Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Smite me, All Mighty Harry Potter Gods!

I know this is "technically" illegal because the NAME of 'Harry Potter' was used, but it seems unfair to me.

A woman in the UK was forced to cancel her Harry Potter-themed dinner party after receiving a warning from the Warner Bros. legal department.

The event included an ambiance of talking paintings and a dinner of pumpkin soup, butterbeer and cauldron cakes, but all fun halted when she received the following letter:

"While we are delighted you are such a fan of the Harry Potter series, unfortunately your proposed use of the Harry Potter properties… without our consent would amount to an infringement of Warner's rights."

They may have won the Potter battle, but the studio did not win the war!The party continues under the name Generic Wizard Night, but because she used to make money off of these dinners, the copyright-Nazis put a stop to it.

According to the hostess, "The night is totally a fan's tribute and is a one-off. It's not like I'm running a permanent Harry Potter restaurant…It is basically dinner parties that are paid for. I'm the cook and hostess. Each dinner takes four days of work and I make very little money from it."-I got this info and wordage from perezhilton.com

HOW could this hurt the franchise?! BESIDES the fact that letting one person use the name would force u to let others use it for evil?! I mean-They can't give a one time exception?! If I was J.K. Rowling, I'd stand up for this! It's flattering and WICKED kewl!!

14 comments:

Ling said...

awww. that sucks! let the woman just have her party!

sounds like such a FUN event!

Jessica Nelson said...

Maybe Rowling doesn't know?? Love the term copyright nazis. LOL

Mariah Irvin said...

I want to go to Generic Wizard Night!

Mondo said...

What a bunch of ol' spoilsports

drollgirl said...

this is CUH-RAZY!!!!!! crimony!

lotusgirl said...

that seems crazy to me. I could understand if she were charging people to attend or something, but if it's just a party where she created everything, it doesn't seem right. When I did a Harry Potter party for my child a few years ago was I supposed to send royalties to WB?

Danyelle L. said...

Wow! Carzy stuff. It sounded like it would be a blast. I love the idea of having talking paintings. :D

The Fancy Lady said...

wow that sucks but thats a cool idea we should throw our own lol
oh ps you won the cupcake pony tail giveaway i gave her your address to send it to you so you should have that soon

Pen Pen said...

lightning-
I wish I could go!!
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Jessica-
She probably doesn't. But-If it was my book, and I heard about it, I'd make some calls to see if they could allow her to keep it! :)
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Mariah-
Right! Let's make our own! We'll call it- 'An Even More Generic Wizard Night'!!
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Mondo-
They're party blockers!
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Drollgirl-
PArty Crashers!
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Lotusgirl-
She IS charging for it actually-SO I get that it's illegal to use the name if ur doing that, but it's a one time gig-and she's making barely anything except covering costs it looks like, so I think there should be an exception. It looks to all be made from scratch and just amazing. If I was them, I'd give permission for it-It's just so cute and really flattering to the whole franchise! :)
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Danyelle-
EXACTLY! I wish I was going-even with the name change!
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Fancy- We should throw our own!!
AND- I WON?!!!!
I won! I won! I won! I won!!!!!!!
I'm So excited!! and I just can't hide it! :)

Anonymous said...

I heard about this on the news yesterday too...Warner Bros. must be hurting for cash if they're picking on her.

Sadako said...

Ugh, lame. I hate stuff like this. I thought JK was cooler. I mean, Disney is a real Nazi about all its icons/anything connected with it. But Harry Potter?!

Unknown said...

Ouch! But cudos to that lady - she must have one bangin' party if it gets the attention of the Warner-gang.

hope505 said...

~ lame. ~ A terrible time/way to assert copy rights
* : (
I can't believe this party has to go "underground" now...pfft! "Generic Wizard" makes me laugh...

hope505 said...

~ lame. ~ A terrible time/way to assert copy rights
* : (
I can't believe this party has to go "underground" now...pfft! "Generic Wizard" makes me laugh...