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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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Witch
Points: 936
Lilium says:
Well, some have to do what they have to do. It's good she's taking a stand against piracy. I hope it goes well. Go Jo!!!
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 9:39 AM EST
Witch
Points: 525
Draco'z Devil says:
GO JK! You finally took a stand for yourself. You should've sued them ages ago, but all in due time, thing'll start up again.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 9:44 AM EST
Squib
Points: 190
LenaLovesRupert says:
Good for JK. she has a right to sue Ebay over it. They should be ashamed of themselves. I wonder how much she's sueing them for.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 9:50 AM EST
Dark-Lance Writer
Points: 2628
Remus Mirkwood says:
Go Jo! Im glad shes finally taking action against E-bay and their illegal selling of e-books.
Remus Mirkwood
Second Luetennuint of Rowlings Army.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 10:05 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1228
Hermy-ninny Granger says:
Good for her! She does need to seek judicial intervention. I get so mad at all those people who seel pirated items. Shame on them!
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 10:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2137
True*R/Hr*Love says:
I really don't blame her. I hate people that think making or selling fake Harry Potter merchandise is a good thing to do. Innocent people get scammed out of their money and are then really disappointed. Jk has every right to sue them and i deffinately think she's doing the right thing for her and the fans.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 10:21 AM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
wow, eBay is such a powerful to be sueing.
BUT I guess she DID warn them a couple of times and they didnt listen to her...
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 10:34 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2572
Mystique says:
Well I say good for her!
E-Bay totally deserves to be sued, especially since she was nice enough to simply ask them a few times to try to stop it.
She should have sued them from the beginning.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 10:46 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1687
jones_jj says:
It is good to know that JKR is looking out for all of her fans and warns them not to purchase Harry Potter items from e-bay that have been signed, as they may be fakes. That goes to show that JKR really does care about her fans.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 11:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1224
-che- says:
exelent!!
to sue eBay, you gotta be big, and i mean, Jo is kinda HUGE, so its good that she does so!
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 11:14 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1762
AidanK says:
I hope that a high profile case like this one finally gets ebay's attention. They have a long history of looking the other way when it comes to questionable items for sale. They are interested only in getting their fees. Best of luck to JKR. She really is looking out for the best interest of eveyone who is a Harry Potter fan.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 11:16 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 632
Zack Weasley says:
I wonder how much money j.k. will get out of this.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 781
deathlyhallows says:
Well, good for you, JK. Not something I would have done, but piracy is a big problem, so it's nice to see that someone who can do something about it is doing so.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:03 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
Wow... too bad she has to take such strong action. I understand her perspective. I wonder what EBAY can do... and I wonder why they don't. I mean, it seems to me it would be difficult to control all piracy and fake items.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 940
witch_pirate says:
It's sad that this even has to be done but still good for her for doing what she has to do.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 603
Book-worm says:
Way to go JK! Its good shes taking a stand against piracy.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:09 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 472
hedwig86 says:
Good for her! If they didn't listen to her the first time then legal action had to be taken! I hope she wins her fight!
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:11 PM EST
Points: 865
superduperpotter says:
Its damn good of her to so. There is so much piracy around.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1663
tactics2k says:
Lucky I don't buy things from eBay then XD
Good for her though. Need to stamp out some of this piracy stuff...
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3656
Anastasia Popovick says:
Go get them JK! I can't stand it when people think they are above the law and that they can get away with something like this! Wrong is wrong no matter how you spell it or twist the meanings of the words.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:23 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1251
padfoot'sgirl says:
Good for JK. She is taking steps to keep her fans from being riped off. She didn't put e-books out for a reason and that should be respected. I wonder if she will ask for a monatary settlement and give it away to charity.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:24 PM EST
Grillows Girl
Points: 2785
Miss Baltimore Crabs says:
I'm glad she is- people who sell those pirate books just shouldn't be allowed.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:38 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
DanielzWifey says:
Good for her. if i was her i'd do the same thing too.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST
Charms Mistress
(Moderator)
Points: 5162
Weesa says:
Glad to see her take this stand. Ebay is wrong in there inaction against those who offer pirated material. They should police their site better and remove things of a questionable nature.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 12:51 PM EST
Student
Points: 264
RedPlum711 says:
I don't blame her! Too bad for the people who were duped into buying the fake copies though...the people at e-bay should know better than to let stuff like that sell..=/
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 1:05 PM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12528
WickeDraco says:
I support the fact that JK doesn't want to see her fans being ripped off by greedy corrupt money cravers. But I don't think it's right that she sue Ebay.
Posted Feb 26, 2007 at 1:07 PM EST
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