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NOVEMBER 18, 2007 at 8:32 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Scotsman
A few weeks ago we first reported denials from J.K. Rowling's camp that she was writing an eighth Harry Potter book called James Potter and the Elder's Crossing. Now comes news
that the author of this book, which will be available via the internet starting in December, may face legal action from Rowling.
Author George Lippert said he wrote the book for his wife and sons, who love the series, and believes that fans of his book may be angry when they find out it is not written by Rowling.
Mr. Lippert said:
I am a little worried that people will be angry when they find out it's not Rowling. But I hope Harry Potter fans will enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
UPDATE: It is now being reported that Lippert has an email giving him the okay to write the amateur novel. More to come.
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Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1881
DarkPhoenixRising says:
This is just fan fiction to the Nth degree... If she sues him, she should sue everyone that has ever written fan fiction....
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 8:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 614
Harry_Hermoine_Fanz says:
Although he enjoys it himself, but think about fans that also love the series. The fans heard that the 8th book is written, they are very happy, but when they know it's fake, who wouldn't be disappointed?
But anyways, hope the situion doesn't need a lawyer to solve it.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 8:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1262
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Hm... it would make sense that there may be legal action against him because it's unauthorized by Jo. Then again, it's not like he's planning on selling it for a profit. It's kind of like a really long fanfic. I'll be interested to see where this goes.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 9:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 534
~AlyPotter~ says:
It makes perfect sense for Jo to take legal action. I am not condemning anyone for writing any type of harry potter fan fiction---but keep it at that and nothing else. If he wrote it for his family than that is fine---but we do not need someone publishing a book to make a profit out of relevance to Jo's original work. It's just not right if you really think about it. And of course many people will be upset and dissapointed to hear that this has not been written by Jo. I do hope that this can be settled without taking legal action---but if it does lead to it then I hope Jo gains justice to what is rightfully hers.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 9:41 PM EST
Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4666
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
I might read it....
~Drish~
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 9:42 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 486
ladybythebay says:
Oh here we go again. Harry Potter and the Ever Suing Author.
I want to be one of her attorneys. What a way to spend her billion, on legal fees. I think she should sue everyone named Harry or Potter and sue anyone who thinks about Harry Potter.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 10:20 PM EST
Queen of the Fae
Points: 4616
marauderette says:
this is getting ridiculous. How is this different from any other fanfiction that millions of people write? I went to his website and it doesn't claim to be written by JK, so why is she targeting this one fic? I love HP, and I love JK, but I can't agree with her lawsuits (either of them) right now.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 10:29 PM EST
Custodian of Miracles
Points: 3264
MadamDumbledore says:
I have never been, nor professed to be, a fan of fanfic.
And, whilst I'll probably read this book (should it eventuate), I certainly won't be getting excited about it's publication or release.
You can't do better than JKR.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 10:39 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2337
SlytherinStarGazer says:
It certainly isn't his idea, and therefore he doesn't have any right to writing a book based on her world and her characters...and he most certainly shouldn't make any profit from this book...It isn't fair to take someone's creative idea and profit from it...
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 10:49 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27909
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
HAH!
Wow what a dooface...he is gonna get in bigggg trouble
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 11:31 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 838
R.Hodgson says:
Why can't people just understand that they shouldn't write a book about Harry Potter. Unless he is making a profit on this I don't see why she might sue him.
Posted Nov 18, 2007 at 11:38 PM EST
Witch
Points: 671
draconifors says:
That sounds like a bludde butie kind of book!:)
Me going 2 read!!!
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 12:06 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4081
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
What is it with these people who've started writing books that have HP characters in it/is about Harry Potter? I seriously don't get it.
DarkPhoenixRising, you do have a point. I know it is fanfiction, a lot of people like writing fanfiction, but if he's selling his fanfiction for his own prophit, he should be sued. Wouldn't it sort of be like violating copywrite her characters if he calls them his own? I haven't read of any other fanfic writer selling their fanfics using their names as the authors. It would be THEM saying that they came up with JAMES POTTER and the ELDER WAND. Sorry for all the capitals, I can't write italics in this box to make a point.
I think she should take legal action, but not if he puts her name on the book. I think he would get out of a lawsuit if he says she was the origional author of the book, and something under her name like like, "separate adaption by George Lippert". I love writing Harry Potter fan fics, I've written about 5 long ones already, just because I like to make different stories and scenarios of the HP characters, but I would never sell them and say that they came out of my own head(except for the other characters that I've created that JK Rowling's never thought of before). I feel so bad for Jo. She's been getting into all of these lawsuits lately, it must be so tiring. I just wish everything could be settled.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 12:32 AM EST
Hogwarts Social Worker
Points: 3671
SnoopyLover says:
Is he kidding? Writing a book for one's family is certainly an OK thing to do, but to put it out in public without consent is ridiculous. This dude better have a really great lawyer.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 12:47 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4081
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Sorry for the double post, but I just read on leakey-cauldron.com, that the guy who wrote these is only putting them up on his site, with huge disclaimers saying that it is just a fanfiction and he's not selling them for prophet, so you know what, I don't think she should take legal action. He's saying they're just fanfics, but he's writing a book about them. I mean, my fanfics are 40 pages long for pete's sakes!!
DarkPhoenixRising, you can basically forget what I said. If that information was on this site, I would have wrote a different answer. Bascially, to change what I said...he wrote these fanfics for his wife and kids, he's just trying to make them happy, and I think he has the right to. He's not selling them for prophit, he's not saying he thought of everything himself, let the guy write his fanfics.
I know this post is the complete opposite of what I wrote, but I didn't have all of the information.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 12:47 AM EST
Witch
Points: 955
expectogirl says:
There's a big legal difference between a fanfic and a published for profit book. I'm sure that JKR and her lawyers are smart enough to know that difference and I'm betting that this guy might be trying to earn money off her characters. Why else would they be seeking legal action if it was just a fanfic? How many HP fanfics are out there? Probably millions! Something else is going on here-it can't be just a fanfic author wanting to write a story for fan enjoyment. Something's fishy about his story.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 12:52 AM EST
Honeydukes Eye Candy
Points: 3501
Pansyful says:
People should move on. They should just accept that Jo will just be writing seven books and has all been accomplished. it's time to carry on with other stuff
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 4:28 AM EST
Witch
Points: 819
accio_kim says:
This is so sad, this guy is just a massive fan and now he faces being sued by one of his favourite authors
There are so many fan fic sites out there, if he isn't selling it for profit and if people don't believe it's really written by JK (come on people, who actually believed it was real!?) then he should just be left alone
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 5:19 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1864
Bright Eyes says:
Seriously! Just stick to non-profit fanfiction. There is no reason to go and make a profit out of what is not yours - and why try to fool the fans? They'll find out in the long run and get angry that they have been fooled...
DarkPhoenixRising,
As I said, There's fanfiction, and there's making a profit out of someone elses posessions. He's also going out of his way to promote it as an 'eight book' which is misleading to an audience as technically it's not. The website is very misleading.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 5:54 AM EST
Squib
Points: 128
MRS DAN RADCLIFFE says:
On one hand,What Mr.Lippert has done is breaching of copyright rule.Its just for JK to take some legal action against the accused and sue him.Henceforth no one will even dare to do this.But on the other hand,I think what Mr.Lippert has said is true and he's honest.
But going by the law , I think he should be sued by Jo.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 6:27 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 374
harry_potterfan says:
Looking forward to the book, and will surely give it a read if the writing style is as captivating as Rowling. I don't find any reason why JKR is fussing since he is distributing his own book for free. I suppose she's got rights over whether she should allow any person/organization to make money out of it.
Nowadays perhaps the cafe in her mind has been replaced by the courtroom and we might next find her writing books in there, too busy to find time (for writing) after taking care of her courtroom proceedings. (no insult intended, just kidding!!!)
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 8:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2363
Nataly says:
She is NOT goint to write an eight Harry Potter book!! A legal action from Rowling is the less the authot could face by Rowlling :@
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 8:20 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1823
zues says:
If he wants Harry Potter fan to read his book he should put his name on it. Then put it on the inter-net where Harry Potter Fanfictions belong. Don't try to sell it, that's why she is sueing him. That's also why she hasen't sued all the other Fanfiction authers. They aren't selling thier work.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 8:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1647
Hermione's younger sister says:
Wow, that is so wierd. I hope he doesn't face legal stuff. He hasn't done anything that bad. She's having so much trouble with convincing everybody that she's not writing an eighth, that I think it would be less trouble for her to just write it! :)
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 9:32 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9047
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I would be surprised if there is no action. This is clearly going to be a derivative work sold for profit. It will be amazed if it ever makes it to distribution.
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 9:35 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1582
ALLI8 says:
I am torn about this topic to tell you to truth. I feel like it's just another fan fiction, however it is taking her story and her things, and he can't use her things without legal consent. So i guess those are both sides to it. I just don't think he sound have it published for mass distribution, because that would be copywritght stuff, but he should put the story somewhere eles where fans, such as myself, can enjoy it legaly.
alli8
Posted Nov 19, 2007 at 11:35 AM EST
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