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Rowling sues over Potter books

01.11.07

J K Rowling and Warner Bros are suing an independent US publisher over an unofficial encyclopedic companion to the Harry Potter series, as it infringes copyright and attempts to cash in on the brand, reports Reuters.

The 400-page book, The Harry Potter Lexicon, which is due to be released by RDR Books on 28th November in the United States, had inappropriately referenced Rowling's fictional characters and universe, Rowling and Warner Bros said.

According to Reuters, RDR Books said the author of the reference book, Steve Vander Ark, based it on his fan Web site, www.hp-lexicon.org, that was used by 25 million visitors and had been called "a great site" by Rowling herself.

Rowling said in a statement, even though she loved fan sites, she hoped to write "the definitive Harry Potter encyclopedia, which will include all the material that never made it into the novels" and donate the proceeds to charity.

"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 added. "The losers in such a situation would be the charities that I hope, eventually, to benefit." 

Reuters

US harry potter J K Rowling Warner Bros

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