love the Weird Sisters and Radiohead!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:31 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1463
Veela_21 says:
Shoot I never heard of Wyrd Sisters.....and I didnt think the band in the Movie was weird sisters...they didnt sound like the kind of music that J.K Rowling would put in her books, but I guess it was the director's choice.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 1:58 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1234
Krum says:
Ahh that is ridiculousssssss. Too much money in my opinion.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 968
Jesyka Gronewg says:
How utterly ridiculous. I guess it just proves that people will do many, many, things for money. Many silly things.
Maybe they'll be suing JK next? :\
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 507
lady_moon says:
Uh, that's wierd. Why didn't they take that up with Jo? She's the one who created the Wierd Sisters, not Warner Bros. Wyrd Sisters? Stange...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:16 PM EST
Witch
Points: 852
nejicanspin says:
That's their fault that they named their band the Wyrd Sisters(even though it has different spelling)Besides I wonder if the money helps the next movie or for production of other movies. Cool an interview with Dan!!! Must see it!!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:48 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 453
sparkle_fairy92 says:
That is good that they have to pay WB, that is wrong to copy WB and JK Rowling!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:50 PM EST
Hogwarts Valedictorian
Points: 2826
Lily*R/Hr says:
That's really stupid. Not only would it be foolish to try to stop the release of one of the most highly anticipated movies ever, but it's frustrating that they clearly haven't read the HP books, from which came the band the Weird Sisters.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 2:57 PM EST
Witch
Points: 642
Fairy Foozle says:
I bet they just want the attention... It's rather stupid that they would do that. But come on $140,000!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 3:01 PM EST
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