J.K. Rowling manages to prevent the publication of an encyclopedia of Harry PotterThe British writer J.K. Rowling, creator of the literary saga of Harry Potter, won a lawsuit today that will prevent the publication of an encyclopedia on the universe of the young wizard, who was drafted by a fan.
Both Rowling and Warner Brothers-producing films based on his novels-sued in 2007 before a court in New York to RDR Books, for trying to publish "Harry Potter Lexicon," written by Steven Vander Ark.
The Federal Court judge for the Southern District of New York Robert Patterson ruled today that the publication of this glossary, which contained places, characters and terms related to the adventures of Harry Potter, would have produced irreparable damage to Rowling as a writer.
He added that the publisher had not managed to prove the "fair use" of the text and, for this is a reference guide, abusing the creative work of Rowling, and therefore imposed a compensation for damage to RDR Books of 6,750 dollars, or 750 by each of the seven books published by the British author.
Knowing the decision, RDR Books said in a statement that the court should recognize that, in general, "an author has no right to prevent publication of reference guides accompanying books or other literary works."
Therefore, he assured raises the possibility of appealing the decision and explained that already has orders or agreements call for distributing the book in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand and China.
Last April, Rowling told the judge that his intention with this demand was to enforce the "author's right to protect its inception" and added that if allowed to exit the book market "will open the floodgates" and would be in danger the work of other artists like her.
"Are we the owners of our own work?", Wondered the author during his speech in the federal court presiding Patterson.
Steven Vander Ark, a fan of Harry Potter and librarian of 50 years in a village of Michigan, lamented the judge to testify before the controversy had been generated and had to endure the criticism that, while he defended his sole intention was that book assist other devout followers of Harry Potter.
Rowling, aged 42, published in 1997 the first instalment of the saga that made her famous and millionaire, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", and since then the boy wizard's adventures have been published in nearly 60 languages and have sold some 400 million copies.
Rowling on occasion expressed his admiration for the website on the lexicon used in the world she created, which initiated and directed Vander Ark for about eight years, but did not see with good eyes that content is compile into a book and sold for 25 dollars.
