Encyclopedia on Potter wholesale theft: Rowling

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JK Rowling, author of the highly popular Harry Potter series has sought to stop publication of a 400-page encyclopedia companion to her seven books by a private publisher, branding it as “wholesale theft” and “rearrangement” of her works. Rowling is suing Michigan-based RDR Books to stop publication of “The Harry Potter Lexicon” which is the print version of the material put by Steve Vander Ark, a Potter fan, on his website.

The British author is claiming copyright infringement. Testifying in a packed court room, Rowling, 42, claimed that the Lexicon just copies her works wholesale which amounts to plagiarism and is not based on any research.

“It is sloppy, lazy and it takes my work wholesale.” Asserting that it is not about money the British author said, “She has enough money and she is not there for money.”

Her books, she said, “encourage reading and the Lexicon does not reflect well on them.” The popular series about the wizard boy has sold some 400 million copies in 64 different languages and have spawned hundreds of websites but Rowling is objecting to publication in the print form.

“Should it be published, I firmly believe that carte blanche will be given to anyone who wants to make a quick bit of money, to divert some Harry Potter profits into their own pockets,” she told the court.