I'm right there with you. I don't really see where anyone has the right to profit off of what would basically be a collection of facts about the series except for the series creator herself. I would do the exact same thing if I was in JKR's place, and I think it's actually pretty sleazy of Steve Vander Ark to try to get away with this.
The Lexicon even cites whole chunks of the books in its articles - whatever way you slice it, when you take that much of someone's work and sell it, it's plagiarism, pure and simple.
JKR was the one who was planning to sell hers for charity, and who actually owns the intellectual property rights to the series. While Steve, who's basically just copying her work and not giving the proceeds to charity... but somehow she's the Nazi and he's the put-upon victim.
I'm hardly JKR's greatest fan, but dude, she has every right to be annoyed. This isn't her bitching about zomygod someone spoiled the ending very slightly in a review of the book, but someone making money off a book that she already planned to write for charity.
Same here - I'm not a member of the JK Rowling fan club, I do have issues with how she's handled certain aspects of the books/interactions with fandom... but this? Hardly near the top of my shit list.
I'm annoyed about the thing being published at all because the value of people having personal canon for their stories is priceless and I think JKR is putting a large dent on it - adults should be allowed to think Harry is totally a DADA teacher when the series is done because that's what interacting with a story is about about.
However, I can understand JKR's views and I know how important the money she'll make from the book is is.
I'm reminded of that oh-so-brilliant decision by that one woman to try and publish her own ANH AU fan fic... the general population agreed that was a ridiculous move and that Lucasfilm was right to lay the smack down on her, no? I'm not sure why this is all that different.
I really should've checked out the reactions on LJ before looking elsewhere. I may be batshit on this particular matter, but at least here I'm not the only one who is. ;)
Comments 20
Reply
Reply
JKR was the one who was planning to sell hers for charity, and who actually owns the intellectual property rights to the series. While Steve, who's basically just copying her work and not giving the proceeds to charity... but somehow she's the Nazi and he's the put-upon victim.
I second a_white_rain's icon love - Trio! <3 <3
Reply
Reply
Reply
However, I can understand JKR's views and I know how important the money she'll make from the book is is.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I really should've checked out the reactions on LJ before looking elsewhere. I may be batshit on this particular matter, but at least here I'm not the only one who is. ;)
Reply
Leave a comment