J.K. Rowling has made legal headlines again, but this time it's a fan based website she is going after. Through a lawsuit set on Hollows Eve, Rowling has clearly stated her objections of the publcation of the "Harry Potter Lexicon," a fan based encyclopedia produced by the site "http://www.hp-lexicon.org".
The site has spells, potions, maps, and lists of wizards from the story.
She expressed her own plans to launch an encyclopedia-style book and clearly stated in her lawsuit that this would be copyright infringement.
J.K. Rowling Sues Fans
Harry Potter Lexicon Deemed Copyright Violation
Trend Themes
1. Copyright Lawsuits Against Fan Websites - Opportunity for the development of a transformative works platform that ensures fan contributions are considered original works and supporting systems that provide guidance on fair use and other legal issues.
2. Author-led Fan Content Platforms - Opportunity to create author-led fan content platforms that allow fans to contribute and participate with the authorization of the original content creators and providing revenue streams to creators.
3. Community-driven Content Adaptation - Opportunity for centralizing fan efforts directed towards the creation of user-generated content and engaging with fandom communities to determine what they want and how they want it.
Industry Implications
1. Intellectual Property Law - Disruptive innovation opportunity for intellectual property firms lies in developing innovative solutions to prevent and mitigate copyright-related disputes among original creators and fan communities.
2. Online Content Distribution - Opportunity for the development of platforms that transform existing traditional fan sites into transformative works platforms, led by content creators to regulate copyright issues with fan content.
3. Crowdfunding and Content Monetization - Opportunity for crowdfunding platforms to create revenue streams for creators and provide an alternative option for audiences other than piracy.