Rowling v. RDR Books Trial Concludes Under Media Spotlight

by Anthony Falzone, posted on April 21, 2008 - 2:27pm

The trial of J.K. Rowling's copyright claims against RDR Books concluded last Wednesday after three days of testimony. Full transcripts of each day's proceedings are attached below. The Hon. Robert P. Patterson will decide the case following post-trial submissions from the parties.

The trial generated a flurry of interest from press and public alike, and was covered extensively by the New York Times as well as the Wall Street Journal and other major news outlets. Here are links to some of the coverage by these, and other, publications:

New York Times

Rowling to Testify in Trial Over Potter Lexicon, April 14, 2008.

Rowling Testifies Against Lexicon Author, April 15, 2008.

Sued by Harry Potter's Creator, Lexicographer Breaks Down on the Stand, April 16, 2008.

Trial Over Potter Lexicon Ends With an Olive Branch, April 17, 2008.

Wall Street Journal

Dan Slater at the Wall Street Journal Law Blog attended the trial and provided particularly detailed coverage and observations. Read his coverage here.

Other WSJ Articles here.

Boston Globe (Editorial)

Harry Potter's Lawyer, April 16, 2008.

AttachmentSize
Trial Transcript Day 1.txt408.63 KB
Trial Transcript Day 2.txt393.09 KB
Trial Transcript Day 3.txt389.24 KB
Substantive Tags: Fair Use Project
Comment by Charles Lathrop (not verified), posted July 22, 2008 - 11:07am

It's been many weeks without news of a judgment or ruling. As the author of a quotation book (The Literary Spy) with another one in manuscript, I'm intensely interested in this fair use trial. Anything new here?

Charles Lathrop

Comment by Jeff (not verified), posted August 1, 2008 - 7:29am

The trial ended over three months ago and still no ruling. I'm not an expert, but that seems like a long time. What's going on?

Comment by pam (not verified), posted August 15, 2008 - 8:17pm

Was a decision ever handed down in this case? I have heard nothing since the trial ended.
Thank you.

Comment by Michael Schuylr (not verified), posted August 25, 2008 - 1:57pm

Are there any results? I have a similar issue where an author is threatening to sue over a Lexicon work I did (See homepage).

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