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FEBRUARY 25, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Times
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, has sued
the web site eBay for the sale of illegal electronic copies of her books in India.
According to Neil Blair, Rowling’s legal adviser at the Christopher Little Literary Agency:
Over the years eBay has appeared to be unwilling to control sellers on their site offering pirated or forged Harry Potter items for sale to innocent fans. We have asked eBay on numerous occasions to assist by taking preventative steps to avoid these sales - steps that we are aware they can introduce. As these requests were not heeded we had no choice but to seek judicial intervention.
J. K. Rowling has previously warned fans on her own website about the sale of fake signed books and other pirated Harry Potter e-books on eBay.
As recently as January JKR posted a warning on her site about illegal versions of the books and has stated on numerous occasions that her books are not available for download.
She has also warned fans about the number of fraudulently autographed and unauthorized items that have appeared for sale on eBay. We also reported back in February that no e-book version of Deathly Hallows would be published as this helps with the "growing incidents of piracy."
UPDATE: Today eBay India denied JK's claims that they have done anything wrong.
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Prefect
Points: 356
DracoHarryKKVG says:
Ha ha, Ebay just totally got themselves TOLD! Go JK!
Posted Feb 27, 2007 at 10:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 914
hp-luver says:
What?! That's insane! JK Rowling should sue eBay because people should be buying their own copy of the books!
Posted Feb 27, 2007 at 10:35 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1448
Wulfric_Brian says:
That's absolutely ridiculous. I say that not only as a JKR fan, but as a worker. I love eBay and think the site is a great idea, but the fact that they are allowing somebody's work to be sold illegally needs to be brought to attention. You go, JKR.
Posted Feb 27, 2007 at 10:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 953
im freeeeeeeeee says:
Go Jo they shouldn't be aloud to do this.
Posted Feb 27, 2007 at 10:49 PM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
She has every right to seek out people who are pirating her work. Of course, it's just the way the world works these days. It's hard to catch things like that. You do what you have to do.
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 12:53 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
I understand her point of view...Original copies should be sold legally and not illegal ones.
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM EST
Points: 8027
deemz says:
Good for her ... im glad she's taking some action on this ... haha
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 9:29 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 60
wyrda says:
How dare those thieving you know whats!!! im glad she sued them and i hope she does it again. people just cant wait for the book just like everyone else. they have to steal the information, then copy it, and sell it for a rediculous price to people who are gullible enough to buy the darn thing and believe that its being sold leagaly in the first place!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 10:26 AM EST
Witch
Points: 804
PadfootsGirl says:
Boo ebay! An huge international company like ebay should be able to take steps to combat piracy. I hope JKR sticks to her guns!
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 1:13 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2307
Queen_Democrat says:
She was right to do that. No one has the right to treat our JKR that way. She worked really hard on her books and she wants us to read it at a certain time for a reason: abiding the law. You should follow JKR's noble example!
Posted Feb 28, 2007 at 9:47 PM EST
Squib
Points: 112
fire phoenix3 says:
I think that what JK. Rowling is doing is (b)right(/b), its not fair that a few greedy people out their are doing this. why not go out and buy the books from any good book shop like the rest of us! She choose not to put the books into internet fromat so why should people abuse her discion and go ahead with it anyway!
Posted Mar 1, 2007 at 3:51 PM EST
Student
Points: 209
yugi900098 says:
Hey, I am indian and the last time i went there, nobody bought things from ebay...It's usually raining or really hot over there and nobody ever wants to get out of the house...whatever they buy, they buy from grocerers and malls. Period.
Posted Mar 1, 2007 at 4:59 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2011
brenpotterfans says:
Good for her I really hope she wins. I have happily pay for all my Harry Potter books, and everyone else should pay too.
Posted Mar 1, 2007 at 5:00 PM EST
Witch
Points: 972
Professor Granger says:
You can't blame her for being upset. I mean, why can't people just go buy the book and enjoy it. Who wouldn't like to get a Harry Potter book fresh off the press?
Posted Mar 1, 2007 at 7:10 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
Go get'em J.K.!
I can't stand stuff like that!
Posted Mar 1, 2007 at 7:29 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1454
xMAVERICK says:
Good for her.
Ebay deserves it.
and the coustomers dont want to get fake signed books.
thank god =)
Posted Mar 2, 2007 at 1:09 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1588
ravenbeaut says:
I really can't blame her for suing. These people making these illegal copies are essentially stealing from her! I hope she wins.
Posted Mar 2, 2007 at 6:39 PM EST
Witch
Points: 828
Elphaba_Thropp says:
Well done JK Rowling. Ebay have had so many warnings from Jo, they deserve it.
Posted Mar 4, 2007 at 8:04 AM EST
Auror
(Moderator)
Points: 2484
Since the Start says:
eBay is such a hypocritical company! They claim to regulate their auctions really closesly... but really they only regulate when the items being auctioned don't bring a lot of buyer fees in... and in this case we know that they must be making tons.
Posted Mar 4, 2007 at 9:07 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Haha, that's right! Sue their thieving bottoms! I'm glad she's finally suing them they're allowing people to STEAL from her and make money for themselves from what she's done. They're wrong and they must be punished!
Posted Mar 6, 2007 at 6:52 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Wow!You go JK!I'm glad that she took a stand to this.
Posted Mar 10, 2007 at 10:48 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
Nice_witch says:
JK is one tough woman!Standing proud and tall..You go girl.. I mean JK.. ;P
Posted Mar 13, 2007 at 5:39 AM EST
Forgetful Werewolf
Points: 14831
Patronus_Potter says:
Good, i think she should sue over stuff like that.
It is after all, theft.
Posted Mar 13, 2007 at 1:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 629
Crookshanks535 says:
I would surely never buy a "signed" copy of anything off Ebay. Unless I see the item signed myself I would never believe it. I'd love to have a signed copy of a JKR book but it will never happen because I will never buy one. I mean, I buy the books, but I can't ever imagine having the luck to meet her and have one signed. That would be too heavenly. *sigh*
Posted Mar 14, 2007 at 1:56 PM EST
Witch
Points: 948
Grimmauld Place says:
I can't believe that people would do this. People will do anything to make a buck, I just think it is pathetic. Good for Jo for trying to get rid of these people. It is not fair to her fans or to her. She has spent so much time and effort on her books, it is just sad to see people try to rip her off.
Posted Mar 15, 2007 at 8:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 983
Weasleyismyking!/R/Hrfrv says:
I agree with Jo. What this people are doing is deliberately disrespecting her job.
Posted Mar 21, 2007 at 9:30 PM EST
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