We now have links to full transcripts for the JK Rowling and Warner Bros. court case against RDR Booksand HP Lexicon’s Steve Vander Ark:

• Day one: April 14th
• Day two: April 15th
• Day three: April 16th  

Thanks Mugglenet and Stanford Law School.

A new documentary on J.K. Rowling is being prepared by ABC News.

The in-depth profile, which will air in November, includes several interviews, the book tour for the final “Harry Potter” installment, and a tour of locations that inspired her characters. It even hints to what the future holds for Harry and his friends.

ABC is again working with U.K. producer RDF Media, which raised a royal ruckus last year when its trailer for “A Year with the Queen” appeared to show the Queen storming out of a photo shoot. In fact, she was walking into the shoot, and RDF apologized profusely for the editing snafu.

Thanks TLC!

There is some new news about the JK Rowling vs. RDR books now online.  You can see another article here as well.

U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. said the copyright infringement case was a legal close call, involving unresolved areas of American law, and was almost certain to end in years of appeals.
—
“I don’t want to be influenced by either party’s attitude toward settlement,” said Judge Robert Patterson today, at the start of the third day of trial. “I think this case, with imagination, could be settled . . . . But don’t throw anything out because of my desire to move ahead.”

UPDATE: JKR released another statement about this issue.  You can also read more HERE!

The book at the heart of this case has overstepped a boundary so unreasonably that I have been forced, regretfully, to take legal action. Authors have a right to protect their works from misuse. Do I have fewer rights because many people read my books? 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.

Today I come with some more news on the court case between JK Rowling and Steve Vander Ark and RDR Publishing. A video of JKR giving a statement can be seen HERE. USA Today has an article online about the case.  Vander Ark has stated:

“It’s been … it’s been,” he stammered, choking on his words. “It’s been difficult because there has been a lot of criticism, obviously, and that was never the intention. … This has been an important part of my life for the last nine years or so.”
During his testimony Tuesday, Vander Ark acknowledged that he, too, had substantial concerns all along about whether publishing an encyclopedia based on Rowling’s Potter universe would constitute copyright infringement.
He said he was talked into doing it by the publishing company.

As most of you know, JK Rowling is sueing Harry Potter Lexicon owner Steve Vander Ark and publisher RDR Books for wanting to publish a book version of the website. She claims the book violates copyright and is contesting it’s publication.

JK Rowling arrived at the courthouse in New York City earlier this morning and the proceedings are currently taking place before Judge Robert P. Patterson without a jury.

You can read more information on the case HERE and HERE. You can see pictures HERE.

Thanks HPANA!

UPDATE: JK Rowling issued a statement today:

It gives me no pleasure to take legal action, but I am here today because I feel very strongly about an important issue that affects everyone and not just me. If books that plagiarise other works are permitted, authors, fans and readers stand to lose. There are lots of books in many languages that comment on or criticize Harry Potter, and that’s fine. But the book in this case is different. It provides no analysis and virtually no commentary. It takes far too much and it offers precious little in return. I would just like to add that I am extremely grateful for the incredible support of Harry Potter fans everywhere.

Wikipedia’s Featured Article today is JK Rowling!  Pretty cool, right!?  Previous featured articles have been people like Betty Davis, Celine Dion, he Oliver Typewriter Company and more!

Thanks to my best friend Chris for the tip!