JKR and Warner Brothers Sue Over Unauthorized Encyclopedia
J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers are suing over an upcoming Harry Potter encyclopedia The Harry Potter Lexicon, which is slated for a November release by publisher RDR Books.
The 400-page book, authored by Steve Vander Ark of www.hp-lexicon.org has been slammed by JKR, who said
“I cannot, therefore, approve of ‘companion books’ or ‘encyclopedias’ that seek to pre-empt my definitive Potter reference book for their authors’ own personal gain,” she said. “The losers in such a situation would be the charities that I hope, eventually, to benefit.” (Source: Reuters)
You can read more at The Leaky Cauldron, who is a partner of The HP Lexicon.
Editorial comment: This is really kind of ridiculous. Rowling has spoken highly of the HP Lexicon in the past, and the forthcoming book cannot really take away from sales of JKR’s encyclopedia which, to date, not yet in progress. JKR’s “official” encyclopedia would provide new information that Vander Ark’s book cannot.
