*awaits owl from WB that she will be sued for saying that*

*waits for world to implode*

Warner Brothers does a shitty job with the movies anyway. They’re down to a formula at this point.

Copyright cannot protect ideas such as those mentioned here, only the creative expression of them. It is doubtful that simply having people named as harry potter charecters and simple thematic elements from the franchise would violate copyright law.

Trademark law however, may well prevent her from having the event. Refrencing harry potter and various people in the franchise may violate the trademarks held on those books/movies.

I kinda doubt they can stop her, but not so familiar with their law. It would seem in many countries that if she changed the title and clearly communicated that she has no affiliation with the rights-holders and that the event is unauthorized, she would be ok provided the event is not commercial.

In any case, this site should alter the title of this article as it suggests something that the quoted passage from the lawyers does not (they only say IP rights, not copyright). Additionally it suggests a misunderstanding of the difference between copyright/trademark rights on the part of the author. I’m sure it was a simple error, but it might be something worth addresssing for appearances sake.

I have to agree WB is completely right there, however there are other ways to deal with it where every1 gets happy. Don’t sue, don’t threaten, tell her about the rights and add that you encourage such parties but request the permission to offer or make HP products available at the place – HP fans will probably end buying something and everybody gets money, including the money hungry WB.

Reminds me of the UK industry telling that piracy is killing the creative process or something like. Now, would that be a case where the victim becomes the killer?

WB, learn from this. Work with your costumers, not against them.

It was claimed that she violated their TRADEMARK, which is a very nebulous area of law. In fact, trademark law is anything BUT cut-and-dried. Now, Trademark law tends to work in the way that a registered trademark can’t be used to advertise someone elses product. BUT there are limits depending on how outside the product class it is, and how notable the trademark is. Warner has not, and never has done parties, so they lose that aspect, but then again, Harry potter is a very specific and well known trademark, and the link to the well-known trademarked items are intentional (unlike, for instance, Monster energy and Vermonster) so she’d lose ont hat aspect.

however, she’d ‘lose’ anyway, because it would cost more in legal fees than the event would ever bring in, and even if it wouldn’t, they’d apply for a temporary injunction until the case, which would be after the party date, thus nixing it anyway. It’s part of the great abuse of the civil law system, that means the stronger prevail.

Obvious troll is obvious. But well written. 78/100.

She was not running a `privtae party!

She runs the opperation as a business and advertises it as such!

Its the same as if she’d been selling bootlegged t-shirts or DVDs, a clear and simple case of theft of intellectual property.

Should Warner Brothers have to do a audit on everyone who infringes their copyright to see how much money the person is making and only issue notices to those who are turning a arbitary `significant’ profit? Talk about wasting money on lawyers!

Copyright law (since the reforms) have been written as cut-and-dry as possible to keep things simple and cut down on the need for litegation and such, Wanrer Bros wouldnt have to have issued the notice if the woman had have just respected copyright law in the first place.

We’re not talking essential items here; she didnt steel food or squat in a building for shelter, she tried to make money out of the popularity of someone else’s work!

I do agree though that they were being sensitive assholes, but this is the company that tried to shut down fansites a while back, so its expected.

WB has the rights to Potter in regards to copyright. JKR sold it to them, however her wishes are still honored because she is the “underlying creator” or the series.

this can’t be true, since snowwhite and such are traditional characters…

JK Rowling probably didn’t go around infringing on someone else’s copyrighted work to accomplish this.”

Bullshit back at you!

http://www.geocities.com/sayswamp/worst.htm

As for Ms.Rowling, here’s what famed author Orson Scott Card thinks of her aggressive pro-copyright stance.

http://www.linearpublishing.com/RhinoStory.html

Looks like the industry’s PR agencies are still roooooolling that dice.

This has PR nightmare written all over it.

$150,000 for every meal she prepared/was eaten/was requested?

It’s time to put this beast down for good.

I can’t even pretend to understand what they had to lose or gain from her having a “Harry Potter themed” party. If anything, they stood to gain from the free advertising!

Unbelievable! Boycott Warner for life. Done and done.

No, you are not allowed to type “Harry Potter” or even allowed to say or think it. If you do, you are stealing and the universe will collapse. This is why we have copyright laws – to protect us from implosion. I thought everybody knew that.

And how else would you call a Harry Potter theme party/dinner except for “Harry Potter theme party/dinner” ?

Like reasoned retard likes to say “the law is the law” and as such no copyrighted (everything has copyright) material goes automatically into public domain because they are not defending their copyright with an army of lawyers. If there is a real reason to go to court they can still do that without searching for victims (otherwise everything is public domain by default for everyone else without an army).

And if it were covered under copyright law (maybe in UK?): Are we allowed to type “Harry Potter” here, are we allowed to even say it or think it ?

Do you live in the same planet as me? Do you really consider that someone could take away warner bros the rights even from their toilet paper?
What’s next? Santa and the easter bunny?

YOU WOULDN’T DOWNLOAD A HOT MEAL!

Well at least not until they do invent those nifty food replicators they used on Star Trek, then, I would probable DL a HOT MEAL, whats on the menu?..
LoL

Halloween has gotten completely out of hand. Every year, thousands of children dress as Frankenstein or Dracula without paying royalties to Mary Shelley or Bram Stoker. Clearly, this blatant theft cannot continue unanswered. Eventually, these poor authors could starve to death and we’ll have nothing to read. Civilization and the entire net as we know it will cease to exist. And all because this insolent dame had the audacity to throw a themed party…

Ms Marmite Lover gets to have her harry potter party. Warner exercise their rights and get good publicity.

Total scumbags – you can buy Harry Potter merchandise practically everywhere, so it can’t be the money. What’s a little dinner party going to hurt.

Why doesn’t Ms. Marmalite Lover invite him to a Halloween party in his honor, that way she can have her ‘Harry Potter Halloween Party’, and Warner Bros. can go fuck themselves? ;)

I’ve had the same experience myself.
It’s hard to know whether to agree for the sake of a quiet life, tell them to sod off for the sake of your rights or ignore them.

http://www.xbomber.co.uk