Copyright Law

Harry Potter Lexicon decision appealed

By Ty Rogers and Ray Beckerman

"Copyright and Fair Use" at Stanford Law School reports that the defendant publisher, RDR Books, has filed an appeal from the Judge's decision in Warner Bros. Pictures v. RDR Books, the case involving the Harry Patter Lexicon.

The Judge, after a bench trial, issued an injunction and statutory damages of $6750 holding that the Lexicon was not protected by fair use due to (a) sloppiness in attribution in sections, (b) the length of some of the quotes, and (c) imitation of J.K. Rowling's writing style in portions.

I recently wrote an article criticizing the opinion, but doubting that an appeal would be taken in view of the small damages award.

I guess I underestimated the resolve of the defendants and defendants' lawyers -- who include the Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society.

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Full post as published by Recording Industry vs The People on November 11, 2008 (boomark / email).