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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: 4081
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
YES!!!! They deserve to pay for all of the trouble that they've caused. They had no right sueing the WB because the two bands have similar names, but they aren't the same!!!
If anything, that band from Canada should've sued them when the actual book came out, not like 7 years later when the movie came out, they had no right!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:20 PM EST
Haldir's Horcrux
Points: 6270
Corvis says:
I think the price that they had to pay was reasonable, considering that they were only filing a lawsuit to make some cash off the series. It's lame when people do wierd lawsuits like that. I'd like to see what Cocker could have come up with.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:23 PM EST
Harry's Soul-Mate
Points: 3337
Lea says:
A-haaa!! Well done!! That will teach them (and others like them) a lesson!!
P.S. I'm sorry for Jarvis Cocker and I hope he'll never have to go through all that again!...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:24 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
felixfelicis14 says:
That was funny in the movie. But it's true...Wyrd and Weird are extremely similar...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 527
daniel_radcliffe_lover736 says:
I know nothing about law and that kind of stuff but wow that is a lot of money 140,000. I bet they will have fun paying that. Well like WB needs it they are like so rich.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 903
flaumfeder says:
*snorts* Well, why do they complain now? The book mentions the Weird Sisters several times, the movie doesn't even once.(if I'm not much mistaken
And originally, the name comes from the drama Macbeth written by Mr.William Shakespear himself. Only problem is that he can't stand up and tell them to quit using his invention.
That's quite a bit of money they have to pay, isn't it? Not that WB is in any need for it...
*shrugs* GoF is out, that's what matters, right? And now I will watch this movie just once again! *grins*
byebye
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 6:59 PM EST
Student
Points: 200
~Draco&Hermione~ says:
Wow...that's pretty strange. Oh well, if they were trying to delay the release of the movie...I'm glad they have to pay!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 7:15 PM EST
Witch
Points: 844
~Silver Potion~ says:
Wow I had no idea there really was a band called the Wyrd Sisters. That interview with Radcliffe was pretty cool too. In my opinion he needs more open views about music, but every man deserves his own opinion right?
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 7:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 888
HarrySiriusly says:
Serves them right for immitating the name. Although who knows who was first? Anyway Great interview with Dan on his Musical takes. It is always interesting to find out who the stars listen to.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 7:26 PM EST
Princess of Fantasy
Points: 2538
magiclover13 says:
That's a lot of money! Anyway, I always thought that the Weird Sisters were something from Macbeth...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
x-Adorkable-x says:
Okay, what the heck? -_- Beyond werid, but it's kinda cool that's there a actual Wyrd Sisters out there. And from Canada.Ah well, too bad...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 718
lonelyzephyr83 says:
Theo Murpse: You're right that the Wyrd Sisters were in Shakespear's Macbeth, but the word Wyrd actually first existed hundreds of years earlier, as the meaning for doom (which they defined as fate not certain death as we define today) or providence/destiny in Anglo Saxon time. That's where Shakespeare got the word (as his Wyrd Sisters are prophets/psychics who can see your "fate"). Wyrd has since turned into our word "weird" but they really don't mean the same thing at all anymore (this has happened to a lot of words...try reading Old or Middle English sometime and you may see a word you recognize, but it will mean something totally different). JKR seems to have used a familiar type phrase from Shakespeare, but didn't simply "borrow" from Shakespeare as she means Weird as in strange, not fate. It's more like a throwback to a fellow writer (sort of an "I'm not the first writer in the world, let me pay tribute to those that have come before me). I checked out the Wyrd Sisters website and they have chosen the name more for it's older meaning than JKR, so in reality the names are pretty far apart if not for pronounciation.
Knowing all of this, when I heard of the lawsuit I thought it really stupid and a ploy for publicity, because their claim that they didn't want HP fans to confuse them for our canon Weird Sisters is plain ridiculous. I'm glad it backfired and they're being ordered to pay the money. Lawsuits are always being filed for stupid things, it's about time that people who sue for dumb things have to pay for it.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 510
Jealz says:
Wow i whish he could produce the music vedio's and things because I loved "Do the Hippogriff"!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:25 PM EST
Forgetful Werewolf
Points: 14831
Patronus_Potter says:
Hmm interesting... I always thought that they would lose that case, they were up against the WB for crying out loud.
I'm kinda curious about the Cocker concept album thingy...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:26 PM EST
Healer in Training
Points: 2661
nubian_weasley01 says:
I think that what the Wryd Sisters did was crazy and they deserve to pay. However, the muscial group in the movie was HORRIBLE it gave me a headache when I saw the preformance in the deleted scenes... I fast forward the rest of the scene.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 8:31 PM EST
Witch
Points: 985
Weasleyismyking!/R/Hrfrv says:
This really was very pathetic. They actually thought they could prevent the movie from coming to theathers?!?! Come on! Get a life!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 9:19 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 622
Dumbledore's_Favorite says:
I never heard of the group, weird sisters. Secondly, I had never heard of this lawsuit before. It is sad to see people out to make money off everything in lawsuits.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 9:30 PM EST
Slugmeister
Points: 3733
Prawg says:
I don't know. I don't get this. But it might be just that it's late and I'm tired and stuff. Why would they sue them? Who sued who? Is it really spelled "sue"? Isn't that a name?
Confused...
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 9:32 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 427
Padfoots Escape says:
HAHA! Sorry, just had to, but yea thats really weird.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 9:37 PM EST
Student
Points: 299
remember_c says:
It kinda serves the Wyrd sisters right, though i do think it would be a bit too much to release a whole album of weird sisters stuff from the movie. But, geeze, i am so ashamed that they are Canadian! :P
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 9:48 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 375
*Gryffindor_Beauty* says:
Wow thats pretty tough but i think it does serve them right cause the names been around since the book came out and they are complaining years later when the movie came out. Still 140 thousand is a lot of money.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:00 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
harryfan890 says:
That is sad if they win no more Harry Potter movie four.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 639
Harry(the 4th champion) says:
Wow!!!! Thats a lot of money!!!!!!!! But if they have to pay it ... they have to pay it!!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:09 PM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3091
BlackKatL says:
"Knowing all of this, when I heard of the lawsuit I thought it really stupid and a ploy for publicity, because their claim that they didn't want HP fans to confuse them for our canon Weird Sisters is plain ridiculous. I'm glad it backfired and they're being ordered to pay the money. Lawsuits are always being filed for stupid things, it's about time that people who sue for dumb things have to pay for it." lonelyzephyr83
Couldn't have said it better myself!!!I totally Agree!!!!! Serves them right!!!! They'll think twice before doing stupid things like that again!!!!! What's important is that GoF got out and we all enjoyed it!!!
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:14 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
The 4th Champion says:
I guess they got what they deserve, but thats a lot of money.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1369
luv4permboy says:
That is fantastic that they have to pay legal fees for warner bros. The funny part of the whole thing is that they are reaching out to the fans to spot the bill. No sympathy for them on my part.
Awesome interview with Dan. I"ve personally been on a mission to convert the heathens.
Posted Jul 1, 2006 at 10:27 PM EST
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