Potter pirate sites get takedown notices
Legal warnings have gone out to Web sites pirating Harry Potter, according to a lawyer quoted by Reuters.
Neil Blair, speaking for Christopher Little, author J.K. Rowling’s literary agency, says: “We have put in place some countermeasures, but I can’t disclose the specifics. We have sent takedown notices…but we haven’t filed any lawsuits.”
I don’t blame Christopher Little for issuing the warnings. Let’s hope that the next step will be to offer legal copies of the Potter series, via reputable outlets. As I’ve noted, it’s silly for Rowling to forego potential Internet profits by claiming that young fans will download viruses.
The real virus threat
Without legal alternatives, young e-book fans accustomed to screens will seek out e-book versions any way they can. That is the real virus threat.
Issue One is actually money. I suspect that Christopher Little wants a hefty advance for Net-related distribution.
No, that just won’t happen right now, given how small and rickety the e-book business is. But if Mrs. Rowling really cares about children in this Internet era, she can do them a good turn and earn extra royalties by putting Potter online.
Russian-based piracy
Meanwhile the Sydney Herald in Australia has reported:
The site that holds the book is Russian-based.
Neil Blair…confirmed that the text on the website was from the new book. “As with all forms of piracy this is something that is unlawful and regrettable,” he said. “Sadly all forms of entertainment-film, music and now publishing-now suffer from this kind of theft.”
Mr Blair said he would take action and “approach both the ISP [Internet Service Provider] and website operator and attempt to enforce our client’s rights using the prevailing legislation.”
None of the previous Harry Potter series of books have been available in an e-book format.
Mr Blair said concerns about piracy were not behind the decision not to sell an e-book version of the series.
“We have simply not yet taken the decision to license in that format,” he said.
A pirate site that TeleRead saw went beyond the Russian site–found by MobileRead–and actually offered audio from the new Potter book, not just text. Whether because of a takedown notice or for other reasons, however, the Potter material has vanished.
Question: Didn’t an article in the Register say: “The latest Harry Potter tome was not released as an ebook because of fears over piracy–a plan as cunning as any of Baldrick’s”? And it did carry quotes from the lit agency that suggested that piracy was a concern. A little inconsistency here?
Related: Microsoft’s Fair Use Dude and the AWOL Harry Potter book. Also see Pernicious Potter Pirates, from the LibraryJournal Tech Blog.
August 12th, 2005 at 4:07 pm
Hello there. I’m writting a book at home. What if my book is that J.K.Rowling goes back to a real Hogwarts school to redo what she had written–she is the star of the book. Some others books characters are used here and there. Is it possible to do and get it published. Please let me know. Thank you, Jack.
August 12th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Hi, Jack. I’m not a lawyer, but I suspect they’d say no. But, hey, what’s to prevent you from doing something with the characters’ names and other details greatly changed, including Mrs. Rowling’s name? Again, however, if you want to publish your book for real, then consult with an appropriate licensed attorney. Thanks. David
August 13th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Thank You so very much your so write.Other names right can do
but she was my star of my book. WISHES of mine for Mr.Little to
taik to me and Miss.Rowling, as well the fans would love this book
family firends my town are wishing I do a book for are j.k.
much loved here,thank again jack sorenson.
August 20th, 2005 at 10:55 am
yes my book is comming closer to its three chapters so it can be sent in to are Chris Little family friends and people in my town are very excited about it all,no one ever done a book for are Miss Rowling she done alot for us now a little bit for her back still needs to have finle typed and look over ive been told the story is good but it needs a real writter to help me out its a wizards tail
thanks jack.
August 20th, 2005 at 3:57 pm
Well, keep us posted, Jack. Do get yourself some help with the copy editing and the rest if you’re serious about the project and want to write for the love of it. But also be prepared for disappointment if you plan for your work to go online or be published for real on paper. I doubt that Mrs. Rowling and her agents would want even pros to do book-length fan fiction or, for that matter, any fan fiction. Under U.S. copyright law, you must respect their wishes. Your only solution is to come up with different characters, etc.
June 16th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Its funny to have read my past my beginnings,one would say. Writing was defenily my first attempt in the twenty one years of being laid up, dealing with my many illness.I see to have accmuchet all but one left as a dream a goal,that has come to terms at least for me. To become a publish author and just received another book deal for the one in review on this blog its now a nine book series to becoming out in a year .Wow, what a start and now becoming to a better future .Jack
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:47 am
[...] wanted to borrow J.K. Rowling’s characters for his own novel, but with copyright hassles in mind, I encouraged him instead to aim for a wizard book of his [...]
January 10th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
[...] — many of which have never been published as ebooks (they’ve been scanned from paper; just ask J.K. Rowling!). I’ve yet to see any writer state that a special ISP tax should be levied for that. The [...]