Nov. 3rd, 2007

cleolinda: (Default)
In case y'all have been wondering where I've been, I've pretty much been glued to JournalFen for L'affaire Lexicon as A MILLION BILLION comment notifications have rolled into my inbox, because several of them have resulted in key ETAs. Since I've been posting those addenda as they've come in, let's reorganize them a bit here, shall we? Here's what's happened so far, per the comments and information at the FW links above:

The Harry Potter Lexicon wants to publish the site in book form. JKR has always been cool with the site as a non-profit public resource, and even said she's consulted it a few times herself when she didn't have copies of her books on hand (say, in that Edinburgh hotel room). But publishing the site as a book, for profit, opens a whole Pandora's box of copyright issues--namely, 1) since the "facts" in question are fictional facts and not historical facts (like those in, say, the Encyclopedia Britannica), the Lexicon can't use them freely in a profit situation and 2) the Lexicon would not include enough commentary (or does it? More on this in a minute) to pass the way other critical works have (and JKR mentions having no problem with these). The best summary of these issues that I have seen is [livejournal.com profile] praetorianguard's here. (ETA: Part two.)

(Sidenote: Many people, myself included, find the Lexicon to be incomplete and patchy. I ended up using Wikipedia for GOF in Fifteen Minutes, but there is now a Harry Potter Wiki unto itself. Rejoice!)

JK Rowling is not pleased )


Contributors to the Lexicon are not pleased )


Steve Vander Ark apparently asked JKR in advance and was told no, he couldn't publish a book )


The Lexicon apparently incorporates a large amount of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them already )


There's a separate issue as to whether WB stole a timeline of HP events from the Lexicon )


RDR Books, Steve Vander Ark's publisher for the Lexicon book, is insane. WHY WON'T YOU THINK OF THE CHILDREN? AND HIROSHIMA?! )


Important bottom-line statements, both via TLC:

RDR Books: "It’s RDR’s position that the Lexicon did not need permission to do work on the book."

Warner Bros: "There is no intention to have this suit apply to other fan endeavors such as web sites, wizard rock, etc."


I've heard something about one of the publication dates being Monday. This Monday. Day-after-tomorrow Monday. I don't know if that's true, or if it's still going to happen, but... it's going to get interesting.


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