Is J.K. Rowling cunty or crafty? (1118 hits)
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Submitted by Jack McCallum (View user info) at 2008-04-22 16:14:23 EDT
J.K. Rowling is in Federal court in New York City this week, waging battle against her most heinous foe yet, a former librarian from Michigan named Steven Vander Ark.
Since 2000 Vander Ark has been adding to an online database called the Harry Potter Lexicon (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html) in the kind of exhaustively geeky endeavor not seen since the glory days of Tolkien when zit-faced losers struggled to speak that extremely gay elf language scribbled out in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the sequel of cobbled-together notes JRR probably wrote while sitting on the shitter.
The hp-lexicon has every imaginable bit of information on people, places and things in the Harry Potter world; timelines, readers guides and encyclopedic compellations carefully collected by Vander Ark. It should be noted that Vander Ark is at heart a true fan, having created a site that can be enjoyed by fans of the books which has also has introduced many new readers to Rowling's works.
Even Rowling has admitted using the site (and she has given it an award). "This is such a great site that I have been known to sneak into an Internet cafe while out writing and check a fact rather than go into a bookshop and buy a copy of Harry Potter."
Seems like the perfect relationship. The writer gets to expand her exposure and has a useful database at her fingertips (if you've ever written any lengthy stories, essays or technical data you'll know how hard it is to keep track of everything - now multiply that by the sheer bulk of pages Rowling has written over the years and you'll see how useful the site could be to her) and the geek gets the approval of the writer and acknowledgement of his hard work. So why the court battle?
Recently RDR Books announced it would publish a print version of the lexicon, and that is where Rowling drew the line.
Many commentators think the case could go either way since there are still a lot of legally undefined areas of internet usage. Many fans side with Rowling, but just as many fans think Rowling should get over it, wondering why she is so upset, but most of this particular portion of Rowling's fan base are children who while they are admirable for actually cracking open and reading a book in this wtf-I'm-not-reading-all-that internet age are still kids who couldn't find their assholes with a mirror in one hand and a flashlight in the other, but that's okay I guess, because these days they can just take a picture of their asshole with their webcam, publish it online, and look at it any time they like.
Yet the simple fact of the matter is this; Steven Vander Ark was doing what he did for free. Now he will make a profit. And he will make a profit from the work of someone else. The 'work of someone else' is the bulk of his site. Vander Ark may obsessively work his ass off on adding to the site, but what he is adding is J.K. Rowling's material that she worker her own ass off on, not his own.
As she took the case into a New York courtroom Rowling said in a prepared statement, "The book at the heart of this case has overstepped a boundary so unreasonably that I have been forced, regretfully, to take legal action. If this book is published, it will open the floodgates for anyone to lift an author's work and present it as their own. But if it is not published, that will be a boon not only to all who create original works, but to all who enjoy those works."
I agree with Rowling. This is the simplest interpretation of copyright law. If Vander Ark wants to publish a work based on her work, using her characters and locations and excerpts from the books in the form of spells and dialogue, and if he wants to do it without her consent, which he does not have, that is plagiarism, pure and simple.
I fully expect Ms. Rowling to kick ass in this case.
Besides, Steven Vander Ark is a creepy looking fucker.
I'm talking serial-killer material.
Rowling used to be goofy looking, but she earned enough money to get a whole new face and a boob job, so she can show herself in public without drawing snickers or nervous glances. She's still kind of weird looking, but that's par for the course for chicks in the UK. Considering her age, she ain't bad at all, and the new titties certainly help.
Let Vander Ark publish his own goddamn fucking material if he wants to lose that Ah got me some rottin' remains under them floorboards and don't they smell suh-weet face. Fucking fucker.
I say we kill him.
User Reviews
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-05-02 08:43:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hey Jack...thought you might get a kick out of Orson Scott Card's take on this situation....
http://www.linearpublishing.com/RhinoStory.html
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-23 22:39:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
why do you have a picture of little monster at the bottom
__________
wtf? I don't look anything like her. Plus she is about 20 yrs older than me. Christ you're mean.
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it was a joke about the tits honey relax
i predict jack will post an exciting racist filled rant about his fascinating jury duty experience fairly soon
he probably wet himself on the bart
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-23 21:25:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-04-23 17:53:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Okay, explain to me how all these books have been created...
ALL of these books are ABOUT Harry Potter and the universe Rowling created - but none of them were written by her.
They were published. Why is this guy suddenly being targeted??
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...because they talk ABOUT Harry Potter, whereas the lexicon has spells, dialogue, descriptions, etc., text taken wholesale from the books. Since she is not giving her permission for him to use that text IN A BOOK for his own profit, he should not be able to do so...
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-04-23 17:53:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Okay, explain to me how all these books have been created...
http://search.a1books.com/cgi-bin/mktSearch?act=showDesc&code=gbase&rel=1&ITEM_CODE=1414300913
http://search.a1books.com/cgi-bin/mktSearch?act=showDesc&code=gbase&rel=1&ITEM_CODE=0812694554
http://search.a1books.com/cgi-bin/mktSearch?act=showDesc&code=gbase&rel=1&ITEM_CODE=0972322116
http://search.a1books.com/cgi-bin/mktSearch?act=showDesc&code=gbase&rel=1&ITEM_CODE=1932100598
ALL of these books are ABOUT Harry Potter and the universe Rowling created - but none of them were written by her.
They were published. Why is this guy suddenly being targeted???
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-04-23 12:26:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-04-23 00:24:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 23:26:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Speaking of courts, I have jury duty tomorrow.
Man, I'm hoping for a big fat juicy murder trial. The Very Big Bank pays full salary for jury service. It'll be like a goddamned vacation. \
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No, it will not. It will be like a 8-10 hour per day condo seminar for as many days as the trial goes on. Then you will have to try to convince 5 or 11 other people who were too foolish to figure out how to get out of jury duty that the defendant did in fact do the crime, because his fingerprints are on the knife and his lame story of alien abduction/buttrape/mind posession/buttrape/programming/buttrape/buttrape again/buttrape yet once more/debriefing/what the hell, another buttrape for the road/release, cool and enthralling as it might have been, shows a significant lack of even remotely plausible facts. In the end, you'll decide that it's just not worth being a registered voter anymore if all it does is get you signed up for jury duty.
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Buttrape is not a valid defense. :)
In Colorado, jury personnel are selected from more than a list of registered voters. They pick from a list of car registrations, State IDs, Homeowners, etc.
Submitted by Ltap (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:53:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
this Vander Ark guy looks like Stephen Hawking, and to me Rowling looks like a cross between experima and littlemonster.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:52:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
LM, she isn't ugly. She is rather milf.
(Well, not me personally).
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:44:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:29:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:19:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
why do you have a picture of little monster at the bottom
__________
wtf? I don't look anything like her. Plus she is about 20 yrs older than me. Christ you're mean.
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But she only looks 10 years older than you. So it's all good.
_________
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPS
I'll just go get the rope.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:42:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry JK, I mean, LM :)
(You don't really)
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:40:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Everyone is a "creepy fuck."
You
Me
Everyone
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:30:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The first part of your post was interesting, but the ending sort of... flopped.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-23 08:29:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:19:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
why do you have a picture of little monster at the bottom
__________
wtf? I don't look anything like her. Plus she is about 20 yrs older than me. Christ you're mean.
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But she only looks 10 years older than you. So it's all good.
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2008-04-23 07:53:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks Orphy...you're a real pal.
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:54:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
lol LM, she does! ;)
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:19:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
why do you have a picture of little monster at the bottom
__________
wtf? I don't look anything like her. Plus she is about 20 yrs older than me. Christ you're mean.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:05:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
For the record I would like to state that in fact using a single hand mirror and a flashlight to try to see your own bumhole is much more difficult than Skrapmetal would have you believe, especially if you're a child with little arms.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2008-04-23 06:04:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Once again, casual racism makes you look a cunt.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2008-04-23 05:24:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well he is a Willand looking mother fucker.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2008-04-23 04:01:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cunty.
Submitted by Replen (user info) at 2008-04-23 03:21:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
"She's still kind of weird looking, but that's par for the course for chicks in the UK"
makes a change from being kind of fat looking, which is par for the course for girls in the USA.
oh and harry potter is a speccy twat on a broom.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2008-04-23 02:03:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
"It's the Internet, I get to make random references to fecal matter no matter the subject!" should have died years ago.
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2008-04-23 00:50:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nevermind.
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2008-04-23 00:24:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I stole the internet just to -2 this post.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-04-23 00:24:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 23:26:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Speaking of courts, I have jury duty tomorrow.
Man, I'm hoping for a big fat juicy murder trial. The Very Big Bank pays full salary for jury service. It'll be like a goddamned vacation. \
-----
No, it will not. It will be like a 8-10 hour per day condo seminar for as many days as the trial goes on. Then you will have to try to convince 5 or 11 other people who were too foolish to figure out how to get out of jury duty that the defendant did in fact do the crime, because his fingerprints are on the knife and his lame story of alien abduction/buttrape/mind posession/buttrape/programming/buttrape/buttrape again/buttrape yet once more/debriefing/what the hell, another buttrape for the road/release, cool and enthralling as it might have been, shows a significant lack of even remotely plausible facts. In the end, you'll decide that it's just not worth being a registered voter anymore if all it does is get you signed up for jury duty.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-23 00:05:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Her copyrights to the ORIGINAL WORKS ONLY. He still holds full copyright over his site, especially with the implied license granted by her linking to, and actively promoting, his site. That she admits to using his copyrighted work to keep from looking foolish 4 years ago says that she does not believe hp-lexicon.com violates her rights.
If her lexicon bears sufficient resemblance to his, she has violated his copyright, regardless of original rights.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 23:28:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 22:54:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The only way she can publish a lexicon is to buy his site (and all of his copyrights to it), shut it down and publish it. And even then, he has to be credited.
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I disagree. It wold be like authorized VS unauthorized biographies.
After all, it is still HER work. Her characters, plots, etc.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 23:26:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Speaking of courts, I have jury duty tomorrow.
Man, I'm hoping for a big fat juicy murder trial. The Very Big Bank pays full salary for jury service. It'll be like a goddamned vacation.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 22:54:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The best part about all of this whole clusterfuck is that she can't publish her own lexicon because anything she does will be substantially similar to his site. Should she try, it will likely end up in court on the same grounds.
True, he hasn't added any facts but he worked up an original design and organized it coherently. She now can't organize it the same way. And (random deity or spiritual force) forbid she say anything similar to what he has....
The only way she can publish a lexicon is to buy his site (and all of his copyrights to it), shut it down and publish it. And even then, he has to be credited.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2008-04-22 22:20:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
as a side note, is there anything like Godwin's Law for invoking Rocky?
like say during an election primary?
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2008-04-22 22:18:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I would tend to agree that it crosses a boundary to print it, but how is that any different from those Cliff Notes that we all used to get through 9th grade English?
Oh don't tell me anyone actually READ The Scarlet Letter.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2008-04-22 22:08:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
GO FLYERS WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 21:39:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 21:19:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-04-22 19:45:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude should receive SOME money for his work, a greater percentage to Rowling for creative rights.
Even though he added nothing original, he did compile all the data and format it. I believe that counts for something.
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Bullshit. It counts for dick. If I made a similar site about your work and some publishing house wanted to publish it without your approval, you would be insane not to object.
====================
two self published guys walk into a bar
the first one says "i sold a book today."
the second one says "that's great!"
the first one says "not really. i lose a dollar on every sale."
the second one says "how you gonna make your money back?"
the first one says "volume."
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 21:19:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-04-22 19:45:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude should receive SOME money for his work, a greater percentage to Rowling for creative rights.
Even though he added nothing original, he did compile all the data and format it. I believe that counts for something.
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Bullshit. It counts for dick. If I made a similar site about your work and some publishing house wanted to publish it without your approval, you would be insane not to object.
If I collected a couple of hundred Robert Mapplethorpe bullwhip-up-the-pipe photos and decided to 'publish' it for profit (I think I'd call it 'Depraved Hellbound Homosexual Sinners: What NOT to do if You Want to Reach Heaven') I think Mapplethorpe's estate (he was a depraved hellbound homosexual sinner who is dead now and is probably NOT in heaven) would have a righteous objection.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2008-04-22 21:10:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
alright. the reviews on this post are like reading the sports section of a newspaper. prince fielder will hit more home runs when he starts eating red meat again. the royals will not keep their team ERA so low all season long. the tigers will bounce out of the bottom of the AL Central.
everybody's opinions are so informed.
we should turn this argument into a fantasy league. or just take bets.
i'll be the bookie.
(i side with rowling btw)
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2008-04-22 20:08:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Her works are entertaining, if mind numbing.
His "work" is creepy and obsessive, though harmless.
Now, she wouldn't be all freaked out if she was getting a cut of the profits.
I say we throw things at them both.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-04-22 19:45:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hmmm...
I suppose the site should stay up. No profit is made (conceivably) and it simply promotes Rowling's work.
The book would generate profit. Dude should receive SOME money for his work, a greater percentage to Rowling for creative rights.
Even though he added nothing original, he did compile all the data and format it. I believe that counts for something.
Thing is, there ARE various 'Harry Potter' lexicon-like books out there, NOT created by Rowling. Had did they come into existence???
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2008-04-22 18:40:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
rowling rocks because she wrote a story, got someone to publish it, and made millions. people who bitch about her reek of sour grapes.
Submitted by Zampano (user info) at 2008-04-22 18:26:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That goofy-looking fucker lives about twenty minutes from my house (Vander Ark, I mean...not Rowling). There's been something about this legal standoff in the local news every week for the last few months now. I wish it'd blow over so we could report on more useless bullshit.
Submitted by whiskey_jack (user info) at 2008-04-22 18:25:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
She's a damn shitty hack and a crap writer. Hope she's ordered to service the creepy dude for the next decade.
Submitted by Hookhand (user info) at 2008-04-22 18:04:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WAAA! WAAAA! WAAAA! This is so upsetting I can't write my new book! WAAAA! I own every word in every Harry Potter book! I will sue you if you use the word "of" because Harry Potter says "of"! WAAAA
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:45:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:37:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
i don't believe the website will transfer
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I suspect that the book will be shot down or settled in some fashion, but the website is in the clear.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:44:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by X54 (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:39:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I believe I heard that Rowling is planning to publish her own hp-lexicon, which explains why she's going after him now. She probably lifted her lexicon off of his website
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Were that the case, she couldn't publish as she would be violating his copyright.
Submitted by X54 (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:39:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Vander Ark looks like a middle-aged Harry Potter to me. It's impossible to take sides with anyone looking like that, isn't it? I believe I heard that Rowling is planning to publish her own hp-lexicon, which explains why she's going after him now. She probably lifted her lexicon off of his website, even though he lifted everything there off of her boobs. I mean books.
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Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:02:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:23:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Also: "...are children who while they are admirable for actually cracking open and reading a book in this wtf-I'm-not-reading-all-that internet age are still kids who couldn't find their assholes with a mirror in one hand and a flashlight in the other, but that's okay I guess, because these days they can just take a picture of their asshole with their webcam, publish it online, and look at it any time they like." is gold
*******
Agree, and that line made me laugh.
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Me too.
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:37:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
i don't believe the website will transfer
the publisher knows what he's doing it was always a gamble which will pay off big if they settle either in money of publicity or both but the only reason rowling will settle is for the sake of her reputation but since she was planning her own lexicon book it's a tough nut to swallow
speaking of nut swallowers hey there bubba
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:34:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:44:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It's not as clear-cut as you think, Jack. Don't forget, Vander Ark was a librarian and they frequently know as much or more about copyright law than anyone. She has, in fact, allowed it to be published already.
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That's a good point I had not considered.
I think she should stress the money issue. Why let him PROFIT from her work?
She needs to go George Lucas on his ass.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:33:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
PS: STFU, HADLEY.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:33:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All assholes are funny. Look at Method.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:33:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:31:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
By the way, Mister Vander Ark's lexicon might be an excruciatingly detailed piece of work, but he has NOT ADDED ANYTHING OF HIS OWN to the original body of work.
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Where did I say ANYTHING DIFFERENT?
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:28:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And one unfunny asshole.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:26:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Uber is now full of wannabe attorneys. . .
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:26:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sure it is, Willie. Just the same as the one that lets Bart run this website and tell people to fuck off when they want a post taken down. By posting (or in that case, acknowledging it, using it, and granting it awards) there is an implied license that the material is allowed to be presented.
Also, Rowling likely does not have standing to challenge that book (alone) since she has most definitely transferred at least some of the copyright to the publisher. Could be that the publisher is party to this suit, but I can't be bothered to look it up.
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
that's not an implied license and librarians don't necessarily know more about copyright law than published authors speaking of which
jack mccallum is a published author well self published that is he pays people to read his shit good job buddy
the guy only agreed to do the book because the publisher indemnified him he knew they'd get sued they're just hoping she'll be worried about looking like a cunt and acquiesce to some sort of deal
why do you have a picture of little monster at the bottom
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:11:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
jeeze she's already got what a gazillion $$.
just settle with the boy, take a percent, and move on.
i hate fake tits.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:08:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And for the Google-y challenged...
http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/license.html#implied
Her ringing endorsement could very well fit under that.
Submitted by GangsterSquid (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:06:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No. Should it?
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:03:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Did my review down there sound familiar, Squid?
Submitted by GangsterSquid (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:02:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Is Jack McCallum boring or idiotic?
Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2008-04-22 17:02:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:23:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I imagine that they'll come to some financial agreement rather than stop the publishing. Thing is, that agreement will likely include removal of the online version so that everyone who's interested will have to buy the book.
Also: "...are children who while they are admirable for actually cracking open and reading a book in this wtf-I'm-not-reading-all-that internet age are still kids who couldn't find their assholes with a mirror in one hand and a flashlight in the other, but that's okay I guess, because these days they can just take a picture of their asshole with their webcam, publish it online, and look at it any time they like." is gold
*******
Agree, and that line made me laugh.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:47:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Considering her age?
"Ms. J K Rowling was born on July 31st, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England."
She's a pup, and I happen to know the age of the author of this post.
:)
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:44:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It's not as clear-cut as you think, Jack. Don't forget, Vander Ark was a librarian and they frequently know as much or more about copyright law than anyone. She has, in fact, allowed it to be published already. This weighs heavily on his side. It is an implied license to her copyrighted works. That she has even given it awards and publicly stated that she used it also weighs in his favor.
Where she gains some ground back is the fact that he is now format-shifting it. Her implied license covered the website as it existed at the time. Whether it covers different formats of the website (i.e. printed pages or selling access to the database itself) is what will be argued in court.
In the end, though, what we really have is a Catch-22.
If she REALLY presses the case with the idea of bankrupting him because his pockets are certainly not as deep as hers, he can throw a new page up, stating very publicly that her greed has driven him to take the site down due to the cost both of development and bandwidth/hosting creating a one-way cash flow (all while mentioning the billions she has amassed). Fans who have come to view that site as necessary will then be forced to confront the fact that she is a money-grubbing whore who doesn't want her biggest fan to even break EVEN on her work.
At the same time, he will quickly fade into pimple-faced obscurity (much like our own Titus) and all thoughts of his own little Hermione one day reaching his door will fade.
I suspect you are looking at a settlement in the making. It will be one where the book will be published, he will be allowed to keep his costs for web development, hosting and bandwidth (plus a little for the work of compiling all the facts she can't be bothered to keep on her own) and the rest will be split between charities of his and her choosing and everyone goes home happy.
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:31:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I side with Rowling. If a fan (even a completely obsessed and dedicated fan) wants to produce a piece based in whole or in part on the original creative work of another, he/she must attain permission and make a deal. You can't just put something together from another writer's work and make your profit.
By the way, Mister Vander Ark's lexicon might be an excruciatingly detailed piece of work, but he has NOT ADDED ANYTHING OF HIS OWN to the original body of work.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:27:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
i care
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:24:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Her tits sure got nice lately. Any idea who's banging her these days?
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:24:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Crunty.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:23:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I imagine that they'll come to some financial agreement rather than stop the publishing. Thing is, that agreement will likely include removal of the online version so that everyone who's interested will have to buy the book.
Also: "...are children who while they are admirable for actually cracking open and reading a book in this wtf-I'm-not-reading-all-that internet age are still kids who couldn't find their assholes with a mirror in one hand and a flashlight in the other, but that's okay I guess, because these days they can just take a picture of their asshole with their webcam, publish it online, and look at it any time they like." is gold.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2008-04-22 16:17:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wow. The ending of the 8th paragraph crashed and burned in a most spectacular manner.
Sorry. My head is up my ass.