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Rowling launches lawsuit against Harry Potter lexicon

Last Updated: Saturday, November 10, 2007 | 10:42 AM ET

CBC News

A publisher in Michigan has halted plans to release a Harry Potter encyclopedia after author J.K. Rowling launched a lawsuit.

Roger Rapoport of RDR Books, located in Muskegon, Mich., said he has stopped publication of the guide to Potter lexicon until a judge in New York City rules whether the work is a violation of Rowling's intellectual property rights.

Author J.K. Rowling, pictured here in 2006, says she feels 'sad and disillusioned' about having to file a lawsuit against the people planning to publish an Harry Potter lexicon.
(Seth Wenig/Associated Press)

Rapoport says he has also turned over a copy of the encyclopedia to Warner Bros. lawyers in the hopes they will reconsider the lawsuit.

Warner Bros. studio holds the copyright to the wizard-in-training novels.

"I think they should drop it. I'm hopeful they will," Rapoport said Friday.

RDR Books was to release the encyclopedia on Nov. 28.

Written by Steve Vander Ark and titled Harry Potter Lexicon, it is based on material from an internet fan site of the same name, which includes a handbook to the game of Quiddich, a visitor's guide to Hogwarts and a compendium of spells.

A federal judge in New York has issued an order barring the completion, distribution, marketing or advance sales of the book until further notice.

The lawsuit contends Vander Ark's book will interfere with Rowling's plans to publish her own version of an almanac of the fictitious Potter's wizarding world.

Rowling had been a supporter of the website and in a statement released on her website, Rowling admitted she took "no pleasure" in launching the lawsuit.

"I feel massively disappointed that this matter had to come to court at all," the statement said. "Given my past good relations with the Lexicon fan site, I can only feel sad and disillusioned that this is where we have ended up."

The author's seven Potter books have sold nearly 400 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 64 languages.

With files from the Associated Press

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

Rowling reveals Dumbledore is gay
Rowling to meet Harry Potter fans in Toronto
FEATURE: Harry and Me: A personal reflection on reading the Harry Potter series

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